“Of course, when we won the Olympics, it must have been very upsetting for her. At that moment, our friendship completely ended – at least on her side.” Tatiana Volosozhar on her relationship with Aliona Savchenko
Tatiana Volosozhar opens up about her relationship with Aliona Savchenko
original source: Channel 1
Tatiana Volosozhar, Olympic champion in pairs skating, shared details about her relationship with Aliona Savchenko during an appearance on the podcast “Free Program” on Russia’s Channel One. The podcast is hosted by her husband and former skating partner, Maxim Trankov. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“Q: Your story with Aliona Savchenko is quite interesting. You skated together as part of the Ukrainian national team and even became champions of Ukraine. Later, one of you moved to Germany, and the other to Russia, and both of you became two of the best pair skaters in the world. You used to be friends at some point, right? But then, as the competition between you grew fierce, that friendship faded a little.
Tatiana Volosozhar: When I moved to compete for Russia – which I’m, of course, endlessly happy about, as destiny brought me to exactly the right place – and when we partnered up as a team, Aliona saw us as distinct competitors. We weren’t just stepping on her heels; we could actually beat her. I think that’s when our friendship began to strain a little.
I’ve always respected my competitors. I can’t just stop talking to someone because they beat us. But from Aliona’s side, there were some childish grudges, and while I understood them, I accepted that. I could empathize with her position.
Of course, when we won the Olympics in Russia with a significant advantage in our country, it must have been very upsetting for her. By that point, she had already competed in several Olympics, and it felt like it might be her last opportunity. At that moment, our friendship completely ended – at least on her side. In the locker room, we’d exchange a dry ‘hello,’ and that would be all. And this was after times when we’d trained together in Germany, visited each other’s homes, shared nearly everything, and were like close friends.
After the Olympics, there was a long break in communication. Then we met again during the Art on Ice show when Aliona was already skating with Bruno Massot. From that point on, we started talking again. When she later won the Olympics and finally achieved her ultimate goal, I was genuinely happy for her.
I fully understand how much she sacrificed and devoted to figure skating. She’s a hero, an extraordinary athlete, and one of the greatest.”
Related topics: aliona savchenko, Tatiana Volosozhar Maxim Trankov
To Dominique – you are just trying to put Tatiana down because she moved to Russia and is happy there. Total rasist.
To no war – both are Ukrainians as well, so you can just put your worn out rasist card in your pocket. No matter how Tatiana is as a person no many outside Russia remember her. While Aliona is a legend!
To Dominique – you are just a rasist. Both Tatiana and Aliona are great! Tatiana is a wonderful person.
To Tatiana – Aliona is way greater than you. And you are actually the one trying to talk badly about her. Because you probably know, you are forgotten outside Russia and Aliona is just so profoundly inspiring and easily recognized everywhere.