Petr Gumennik: “Returning to the international stage after four years was a dream come true.”
Petr Gumennik Prepares for Five Quad Jumps and Reflects on Olympic Qualification Victory
original source: Sport24 / Sport-Express
Gumennik, who secured the Olympic license for Russia, spoke about his competitive strategies, the importance of his free skate program, and his interactions with international skaters during the tournament. Here’s a translation of his comments.
Gumennik explained why he decided to return to his previous free skate program set to Onegin:
“We decided that, for now, it’s better to present ‘Onegin’ to audiences. It features a clear and recognizable image, a storyline that everyone knows, and straightforward choreography that’s easy for viewers to grasp.
The more abstract program I have isn’t quite polished enough yet for me to score higher with it. With ‘Onegin,’ I’m confident in its reception.”
When asked about the risk associated with training five quads, Gumennik expressed his commitment to advancing his technical content:
“I’m preparing five quads specifically for the Olympics, so I decided to practice this content during competitions. It’s working well in training quite frequently, but competitions come with added nervousness, which can affect how the jumps execute.
It’s essential to practice this kind of content before reaching the Olympics rather than attempting it there for the first time.”
Reflecting on the challenges and pressure, he remained optimistic about additional checks from the International Olympic Committee (IOC):
“Everything will be fine,” Gumennik said confidently.
Gumennik emphasized his love for skating and the energy he gets from performing in front of an audience:
“When I compete, my main priority is skating for the audience. I already understand where my weaknesses and strengths lie technically, but the most important thing is connecting with the public.
The atmosphere at the competition in Beijing was 10 out of 10 – not because of nerves, but because of the range of emotions I experienced. Returning to the international stage after four years was a dream come true.”
Gumennik reflected on his interactions with foreign athletes during the Beijing tournament:
“We talked a bit more than just ‘hi’ and ‘bye,’ mainly with those I knew before. There were many Russian-speaking skaters as well. Everyone was kind and supportive, and the atmosphere was really warm.”
He shared a humorous anecdote about getting lost after his short program: “When leaving the ice after my skate, I instinctively made my way not toward the bus but toward the press area by accident. It just happened subconsciously.”
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