“For the first time in years, I felt that spark again – standing on the podium with a medal and knowing that I earned it through hard work.” Sofia Samodelkina on winning silver at Cranberry Cup
Sofia Samodelkina reflects on her experience at Cranberry Cup in the U.S.
original source: Vsem Lutz Telegram Channel by Maya Bagriantseva
Kazakh figure skater Sofia Samodelkina shares her thoughts on competing at the Cranberry Cup, where she secured a second-place finish behind American Isabeau Levito, expressing gratitude for the support of her coaches and federation and the sense of accomplishment she felt.
Sofia Samodelkina spoke to Sports journalist Maya Bagriantseva about her recent performance at Cranberry Cup in Boston, a competition that was added to her schedule at the last minute after initial plans to debut her season at the Denis Ten Memorial in Kazakhstan in October. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“It was a great competition – bright and exciting. Most of all, I’m happy with how quickly I was able to adjust and prepare physically. Initially, we hadn’t planned on going to Boston, as I was preparing for a later start to my season.”
Samodelkina revealed that the decision to compete at Cranberry Cup was suggested by her coach Rafael Arutyunyan:
“The idea to compete at Cranberry Cup came from Rafael Vladimirovich. At first, I was surprised because I felt like I wasn’t ready – it was still August! But then I realized that if my coach believes I can perform well, why shouldn’t I believe in myself? I’m extremely, extremely grateful to him – not just for the work we do together but for his faith in me.”
Samodelkina spoke about the psychological and motivational impact of training with Arutyunyan:
“I see it on the ice during practice. When things go well, he praises me. And when something doesn’t work, he always finds words to make me feel like it’s possible – he knows I can do it. When someone as legendary as Rafael believes in you, it gives you incredible energy.”
While she was mentally ready for the competiiton, Samodelkina admitted feeling slightly concerned about her physical condition:
“I’d only managed to skate my short program in full five times before the event, and my free skate just a handful more.”
Despite her short preparation time, Samodelkina said she embraced the experience of handling everything independently:
“My coaches reassured me that I would manage, and my mom and I agreed she didn’t need to come with me. Before competitions, she always gets very nervous, fusses, and tries to calm me down – even when I’m not that nervous myself. This time, I was fully responsible for myself, and honestly, I liked it. It was an interesting and important experience.”
Samodelkina also expressed gratitude to the Kazakh skating federation for their quick support:
“I’m very thankful to our federation – they were immediately on board, organizing tickets, accommodations, and offering so much encouragement. They always watch my performances live – even if it’s the middle of the night in Kazakhstan – and call right after to congratulate me. It’s such a nice feeling.”
She reflected on the joy of standing on the podium again:
“For the first time in years, I felt that spark again – standing on the podium with a medal and knowing that I earned it through hard work. The medal is now hanging right across from my bed, and every morning I look at it and smile. It’s a wonderful memory.”
Due to the last-minute nature of her participation, Samodelkina performed in temporary costumes sourced from a ballet store in downtown Los Angeles. She noted the serendipity of one design working out particularly well:
“The burgundy dress for my free skate turned out to be such a great style that I think I’ll consider choosing something similar for the future.”
Related topics: Sofia Samodelkina
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