“The short program will feature a very famous Italian opera, while the free skate will be set to renowned classical music by a Russian composer.” Nikolaj Memola about new programs and plans for the season
Short interview with Nikolaj Memola.
original source: Team Memola Official Telegram
In the short interview posted on Team Memola Official, Nikolaj talks about plans for the season, training with Mishin, and new programs. Here’s a translation.
“Q: What goals have you set for the upcoming season, and do you plan to add any new elements?
Nikolaj Memola: I want to skate cleanly and be more confident while on the ice. I aim to increase my technical content to become more competitive. My main goal for this season is to place on the Grand Prix podium and secure a spot on the Olympic team.
Q: Which season has been the most challenging in your career?
Nikolaj Memola: That would be this past season after my injury. I broke my right ankle and tore two ligaments at the end of June, so I wasn’t able to train all summer.
I only started light training again in September, but I developed a related muscle injury (in my abdominal area) due to being very unbalanced. The lack of training made the first half of the season extremely difficult for me because I couldn’t get into shape, and I struggled with self-confidence.
Q: Which figure skaters do you have close friendships with, and is there anyone you’d like to meet in the future?
Nikolaj Memola: My best friend is Corey Circelli, and I skate with him in Bergamo. He used to skate for Canada, but he now represents Italy. We are very close, both on and off the ice, because we share similar interests and get along really well. I’m also close with Matteo Rizzo, who also trains with me, which makes it nice because it’s always easier to train with people you get along with.
I’ve never had the chance to meet Yuzuru Hanyu, so I’d love to see him skate in real life and, hopefully, get the chance to talk to him.
Q: How do you envision your life after leaving figure skating?
Nikolaj Memola: I honestly don’t know when I want to stop skating or what I want to do after that. Of course, I’d like to go to university (either for economics or law), and after that, I’d want to see where my path takes me. I would also like to start coaching, but right now, I’m not a patient person, so I know I’d need to work on that aspect to become a good coach.
Q: Do you plan to return to St. Petersburg this summer to train under Alexei Mishin?
Nikolaj Memola: I would love to return, but circumstances currently make it very difficult and time-consuming. The journey would take almost a full day to get there, and right now, I have a lot going on in Italy, so it would be very hard to travel back and forth between Milan and St. Petersburg. If direct flights were still available, it would be a different story.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with Alexei Nikolaevich Mishin for many years, and I’m really looking forward to working with him again. In my opinion, he is the greatest coach in the world, and his entire team is of the highest level. I believe working with him would be very beneficial for me. I hope the situation improves, both morally and logistically, so that I can return to St. Petersburg. I also have family and friends living there, so I’d be very happy to go back and see them.
Q: What will be the themes of your programs for the upcoming season? Will they be something new or drawn from traditional classics?
Nikolaj Memola: I’ve already prepared my new programs and will share the music on my Instagram account. The short program will feature a very famous Italian opera, while the free skate will be set to renowned classical music by a Russian composer. I chose these musical pieces to represent both my Italian and Russian heritage.”
Related topics: Nikolaj Memola
Leave a Reply