“At one point, I started crying from the intense pressure and my desire to emphasize how much Russian athletes wanted to compete at the Olympics.” Evgenia Medvedeva reflects on her 2018 trip to Lausanne
Evgenia Medvedeva reflects on her 2018 trip to Lausanne before the Olympics
original source: Kp.ru dd. September 11th by Pavel Sadkov, Olga Rodina
Evgenia Medvedeva shared her memories of the overwhelming responsibility and nerves she experienced during her trip to Lausanne in 2018, where she represented Russian athletes before the IOC ahead of the PyeongChang Olympics. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“Q: During your visit to Lausanne, everyone was deeply concerned for you, as you were sent to address the IOC right before an important competition. It seemed, at that moment, that no one else matched your level of authority. What feelings do you have when remembering that trip?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Honestly, I was terrified. From what I understood, my candidacy was put forward because I spoke decent English at the time and could deliver a long speech before the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. Oh, it was so frightening… I have never been so nervous in my life.
Q: Worse than before a competition?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Much worse. My hands were shaking; at one point, I started crying from the intense pressure and my desire to emphasize how much Russian athletes wanted to compete at the Olympics. That event drained all my energy within just a few days. It was incredibly difficult – perhaps even harder than simply going to the Olympics and competing. When you’re competing, you know you might make a mistake and miss the podium. But in Lausanne, I felt an immense responsibility for the entire Russian team—not just figure skating, but also hockey, bobsleigh, skiing, relays… It was unimaginable; my mind was overwhelmed.
Q: How old were you at the time?
Evgenia Medvedeva: I had just turned 18.
Q: Well, now nothing scares you anymore.
Evgenia Medvedeva: Exactly. I’ve been to Lausanne, I’ve been to the Olympics, and now there’s nothing left in this life that can scare me.
Q: Did the experience make you consider becoming an official afterward?
Evgenia Medvedeva: No, that trip completely deterred me—such immense responsibility is staggering. Perhaps I agree with you here about my young age at the time. You see, how convenient…”
Related topics: Evgenia Medvedeva
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