Adeliia Petrosian: “When I decided to join Tutberidze’s group, my mom tried to stop me. She said they wouldn’t accept someone with my strong-willed character. But I was determined and knew that it was the right place for me.”

Interview with Adeliia Petrosian.

original source: progorod76.ru dd. March 7th by Sergei Dobrolubov

Here’s a translation of the interview with Adeliia Petrosian on Profgorod76.

“Q: Adeliia, many people say that you are one of the most talented figure skaters of your generation. How do you handle such high expectations?

Adeliia Petrosian: I handle it calmly because I have a very clear understanding of my strengths and weaknesses. My objective perception of myself is one of my strongest qualities.

Q: What is more important to you – the recognition of the judges or the approval of the audience?

Adeliia Petrosian: Both are important. I always strive for fair judging and audience support.

Q: Speaking of audiences, the flip side for any public figure is the presence of haters. Do you have them, and how do you handle harsh comments directed at you?

Adeliia Petrosian: Yes, I do have them. There used to be many insults about my height and nationality. Now people analyze every word and every look. I don’t try to come across as someone I’m not. I don’t feel the need to please everyone, and I dislike pretending to be something I’m not. When you decide to be yourself, there will always be criticism and even hate. Sometimes people criticize fairly, but other times they invent things about me that aren’t true.

I try to respond to harsh comments about me with understanding and calmness. I realize that it’s impossible to please everyone, and people’s opinions can vary greatly.

Q: How do you handle the pressure from competitors during major competitions?

Adeliia Petrosian: At this stage, it seems that no one is pressuring me. My results depend only on myself.

Q: Figure skating is often associated with intense emotional strain. How do you recover after stressful performances?

Adeliia Petrosian: Recovery is very difficult for me; it’s something I still need to work on. I feel completely drained after each performance – I have no energy left at all. Every performance demands not only physical but also emotional energy, and it’s sometimes hard for me to recover from that.

Q: Like in any sport, figure skating often involves tough coaches. Have you ever felt like giving up when a coach was critical?

Adeliia Petrosian: That’s a very funny question in my case (smiles). I’ve always known that I need a strict coach on the ice. I take criticism easily. You can say anything to me, and I’ll find a way to handle it (laughs). When I decided to join Eteri Georgievna’s group, my mom tried to stop me. She said they wouldn’t accept someone with my strong-willed character. But I was determined to join “Khrustalny” and knew that it was the right place for me, and I believed I could stay there.

Q: Which famous figure skaters do you look up to as idols, and why?

Adeliia Petrosian: I’ve said many times that I don’t have idols. But if I had to pick someone, I admire Yuzuru Hanyu the most. In my opinion, no one has ever given so much of themselves to figure skating. He truly loves what he does, and it’s evident in his programs.

Q: What qualities do you think are important to become a successful figure skater?

Adeliia Petrosian: Determination, fearlessness, and probably self-sacrifice.

Q: Do you have a non-sports-related dream that you’d like to share?

Adeliia Petrosian: I prefer not to talk about my dreams out loud (laughs); otherwise, they might not come true.

Q: Figure skating is a sport for the young. Have you thought about your future after retiring as a skater? Would you like to stay in the sport or pursue something else?

Adeliia Petrosian: Yes, I very much hope to stay in figure skating after finishing my career as an athlete.

Q: Finally, what would you like to say to young figure skaters who are just starting their journey in this challenging but incredible sport?

Adeliia Petrosian: Listen to your coaches and parents. Trust only them.”

Related topics: Adeliia Petrosian