“A coach must be strict and reasonably fair. An athlete should understand why they’re being scolded and what purpose the feedback serves.”
Daniil Gleikhengauz reflects on coaching, athletes’ development, and the personal side of being a coach.
original source: Sport24/ RSport / MatchTV / MatchTV
Choreographer and coach in Eteri Tutberidze’s team, Daniil Gleikhengauz discusses his approach to training, relationships with athletes, their potential, and how coaching impacts personal life during a fan meeting at Moscow’s Night of Sports. Here’s a translation of his comments.
On Coaching Philosophy
Daniil Gleikhengauz shared his perspective on the role of a coach: “Out of the three of us, Sergey Viktorovich Dudakov is the ‘good cop.’ In the training process, it can’t be any other way – otherwise, the athlete will lose focus and motivation.
A coach must be strict and reasonably fair,” Gleikhengauz said during the fan meeting.
On Eteri Tutberidze’s Approach to Athletes
When asked if his role is to provide more support compared to Eteri Tutberidze’s often strict demeanor, Gleikhengauz clarified the dynamics in training: “It’s impossible to see the whole training process. Each coach interacts differently with the athlete depending on the day. Tutberidze can both criticize and praise, but her support isn’t always visible.
In any case, a coach must be strict and fair. An athlete should understand why they’re being scolded and what purpose the feedback serves,” Gleikhengauz explained.
On What Made Zagitova and Shcherbakova Stand Out
Gleikhengauz was asked about what distinguished Olympic champions Alina Zagitova (PyeongChang 2018) and Anna Shcherbakova (Beijing 2022) during their early years: “They stood out, at the very least, for being adorable little girls. It was clear that as they grew up, they would become charming and charismatic individuals.
When we first saw Alina, many aspects of her skating impressed us – her spins, her technique. But at the time, she wasn’t a star; she wasn’t winning competitions yet. We started working with her, and the results paid off. However, back then, you couldn’t have said these girls were destined to become Olympic champions,” Gleikhengauz recounted.
On Coaching’s Impact on Personal Life
Gleikhengauz spoke about the emotional and personal challenges of being a coach:
“Q: Do you empathize with athletes who dedicate their lives to achieving results?
Danii Gleikhengauz: The training process takes up the majority of the day. But as a coach, you engage with different people, travel across Russia and the world, and gain recognition. We try to convey to athletes how fortunate they are to have opportunities to see the world and meet many different people – things that aren’t available to everyone.
Q: Can you consider athletes part of your family? Does coaching distract you from personal life?
Danii Gleikhengauz: It’s emotionally tough, but you adapt to it. You can’t help but feel attached to the athletes. Of course, it affects your personal life – sometimes you feel upset. But much depends on your partner. For example, my wife Olga always supports me and listens when I need to talk about figure skating.
Q: Do you advise athletes about their personal lives?
Danii Gleikhengauz: Giving advice about who they shouldn’t spend time with is overstepping boundaries. It’s fine to make suggestions about important basics, like maintaining a healthy routine. But we don’t forbid someone from talking to someone,” Gleikhengauz said with a smile.
Related topics: Daniil Gleichengauz
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