Adeliia Petrosian: “I don’t glide like Kostornaia, and I don’t jump like Trusova, so there’s definitely plenty for me to work on.” & “Honestly, I don’t know what it would take to skate in a way that would make Tutberidze only praise me.”

Interview with Adeliia Petrosian.

original source: MFK Magazine

Interview with Adelia Petosian: a look at growth, challenges, and goals in figure skating. Here’s a translation.

“Q: Adeliia, it seems like you’ve grown taller this season. Have you already gone through puberty, or is your body still changing?

Adeliia Petrosian: I think I’m still growing, and changes are definitely still ahead.

Q: Are you comfortable with your current physique?

Adeliia Petrosian: At the very least, my height doesn’t bother me, and overall, everything is fine for now — I’m managing.

Q: How did this season go for you? What kind of impression did it leave, and can you share your emotions?

Adeliia Petrosian: The first half of the season went really well. I trained consistently, gained form quickly over the summer, and felt pretty solid. My coaches and I managed to peak at the Russian Nationals, which was the main goal. The second half was more challenging — I felt fatigue setting in and allowed myself to relax a bit. A dip in form after the season’s most important event is to be expected.

Q: Is it hard to get back into the groove in the spring?

Adeliia Petrosian: Not really. Usually, I tend to spend the two months between the last competitions and my break pretty well. We don’t skate programs as much during this time — we focus more on refining jumps and cleaning up elements, which I’ve always enjoyed. Normally, I’m in a good mood and things go smoothly. But this year has been different — it’s been tougher and requires more effort. I’ve had to push myself harder.

Q: What are your plans for next season?

Adeliia Petrosian: I think it’s still a bit early to talk about that.

Q: You’re a two-time Russian Champion and a leader of our national team. Your skating captivates audiences. Are there still areas in your preparation you feel need improvement?

Adeliia Petrosian: This is sports — it’s always about improving. I don’t glide like Alena Kostornaia, and I don’t jump like Sasha Trusova, so there’s definitely plenty for me to work on.

Q: What goals do your coaches set for you, and what goals do you set for yourself?

Adeliia Petrosian: My goals align with those of my coaches: we need to show up and work hard on the ice. My coaches understand when to push me and when to hold me back. The key for me is to listen to them in those moments and not give in to my emotions or weaknesses.

Q: What do your coaches usually say to you after you come off the ice? Do they praise you or focus on your mistakes?

Adeliia Petrosian: Eteri Georgievna always focuses on analyzing mistakes. Honestly, I don’t know what it would take to skate in a way that would make her only praise me. Even small flaws are noticed. She always tries to point things out right away because we don’t see each other much afterward — I’m whisked away to interviews, doping control, and then usually have the next day off after competitions. As for Daniil Markovich and Sergei Viktorovich, they try to lighten the mood, crack jokes, and give me a chance to vent because when I’m excited and emotional, I can’t stop talking, and they let me.

Q: Do you usually know what your coaches will say to you after you skate? Do you already know your “mistakes”?

Adeliia Petrosian: When I’m skating, I usually realize where I’ve slipped up. If I fall on a jump, that’s obvious, but sometimes it’s something like a missed step in the footwork sequence — it’s noticeable to me and the coaches immediately.

Q: Have you ever been surprised when your coaches pointed out a mistake you thought you executed perfectly?

Adeliia Petrosian: I think every athlete has experienced that. The key is to stay quiet, listen to your coach, and try not to argue or get defensive to avoid frustration. I think I’ve learned to handle this — I might disagree internally, but I don’t voice it.

Q: How comfortable do you feel at competitions? Are they more of a stress or a celebration for you?

Adeliia Petrosian: Since I’ve been competing since childhood, I feel quite comfortable, but they’re definitely more stressful than celebratory for me.

Q: Is it like a responsible work?

Adeliia Petrosian: No, not a work. I work during training, but when I step onto the ice at competitions, it’s more like a performance. My stress and nerves come from wanting to execute everything properly and show what I’ve prepared. When I deliver a clean skate, that’s when it becomes a celebration.

Q: Does the number of spectators in the stands matter to you?

Adeliia Petrosian: Of course, it’s always more exciting when there are more spectators. I love being supported. Recently at shows in Kazan, Moscow, and Tashkent, the audience was incredibly active. Even as I was in the starting position, waiting for the music to begin, they were still shouting kind words. It’s very motivating and uplifting.

Q: Do cheers from the audience distract you?

Adeliia Petrosian: No, not at all — it fits the moment. When I’m in the starting position, I often think, “Alright, Adeliia, let’s go!” Sometimes when the arena is silent during a program, someone will shout, “You’ve got this!” It used to throw me off, but now I find it less distracting.

Q: Which medal is the most valuable to you so far, and why?

Adeliia Petrosian: There are two. One is from the Russian Grand Prix Final in 2023, where I competed against very strong girls. It was the first time I landed a quad flip, and I was incredibly happy. That event marked the beginning of a streak of victories and is one of the most memorable competitions in my life.

The second is from this year’s Russian Nationals. I started thinking about this championship back in the summer — every morning, I imagined delivering a clean skate. I was nervous, but I kept preparing myself mentally. These two medals are the most valuable to me. When I look at the others, I linger on the two from my Junior Grand Prix events as well.

Q: At which school and under which coach did you start your skating journey?

Adeliia Petrosian: When I was four years old, I joined the “Moskvich” group under Irina Borisovna Strakhova. I skated with her until I was almost 12. She was an excellent specialist, and I made it through without any injuries under her guidance. Even though my jumping abilities weren’t outstanding back then, Irina Borisovna and Alexei Shemet gave me a solid foundation.

Q: Have you experienced any particularly disappointing failures in your career?

Adeliia Petrosian: Yes, I’ve had some. Two stand out the most. Two years ago at the Russian Nationals, I fell on a triple lutz right after cleanly landing a triple axel, which was a much harder jump. That was after coming back from an injury; I had to put together all the ultra-C elements in just three weeks, and I never even worried about the lutz.

Q: Did you relax after landing the triple axel?

Adeliia Petrosian: No, of course not; I knew I had another solo jump and a combination left. But I still remember knowing I was going to fall even before the takeoff for the jump — it was an odd sense.

Q: And the other case?

Adeliia Petrosian: I was skating at “Moskvich” at the time, and I was 11 years old. I was competing at the Moscow Championship for the younger group. I completely messed up my short program and was praying not to qualify for the free skate — I didn’t want to compete anymore. I spent several days at home crying and then decided I wanted to transition to Eteri Georgievna’s team.

Q: Do you remember your first training session with Eteri Georgievna?

Adeliia Petrosian: I remember it well. It was Thursday, March 14. I was almost 12 years old. At my first practice, Eteri Georgievna wasn’t there. Sergei Viktorovich worked with me, correcting my elements, while Daniil Markovich just observed. Later, he told me he understood everything about me right away — my character, how to work with me.

When Eteri Georgievna arrived, I was over the moon. I felt like I could move mountains to impress her. But my biggest impression was how beautiful she was! I don’t even remember what she said because I was so busy looking at her face and makeup. I was amazed by her eyeliner — she uses the same brown pencil to this day.

Q: In one interview, you said your parents doubted you’d manage to skate in her group because of your personality. What did they mean?

Adeliia Petrosian: As a child, I was… unruly. I did everything my way, didn’t choose my words carefully. I had to change a lot — they really had to “tame” me. Of course, some traits remain, and I still need to tone those down. But a tremendous amount of work has been done.

Q: Adeliia, can you share your secret to success?

Adeliia Petrosian: It’s important to choose the right environment. If you’re around someone or a group that negatively influences you and drags you down, it’s better to cut ties. It’s always a matter of choice: either you have fun, and your results worsen day by day, or you let go of someone and move forward.

Q: That’s not easy.

Adeliia Petrosian: No, it’s hard. You first need to realize what’s happening, feel it, analyze it, and then make a decision. The hardest part is distancing yourself from someone in order to move ahead. For me, it’s crucial. My competition results largely depend on how I handle myself during preparation, how much I trust my coaches, and whether I make the right choices.

Q; In your group, you’re the most accomplished athlete. Do you feel like a leader or a role model for others? Does that motivate you?

Adeliia Petrosian: I don’t see myself as a role model. A leader is someone others want to surpass. That I can feel very clearly. You must constantly move forward, improve yourself, and look for motivation.

Q: You once mentioned not feeling comfortable with salchow and lutz jumps. Has that changed?

Adeliia Petrosian: Not really. Jumps from the left foot have always been harder for me, and the salchow is probably the toughest of all. I’ve never liked it, either as a solo jump or in combinations.

Q: Do you practice it in training?

Adeliia Petrosian: Eteri Georgievna always says that every jump needs to be trained — it’s strange if you don’t have a triple salchow. So, yes, I practice it.

Q: Have you ever landed a 4T, 4F, 4L, and 3A in a single run-through during training? Was that ever a goal for you?

Adeliia Petrosian: I’ve never been set that challenge, but at 15, I would include a quad flip, loop, and toe loop in one run-through. Flip and loop are especially hard to combine because both are energy-intensive, especially the loop. It was easier to do a flip, two toe loops, and an axel. At the Russian Grand Prix Final, I aimed for this content but unfortunately fell on the axel.

Q: Do you plan to try that again?

Adeliia Petrosian: I’m no longer 15, and for now, the main goal is to skate cleanly with the content I have. Of course, I’d like to bring the flip back to my free skate. Recently, I tried the loop again — it’s still a good jump for me. The rest depends on my condition and the need for it in my programs.

Q: What’s your favorite non-jump element?

Adeliia Petrosian: Probably the combination spin and sliding moves on my knees. It’s especially fun to glide smoothly when the ice is fresh — then it doesn’t hurt your knees.

Q: Would you like a skating element to be named after you? If so, what would it be?

Adeliia Petrosian: Honestly, I haven’t thought about it. It’s not a big goal for me.

Q: Do you have a favorite program?

Adeliia Petrosian: Yes, it’s my 2023 short program Voila. It’s such a light yet deep program set to music that Eteri Georgievna suggested — well, insisted on. At first, I didn’t connect with it, but after reading the lyrics’ translation, I realized almost every word reflected my story. I ended up loving it, and it marked my transition into senior competitions. Also, I adore last season’s tango — it’s fiery and passionate. It’s amazing how well my coaches understand me — they nailed it with so many of my programs. I hope that continues.

Q: How long does it take you to do your makeup and hair before competitions? Do you do it yourself?

Adeliia Petrosian: It usually takes about two hours. For the free skate, I won’t lie — we always brought in a makeup artist because that level of makeup, especially drawing precise eyeliner, is a bit tricky for me. And I get very nervous before my free skate.

Q: What defines a successful figure skating career for you?

Adeliia Petrosian: A successful career is about titles and having a bright, memorable story in the sport. Preferably one that isn’t short-lived.

Q: Do you have a specific goal in the sport right now?

Adeliia Petrosian: At one point, I dreamed of landing a quad loop at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final so it would count officially, but that competition was canceled due to COVID. And then everything else was canceled.

Q: Would you like to be the first to officially perform a difficult new element?

Adeliia Petrosian: Maybe. Let’s see how things go.

Q: Do you have dreams of being in the Guinness World Records?

Adeliia Petrosian: Not really. What matters more to me is the love of fans. I want to remain in their memories through great programs.

Q: Adeliia, do you ever ask yourself why you go to practice every day?

Adeliia Petrosian: Of course, especially when I feel tired or nothing seems to work. But deep down, I know that if I realized I wanted to skate at such a young age, it wasn’t for nothing. I just need to push through. There are moments of tears and frustration when I don’t want to continue, but I always end up back on the ice. I understand that I can’t waste the talent I’ve been given.

Q: Have you thought about what you’ll do after retiring from skating?

Adeliia Petrosian: Yes, mostly things connected to figure skating. I’ve taught several master classes and discovered I enjoy working with young kids, giving them advice, and guiding them. I love their enthusiasm — they may not fully understand what sport is yet, but they genuinely enjoy skating and learning new things. Their excitement inspires me.

Q: If not skating, what sport would you choose?

Adeliia Petrosian: I think it wouldn’t be a sport but something connected to dancing. I love dancing and moving to music. It energizes me, especially if I’m wearing a beautiful outfit and the music is loud — it’s pure joy.

Q: You’ve mentioned liking to sing. Would you ever take vocal lessons?

Adeliia Petrosian: No, I have zero talent for singing. If anyone heard me, they’d run away! I sing for myself when I’m emotional.

Q: Do you have friends in figure skating? Is friendship between competitors possible?

Adeliia Petrosian: I absolutely believe friendship in figure skating is possible, but it hasn’t worked out for me. It’s not about competition — I can be friends with someone who consistently beats me. For me, it’s all about personality and character.

Q: Compared to other Russian skaters, you’re not very active on social media and don’t seem too excited about interviews. Why?

Adeliia Petrosian: One reason is probably that I just don’t have the energy or time for it. I also prefer watching things rather than posting about myself. Sometimes we do small photoshoots for fun, just to have some nice pictures as memories. But those happen at the end of the season before the next one starts. Then it’s all about work, staying focused, and not getting distracted by shoots or interviews.

Q: How do you unwind from figure skating?

Adeliia Petrosian: I like painting by numbers and watching movies.

Q: Do you have any plans for this summer?

Adeliia Petrosian: Usually, we go to the beach. This year, I’d like to travel somewhere in Europe to explore cities and architecture.

Q: Do you have any favorite “girly” activities?

Adeliia Petrosian: I enjoy dressing up in beautiful clothes and shoes, but I don’t like spending too much time in fitting rooms.

Q: So you don’t enjoy shopping?

Adeliia Petrosian: On the contrary! I love it. Whether it’s in stores or online, I can buy just about anything – needed or not.

Q: Do you like experimenting with makeup or trying new hairstyles? What about cooking?

Adeliia Petrosian: I really don’t enjoy doing my hair – it never turns out well. But I’ve grown to love doing makeup; it makes me happy. As for cooking, maybe I’ll try it someday, but for now, it’s better not to experiment!”

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