Carolina Kostner: “One of my main goals was to give young skaters a chance to make our sport more beautiful. And I hope they can find their skating style without trying to become someone they are not just for the sake of winning.”
Interview with Carolina Kostner.
original source: Sport Express dd. 19th November 2024 by Dmitri Kuznetsov and Natalia Boku
In the interview with Sport Express, Carolina Kostner spoke about her coaching career, her vision for the future of figure skating and her work on clothing design. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“Q: Carolina, after retiring from sports you chose a career as a choreographer, not a coach. Why?
Carolina Kostner: There was nothing like that in my plans. But then a life situation happened. (Smiles.) I wanted to perform in ice shows and develop my artistic skating. But then I started helping [Canadian choreographer] Lori Nichol. One of my main goals was to give young skaters a chance to make our sport more beautiful. I spent time with young people, helping them perform their programs. Especially with Yuma [Kagiyama], which started before the 2022 Olympics. After his injury, he asked me to become part of his team. I was very surprised.
Q: Yuma, after working with you, became the leader of the Japanese team.
Carolina Kostner: Even before his injury, we saw his tremendous potential and that his father had instilled amazing basic skills, techniques, and skating in him. We wanted to find his style, to show his personality. That comes with experience. There’s a difference between someone participating in the World Championships for the tenth time and a newcomer. Although the second time can be even harder. And he is interested in mastering quads, having cleaner skating. Sometimes my role boils down to patting on the shoulder and saying, “it’s okay, don’t worry.” Even now it’s tough for him to be in first place. He is winning, but still not satisfied. When I work with a skater, it means giving them the tools to stand on their own, to understand who they are as a person. This allows the athlete to understand that they have something to convey not only to the judges but also to the audience.
Q: Was this your philosophy during your competitive days?
Carolina Kostner: I was very lucky to meet great coaches. Each of them brought something unique to my professionalism, artistry, and intellect. I will always consider it a great honor. They became life teachers for me. I hope to pass on the same to the younger generation.
Q: Do you spend much time in Japan?
Carolina Kostner: This year, I think about four months. But I’ve been used to living away from home since childhood. The current situation is not much different from my schedule when I was performing in ice shows. Working in Japan is a real pleasure, figure skating is valued there. With foreign languages situation is similar to Russia – gives an opportunity to know better the society and people. I remember how in the first month of training in St. Petersburg I came in and said, “Good morning, buongiorno.” I got zero reaction. But then the kids would come hug me – I felt like I became part of their lives. And I also feel very warmly welcomed in Japan.
Q: You are the ambassador for the 2026 Olympics in Italy. You have students from different countries. Who will you be rooting for in the team event at the Games in Milan? Both Japan and Italy have a chance.
Carolina Kostner: As a coach, mentor, I do not prioritize flags. Whomever I work with — it’s about the individual. For me, victory will be if all my students skate well, and the judges decide. But for Italy, an Olympic medal in the team event could be historic. And I wish the guys to experience this at home.
Q: A lot has changed in women’s skating since you left the sport – the quad revolution happened, and now we’re in the post-revolutionary period. What do you think about the current state of women’s single skating?
Carolina Kostner: When something new appears, it takes several years to find a new balance. We are now in the process of searching. Women’s skating is looking for a new identity; quads are done, a triple axel is no longer unique to Midori Ito or Mao Asada. There needs to be a way to perform these difficult elements without losing interest, personality, the uniqueness of each program. And I hope the girls can find their skating without trying to become someone they are not just for the sake of winning. Since the age minimum has been raised, there is more time for personality development. Instead of remaining girls who just obey coaches and follow their instructions, there’s a chance to gain understanding who they are, what they feel, and what figure skating means to them.
Q: Do you like any current female skaters?
Carolina Kostner: I’m lucky to work with young Japanese skaters. Watching some of them grow is enjoyable. Regarding senior level, I’m very impressed with Amber Glenn. I remember seeing her in Texas at an event when she was very little! Now, I watch her in competitions, maintaining her determination not to give up despite criticism. Amber brings life to figure skating, she is a strong personality. I wish all skaters to love what they do and never feel they aren’t good enough.
Q: You trained in Russia with Alexei Mishin. Do you keep in touch?
Carolina Kostner: I send him birthday greetings and holiday greetings, sometimes we exchange messages. This is an experience I cherish dearly in memory. I learned a lot, and it’s a great honor to have had the opportunity to gain knowledge from such a great professor. I send him my regards.
Q: Regarding the Valieva case in Russia, which was probably the main event of the year. Kamila says she wants to return to sports – like you, after your suspension. What would you tell her?
Carolina Kostner: Well, each athlete’s path is unique and special. What would I wish her? Truly listen to her heart and have the courage to follow what it says.
Q: About the Valieva case, and yours, there were nuances that make one think about the anti-doping system, changes to it.
Carolina Kostner: I don’t think it’s up to me to decide. I’m not immersed enough in it to comment.
Q: What do you think about the popularity of figure skating? It seems like there was more attention in your times, I remember wanting to personally go and watch your skating in Sochi.
Carolina Kostner: Listen, when I was skating, I always thought that the golden years were in the era of Katarina Witt. We all tend to remember the idols who shaped our youth. The current generation might be doing a lot differently from what we expect. But we must trust the path they choose. Sometimes it’s good to let the youth surprise us. I feel lucky to have skated in a generation that expanded the boundaries of the sport in its own way. The new drives them differently, and it’s inspiring.
Q: Anything that can be improved to enhance popularity?
Carolina Kostner: Our sport starts very early. When you are little, you don’t have life experience and the ability to convey certain emotions that come with disappointments, pain, joy, pressure. When you are a little girl, you try to portray them, but you don’t really know what they mean. I think fans want to see real feelings, the difference between personalities. The new generation needs to develop, try different images, and enjoy each of them here and now. We need to help them, guide them.
Q: And these personalities will move the sport forward?
Carolina Kostner: I would like to have that secret recipe. Personalities boost popularity, but dry records play a part too. And the champion is the one who successfully combines these two facets. Our sport is very complex. Sometimes your career is decided within a few minutes at a very young age. Many find this hard to accept. There must be a balance between determination, decisiveness, and the approach of “no risk, no fun.”
Q: You have your own clothing brand, you collaborated with famous designers like Roberto Cavalli. You even created your own dresses. How did it start?
Carolina Kostner: From a childhood dream. I played the designer, I had a small box. I created some sketches and locked them up, while my brothers thought it was just silly. But I knew they were very valuable! And I wanted to keep them forever, thinking that someday I’d create my own brand, my own line. Sagester made my first dress for performances, and we partnered for the first launch of my clothing, which happened during the pandemic.
Q: You acted as a designer yourself?
Carolina Kostner: Yes. In the early years, I had professional consultants; they were looking for materials. It was important to me that the environment did not suffer and that the production was made by Italian women. For example, their schedules are flexible because among them are young mothers who can concurrently look after their child. There is a current trend in fashion: we buy things and throw them away, buy and throw away. I wanted to create something that could inspire dreams. I’m still not a professional in this field; I am still learning. But I hope that in the future, I will have my full-fledged brand.”
Related topics: Carolina Kostner, Yuma Kagiyama
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