Alexander Zhulin: I set myself a task to qualify Sinitsina and Katsalapov for Olympics
My favorite Russian ice dance drama, senseless and ruthless)))
Eventually some comments from Zhulin about his new pair Sinitsina/Katsalapov and their plans:
I set myself a task that both Sinitsina / Katsalapov and Bobrova / Soloviev qualify for the Olympic Games in Korea. But first at least we must qualify for the European Championship and show good skating there.
Yes, the history of our relations with Katsalapov is dramatic, but I hope that he and Viktoria, as a pair, made certain conclusions for themselves. We have a normal relationships with Nikita, we talked, he understands that he needs me, and what was in the past, remains in the past. I hope that everything will be fine.
“Sinitsina / Katsalapov is a talented, skilled pair, but not reveled fully. I’ll try to do something”, added the expert, who believes that the image of figure skaters needs a common denominator. -“Firstly, he is an Olympic champion, but Vika strongly improved in skating. I’ll try to make them look emotionally right, so that they will match each other in this. They have a slightly different charisma, and my task is to combine all these components.”
Zhulin also doesn’t think that this transition will add some tension in his group:
Instead of the conflict I expect to see normal healthy competition, and let the strongest win. After all, Katya and Dima are six-time Russian national champions and they will get a good sparring in the person of Vika and Nikita.
He also told that Sinitsina / Katsalapov will continue the cooperation with Tchaikovskaya:
I had a conversation with Tchaikovskaya, she will continue to supervise the pair. She is a very strong specialist, and any of her comments will be to the benefit. She helped us very much in work with Bobrova / Solovyov and with Navka / Kostomarov. I have always had a very good relations with Elena Anatolievna.
Anatoli Samokvalov rsport.ru
Related topics: Alexander Zhulin, ice dance, Victoria Sinitsina Nikita Katsalapov
Move over Babrova
Trust me, I’d rather see Bobrova and Soloviev with their Vivaldi and awkward poses than spoiled Nikita and his lover who he supposedly hurt. Bobrova and Soloviev may not be the best skaters out there, and Zhulin really needs to get them better programs, but at least they seem like honest people.
Then again, are any Russian ice dancers truly what they seem? I think I’ll stick with the Shibutanis and Weaver/Poje.