Donovan Carrillo: “I’m so happy to have made it to the Olympics for the second time. Waiting for my scores felt longer than the skate itself – ha-ha!”
Donovan Carrillo’s Interview: Olympic Aspirations, Russian Coaches, and Beijing Success
original source: Sport24 dd. 23d September by Konstantin Lesik
Donovan Carrillo, the bronze medalist at the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Beijing, expressed joy at securing his second Olympic appearance for Milan-Cortina 2026. He shared his admiration for Russian skaters, reflected on his collaboration with Eteri Tutberidze’s coaching team, and discussed his goals to further advance his technical skills. Here’s a translation of his comments.
To secure a spot at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Mexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo needed to finish in the top five at the qualification tournament in Beijing. Despite a difficult free skate, his strong short program performance allowed him to hold on to third place, earning bronze and his Olympic spot.
The tournament’s winner, Russia’s Petr Gumennik, received heartfelt congratulations from Carrillo. After the award ceremony, Carrillo approached him to offer a warm embrace, kind words, and support. In the mixed zone interview, Carrillo also expressed his views on the importance of sports inclusivity:
“It saddens me that decisions made by certain individuals can impact the sport in such significant ways. I believe athletes deserve clarity because we all work so hard to reach these events, and every one of us deserves a chance.
I sincerely wish all athletes in Russia, and around the world, well. I hope they continue to fight for their dreams because everyone deserves that chance.”
“Q: How do you feel about qualifying for the Olympics again?
Donovan Carrillo: I’m so happy to have made it to the Olympics for the second time. It’s exciting to see a new generation of skaters rising, and it’s incredible that I can still compete with them.
I’m experiencing a lot of emotions. My training sessions went much better, but my free skate wasn’t ideal. Thankfully, it was enough to qualify for the Olympics. Waiting for my scores felt longer than the skate itself – ha-ha! I tried to fight for every element and think about every single point I could earn.”
Q: Did you get a chance to watch Petr Gumennik’s program?
Donovan Carrillo: Unfortunately, I couldn’t watch his performance because I was giving an interview during that time. But we were in the same practice group, and I saw him train. He has incredible, powerful jumps and exceptional artistry. I’d say he’s a very balanced skater with everything going for him.
Q: Do you follow Russian competitions?
Donovan Carrillo: A bit, yes. You have so many events, and they’re always at a high level – it’s really impressive. I’m glad that Russian skaters like Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik were here in Beijing. Their level is incredibly high, and there’s so much to learn from them. I’d love to interact more with them and their coaches.
Q: Have you worked with Russian coaches before?
Donovan Carrillo: Yes, I’ve had the chance to collaborate with Eteri Tutberidze’s team. In 2021, Sergei Dudakov and Daniil Gleikhengauz came to Mexico for a short training camp, and I participated with other athletes. It was an amazing experience, and I left feeling like I’d learned so much.
I’ve also worked with Valeriy Lesnov, a Russian coach who later moved to Mexico. He helped me improve my jumps with harness training. It was a very helpful experience.
Q: Russian coaches are often thought of as being strict. Were Daniil and Sergei strict with you?
Donovan Carrillo: First and foremost, they’re excellent coaches. Their teaching methods are professional, and they explain techniques very well. I really liked the exercises they gave us. They focus on details that turn out to be extremely important.
I wouldn’t describe them as strict – they’re true professionals. I have the utmost respect for them!
During that camp, we had many group lessons and fantastic exercises. It’s been four years, but I still remember those lessons vividly. I’ll tell you something: I still use their methods in my training sessions today, and it’s amazing!”
Q: Would you train with Tutberidze’s team again if given the chance?
Donovan Carrillo: Why not? Absolutely! I always enjoy learning from different people. I believe every coach has something valuable to teach, and it would be an honor to work with them again.
Q: What is your goal for the Olympics?
Donovan Carrillo: I want to keep improving my results. The level of competition in men’s singles skating has grown significantly, but I’m not giving up. I’ll keep working hard.
My goal is to add more quads. I can land the quad toe loop, and I’ve landed the loop before. I believe I can enhance my programs with a couple of challenging elements over the coming months.
I love figure skating, and I’ll keep pushing to become better and enjoy the process. As long as I keep learning and growing, I’ll stay motivated.”
Related topics: Donovan Carrillo
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