Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: “Girls dream of the Olympics from the age of 5. Perhaps that was my problem; I deliberately wasn’t like that, I wasn’t thinking ‘The Olympics is everything.’
Translation of Elizaveta Tuktamysheva’s comments about not getting to the Olympics, hate and earning by doing figure skating.
original sources: SBG Show on Youtube
Here’s a translation of Liza Tuktamysheva’s comments made in the interview for SBG Show on Youtube. Show was recorded before it was announced that Liza is taking a pause in her competitive career.
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva shared her perspective on not making it to the Olympics:
“You mentioned that girls dream of the Olympics from the ages of 5 to 9. Perhaps that was my problem; I deliberately wasn’t like that, I wasn’t thinking that, ‘The Olympics is everything.’
I started figure skating because I got to know the girls who were figure skaters. I just wanted to hang out with them. It was fun and entertaining, and I thought, ‘These are my new friends. I need to go to the rink more often to spend time with them.’
My approach to everything is like this: if I don’t feel comfortable in a certain group, I won’t do anything about it. It’s the same with Alexei Nikolaevich, with our Mishin group. It’s very important to me that there is a healthy atmosphere in the group.
As for the Olympics… well, the first one, maybe the second… The first one might have been disappointing. Not really disappointing, but I knew from the beginning of that season that I wouldn’t go because I wasn’t in good shape. The same with the second one. With the third one, I was in good shape, but three brilliant girls went. So why be upset? Why wasn’t it me? I never asked myself that question because I understood why it wasn’t me. The answer was obvious,” said the figure skater.
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva discussed whether she had faced hate:
“I wouldn’t say I’ve faced a lot of hate (towards me). I’ve never had conflicts with other athletes. I don’t know why, but people might criticize, but they don’t hate. You need to differentiate between these two concepts.
Hate is when you don’t like someone, you’re just attacking them, wanting to do something mean to them. Criticism is when you’ve made an unfortunate choice of dress, music, or program. People can see, even those who are concerned about me, they can express their opinions,” said the figure skater.
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva shared her thoughts on earnings in figure skating:
“Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: We all receive the same (both boys and girls), depending on our achievements. If you are part of the main national team, you receive a salary from the federation. But it’s not that much. A figure skater can be on the same level as another but earn less because they are in a different club.
These are not the kind of earnings you can save up to buy an apartment. It’s like a regular athlete’s salary.
Only if you win Grand Prix events, the European Championships, the World Championships, even if you don’t make it to the Olympics – then you get a decent sum. After the 2015 World Championships, I immediately invested in an apartment, but it wasn’t in the city center, and it was a small apartment.
Media presence is more important than…
Than the results?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: Well, yes, they are on the same level. You can be very popular. Just like me. But I don’t have Olympic gold. I’m not very popular, ha-ha, but I have some income, and I can comfortably live on these earnings.
What if your career ends?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: Even then, I hope to have some work that will bring in money, and I’m not talking about coaching,” said Tuktamysheva.
Related topics: Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
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