Sofia Samodelkina: “I worked to restore a quad and 3A, overcoming falls and under-rotations. And with my current height of 170cm I restored almost everything I had lost.”
Sofia Samodelkina’s first interview after switching to represent Kazakhstan.
original source: RSport dd.2d July 2024 by Boris Khodorovskii
In the interview with RSport, Sofia Samodelkina talks about her decision to switch sports citizenship,, training with Plushenko and friendship with Trusova. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“Q: Svetlana Sokolovskaya, with whom you trained with before moving to Evgeni Pluschenko, once exclaimed in frustration: “Sofia, please just don’t grow anymore!” Were you able to comply with this request?
Sofia Samodelkina: It seems I’ve stopped growing at 170 cm. There are inevitable fluctuations in weight, and I try to control that process.
Q: How did you manage to cope with the loss of the ultra-c elements, which is inevitable with growth and maturing?
Sofia Samodelkina: For some time, I did indeed lose them, and for a considerably long time at that. I worked on their restoration, overcoming falls and under-rotations. I came to “Angels of Plushenko” with my current height and restored almost everything I had lost.
Q: What kind of content do you plan to include in this season’s competitive programs?
Sofia Samodelkina: Ideally, I would like to perform a quadruple jump and a triple axel in the free program and a triple axel in the short one. With quadruples, one must be very careful, considering changes in height and weight. The first competition of this season will be the Kazakhstan Championships, which will take place in mid-July. I don’t plan on performing ultra-c elements there.
Q: Do you know your competitors on the Kazakhstan national team?
Sofia Samodelkina: One girl came for an internship at “Angels of Plushenko”. She is the only Kazakhstani figure skater I know.
Q: Will the national championships take place in Astana or Almaty?
Sofia Samodelkina: In Karaganda! My mom was born in this city. She even promised to show me the places from her childhood if there is spare time.
Q: Did you encounter any problems related to obtaining Kazakhstan citizenship and renouncing Russian citizenship?
Sofia Samodelkina: My mom and I consulted with knowledgeable people and did everything as we were told. The process took quite a long time, but it is now complete.
Q: Has a competition schedule for this season been compiled yet?
Sofia Samodelkina: It will be discussed after the Kazakhstan Championships. I can definitely say that I will participate in the Denis Ten Memorial.
Q: In Russia, national team skaters receive funding from the FFKR and the Ministry of Sports. What about in Kazakhstan?
Sofia Samodelkina: I can’t say anything about it because I’m not even on the national team yet. I think everything will become clearer in July after the competitions in Karaganda.
Q: Is there a requirement that you spend part of your training time in Kazakhstan?
Sofia Samodelkina: I can’t answer that question yet. I think that I’ll be traveling to Kazakhstan regularly throughout the season to meet with federation leaders and local judges.
Q: Tennis player Yulia Putintseva, who changed her citizenship to Kazakh, said during a tournament in St. Petersburg that she had learned the words to the national anthem in the Kazakh language. Have you started learning it yet?
Sofia Samodelkina: Yes, I have. I’m not sure I’ll be able to speak Kazakh correctly, but I’ll try.
Q: You were trained by Lilia Biktagirova, Sergei Davydov and Svetlana Sokolovskaya in CSKA. Now you’re training with “Plushenko’s Angels”. What did you learn from each of these coaches?
Sofia Samodelkina: I took my first steps in figure skating under the guidance of Lilia Ayratovna (Biktagirova). She laid the technical foundation. With Sergei Dmitrievich (Davydov), I learned the ultra-c elements and started to include them in the competitive programs. I did a lot of work on program presentation with Sokolovskaya. When I came to Svetlana Vladimirovna, I just jumped, jumped, and jumped. With Evgeni Viktorovich, we work out all the elements. During training, I approach Dmitry Sergeyevich Mikhailov from time to time to work more on the presentation of programs. We strive to achieve a harmonious combination of technique and components.
Q: In an old interview, you said that as a child you wanted to become a model. Aren’t there any offers to go on the podium now?
Sofia Samodelkina: In childhood, dreams and plans change quickly. Now I have no desire to try myself in the modeling business. And after the end of my career, it will not be a priority.
Q: In the new group, you became friends with Alexandra Trusova. Is friendship possible between rivals on ice, or are you no longer competitors now?
Sofia Samodelkina: Even as a child, I was convinced that figure skaters should be friends. Even when I lost to other girls, I calmly communicated with them. Sometimes it was different on their part. When I outcompeted someone in the competitions, they stopped talking to me, and friendship did not work out. Sasha and I became friends when she took a break in her competitive career.
Q: Will you be a bridesmaid at her wedding?
Sofia Samodelkina: I think so. Although Sasha and Makar are still organizing everything and haven’t made a final decision.
Q: Do you set yourself any specific goals in figure skating related to titles and places?
Sofia Samodelkina: Any athlete wants to see themselves on the podium, and I am no exception. We work so hard in training for this that I come home almost without strength.
Q: When you were training in CSKA, you cooked your own breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Do you have the opportunity now to use the services of professionals?
Sofia Samodelkina: Yes, but I still cook for myself with the groceries my mom buys. In a cafe, I might order a fruit smoothie.
Q: Do you have to carefully follow a diet and do you use the consultations of nutritionists?
Sofia Samodelkina: I have to stick to a diet. For big girls like me, this can be difficult. I’ve never turned to nutritionists and dietitians, as I consider it a useless. Anyone can control their own nutrition. You just have to try to give up sweets and flour! However, I don’t always manage to do this.
Q: Have you had to work with a psychologist?
Sofia Samodelkina: In childhood, it was a sort of entertainment. I didn’t have any problems, but CSKA suggested I attend sessions with a psychologist. I really liked them. It was a good distraction from thoughts related to figure skating.”
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