Stanislava Konstantinova: “Resuming my career? Are you kidding? Only in my nightmares. The day I finished was the happiest. I love figure skating, I love performing, but training is hellish work.”
Interview with Stanislava Konstantinova.
original source: MatchTV dd. Feb 19th 2025 by Maria Strogacheva.
In the interview with MatchTV, Stanislava Konstantinova talks about the prospects for returning to competitive sports, her coaching activities, the level of the European Championships without Russian skaters, and Vladislav Dikidji’s prospects on the international arena. Here’s a translation.
“Q: Are you currently involved in coaching?
Stanislava Konstantinova: I am a choreographer. I search for music, create programs, images, and choreography from start to finish. I also polish them to the smallest details, working on every movement, glance, and facial expression. This is more to my liking. Coaching is something more serious.
Q: Have you thought about resuming your career?
Stanislava Konstantinova: Are you kidding? That only appears in my nightmares. Probably, the day I finished and realized I would no longer train was the happiest. I love figure skating, I love performing, but training is hellish work.
You only understand this when you retire. You understand the long journey you’ve been through, even if you are not an Olympic champion or world champion. After some time, you start to see yourself as quite accomplished because you’ve overcome a huge amount of work and difficulties encountered along your path. I don’t think I would have the strength to try it several times in one lifetime.
Q: Any desire to apply to participate in show-program competitions?
Stanislava Konstantinova: The applications have all been accepted. Everyone asked me about this, and I analyzed that I had corrected all the criticisms from last year, but I am not sure that I am interested.
Q: Any resentment towards the organizers?
Stanislava Konstantinova: No, I am forgiving. Of course, it was very unpleasant, and it would be unpleasant for anyone. I experienced similar feelings in sports, but there it was a shock to me.
Q: Did you follow the Russian Junior Nationals? Who would you highlight among the juniors?
Stanislava Konstantinova: In my view, the Russian Junior Nationals are even a bit more interesting than the Russian Nationals. The level is amazing, the top-5 with quads and triple axels, the girls are so talented. We have a good batch of talent for the future.
I would like to highlight Lena Kostyleva — she is a huge talent. Of course, there’s room for improvement in the program components score, but for me, she’s a diamond. With Yevgeni Viktorovich (Plushenko) and the right luck, they will go very far.
Q: Tatiana Tarasova said that Lena’s scores are underestimated. Do you agree?
Stanislava Konstantinova: I disagree. Her program components score is a bit lower than her competitors, but I can say that the girls from “Khrystalny” are distinguished by the purity of their skating, which is characteristic of the girls from Eteri Tutberidze’s group. There’s objectivity here. I also see them as having cleaner skating.
Q: Currently, there’s a lot of discussion about changing the FFKKR regulations. Is it fair to change the regulations during the season?
Stanislava Konstantinova: As an athlete, it seems to me that it’s quite harsh and not entirely fair. I was also in situations where I was substituted at the last moment, or there were test skates that the audience couldn’t see, and decisions were made based on their outcomes. I think it’s unfair to the athletes, but the federation knows better whom they want to see in the comptitions and whom they see as having potential.
Q: Do you believe that our skaters will be allowed to participate in the Olympics?
Stanislava Konstantinova: We believe, hope, and wait.
Q: Who would you send for quotas?
Stanislava Konstantinova: That’s a tough question. I’d send Adelia Petrosyan among the girls, and among the men — Vlad Dikidji, because he shows that he can technically handle the competition and is quite consistent. But I think the federation is still unsure because he’s quite young and inexperienced on the international stage. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to compete there, and he has no ranking, but probably none of our skaters will have a ranking, and it will be difficult for the guys. Such dominance as before won’t be there.
Q: Did you follow the European Championships?
Stanislava Konstantinova: I did.
Q: Which of our skaters could have competed for a medal?
Stanislava Konstantinova: Absolutely all of them. The European Championships is always a Russian podium. Nearly always, except for my fourth-place finish (laughs).
Q: What do you think about the level of women’s singles skating in Europe?
Stanislava Konstantinova: In my opinion, young girls are emerging who, in a year or two, might become stars in Europe, but they can’t compare with the Russian level. I like watching Loena Hendrickx. Personally, I’m not a fan of hers, but the skating itself is not bad. Often overrated, but as the European continent’s leader, she rightfully gets high components.
I also like Nina Pinzarrone. Excellent programs. In general, I like all of Benoit Richaud’s routines, that style. I think that in two years, the European Championships will be much more interesting to watch than now.
Q: Can Adelia Petrosyan be called the best figure skater in the world?
Stanislava Konstantinova: Probably to give her such a bold title, we need to see her perform on the international stage.
Q: Who among our skaters can you highlight?
Stanislava Konstantinova: In our country, we have choices in men’s singles. I think, looking to the future, Vlad Dikidji, Gleb Lutfullin, and Zhenya Semenenko are ones to watch. We have many guys who could potentially compete for the highest places. However, I think it would take a season or two at the international level to rise back up.
Q: For you, is Vlad the top one?
Stanislava Konstantinova: I think so, yes. From the start of the season, he has shown the most convincing skating to me.
Q: What do you think of his quadruple axel?
Stanislava Konstantinova: I believe I saw it once live, if I’m not mistaken. It looks like a triple. Vlad is a technical skater; once he works on his components score and gains more experience, he’ll be a top competitor.
Q: Could Vlad compete against Ilia Malinin?
Stanislava Konstantinova: Undoubtedly. For me, they are skaters of the same level, but Malinin is more experienced. That shouldn’t be discounted because experience, especially international, is a huge bonus for an athlete. Someone who has skated on the Russian stage can never compare to the international stage. It’s a vast difference.
But both Ilia and Vlad lack the second mark; they slightly fall short compared to Adam Siao Him Fa or the Japanese skaters. It’s a slightly different level of skating and self-awareness on the ice. They don’t have as many ultra-Cs, their programs aren’t as complex, but I’d like to see more of some balance.
Q: How did you cope with the plane crash in the USA?
Stanislava Konstantinova: It’s always very hard. The figure skating community is very close-knit; we always support each other, no matter where it happens. It’s a big tragedy; it involves kids, coaches. There are no words.”
Related topics: Ilia Malinin, Loena Hendrickx, Nina Pinzarrone, Stanislava Konstantinova
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