Rafael Arutyunyan: “Samodelkina is improving every day and is performing well on the ice. I have almost no complaints about her work during practice. Off the ice, however, there are areas we need to work on.”
Rafael Arutyunyan discusses the progress and potential of Sofia Samodelkina.
original source: Sports dd. August 10th, 2025 by Maya Bagriantseva
In an interview with Sports correspondent Maya Bagriantseva, Rafael Arutyunyan shared his insights about Sofia Samodelkina’s promising start to the season, her areas for development, and the challenges of mastering advanced elements like the triple axel and quads. Here’s a translation of his comments.
The 18-year-old skater, who represents Kazakhstan, currently holds second place after the short program at the Cranberry Cup in Norwood, USA. Arutyunyan, who is coaching Samodelkina, praised her performance and outlined his expectations moving forward.
“She is meeting the initial expectations we’ve set for her,” Arutyunyan said. “Look, the judges no longer mark her lutz for an incorrect edge. Yes, her combination was marked down, but she landed it cleanly at the end of the program without visible difficulty. It’s only the beginning of the season, and I think she did well. We’ll continue observing and refining things as we move forward.”
He highlighted her determination in trying to catch up to Isabeau Levito, the World Championship medalist who currently leads the competition:
“I deliberately sent her to Norwood alone so she could travel there independently and compete at this level by herself. It’s important for her to fight and give her best effort.”
Arutyunyan commended her skating overall:
“Sofia is improving every day and is performing well on the ice. I have almost no complaints about her work during practice – she puts in the effort and listens carefully. Off the ice, however, there are areas we need to work on. She’s young, and as she matures and applies herself, many of these issues will naturally resolve.”
According to Arutyunyan, it’s important for Samodelkina to adapt to the entirely different system she’s now part of:
“She still needs time to settle here and fully adapt. The shift to these new routines and expectations is ongoing, but I believe we’re heading in the right direction. She needs to take more responsibility for everything she does – not just on the ice, but off the ice as well.
For her, communication is an area that needs improvement. It’s crucial for me that an athlete strives to become a professional in every aspect. We’ll see how she handles this challenge.”
The coach emphasized the importance of patience and progress:
“A lot is starting to fall into place. We’ve developed two strong programs, one choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne. The process is moving, but it takes time. I really hope it all comes together for us because I don’t want to waste valuable time.”
When asked if Samodelkina could regain her triple axel and quads, Arutyunyan expressed cautious optimism:
“We’re working on it. She has potential, and I’m seriously focused on this. Sofia already has some promising attempts at the triple axel, and I hope we can master it. But there’s no rush – that element carries risk, and overtraining jumps can be harmful. Once her overall form improves, the jump will improve as well.”
He emphasized consistency over occasional success:
“The goal isn’t to land the jump once but to execute it consistently. These are two very different things. It’s not about landing it randomly once and recording it on a phone to show judges later.
Landing it once but then getting injured the next time – this is the wrong approach. It has to be stable and consistent, performed when it’s needed most. So, we’ll see. A lot depends on Sofia herself. She has to prove that she wants to reach new heights. I don’t force my students – they have to want it for themselves.”
“If we succeed with the triple axel, that’s fantastic – it will be the cherry on top,” Arutyunyan said. “And if we get one, or even several, quads, we’ll have plenty of cherries, and the cake will be worth a lot,” he concluded humorously.
Related topics: Rafael Arutyunyan, Sofia Samodelkina
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