“My future in sports depends one hundred percent on my health” Interview with Evgenia Medvedeva
Interview with Evgenia Medvedeva and Alexander Enbert. About Anna Karenina ice show, debut in pair skating and plans for the future.
source: sport24.ru dd. 10th July 2021
Evgenia Medvedeva spoke with the media after the premiere of the show.
Evgenia Medvedeva: We got Kitty, which we all wanted. As in a book. We tried to get as close as possible to this character. I think we did it.
Tell us about your debut in pairs.
Evgenia Medvedeva: I have the brightest and most positive feelings. My debut was a success, the premiere was a success. Everyone is very happy. These were sleepless nights of preparation, days without food and without water. No kidding, Ilia Averbukh lived here, spent the nights at the “Iceberg” arena, did not sleep for the last four days. I think everyone will say that it was justified. The premiere will give us strength to endure 46 more performances.
At this point, the same journalist who sent Medvedeva to retire during the press conference asked a question in a similar wording. Zhenya remembered.
Zhenya, tell me. Some experts say that if you return to the sport, it could be pair skating.
Evgenia Medvedeva: I’m just very interested, why all the questions about professional sports come from you? We had a premiere! Everything is very beautiful. Let’s talk about this.
Was it difficult to make high lifts?
Evgenia Medvedeva: In the beginning, yes. It’s not even difficult, but scary. All my figure skating took place at a height of no more than 30-40 centimeters. And here – two meters and more. I was afraid of heights. I jumped off the lift, and Sasha had to catch me. Sometimes even with one hand. It was automatic. Now everything is fine. I know that Sasha Enbert is the most reliable partner. I trust him.
The press approach was wonderful because journalists could completely unexpectedly change the topic of the conversation, which added new colors to it.
You trained in Canada for two years. What is different in the training systems in these two countries?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Everything is different, in fact. Other people, a completely different mentality, a different schedule, a different approach to life. What do we have? If you are engaged, if you decided that sport is your life, you must be in shape, you must skate well and train a lot. Due to the mentality and structure of society as a whole, everything is completely different in Canada. Everything is in the “you want – you don’t want” style. Nobody will remind you of your duties. I can’t say which is better. It’s just like that.
During the question about Canada, Alexander Enbert unexpectedly joined Zhenya.
“Konstantin, you scared me,” she reacted to the appearance her partner without getting out of character, referring to Konstantin Levin, the hero Enbert plays.
Sasha, what are your emotions?
Alexander Enbert: At the moment they are gone. They are all on ice. It’s great when long work is expressed in good skates, interesting programs. Everything turns out the way you wanted. This feeling is close to euphoria.
Usually, after the competition, the skaters are asked “what worked out, what didn’t work out.”
Alexander Enbert: The impossible happened. Evgenia and I skated in a pair.
Evgenia Medvedeva: In my opinion, everything worked out. I personally had no problems. I think Sasha too. Everything went as we planned, and we are incredibly happy about it.
Alexander Enbert: Today was an important day. And the programs are complex and rich. You do not have time to relax even for a second. When at the end you make a bow with the feeling that you have done everything – death spiral, lifts, spins, entries, transitions – it’s cool.
Evgenia Medvedeva: The premiere is the foundation for future performances. If you make a mistake at the beginning, it will come up on the next 5-6 shows. The thoughts will be: “God forbid I will make this mistake again.”
Alexander Enbert: The foundation is reinforced concrete.
If there was a foundation now, can something change in the building?
Alexander Enbert: I think it will. Evgenia and I met in May. And now you have seen what happens by July. Maybe something else will be added by August. Or maybe nothing will change.
I am sure that we can do something more difficult. But the artistic component of the performance is also important. Let’s say Zhenya and I learned some kind of lift, but they just didn’t fit here.
Evgenia Medvedeva: They turned out too sporty, suitable for gaining levels (laughs).
Alexander Enbert: But it’s great when there is plenty to choose from.
Is “Anna Karenina” the coolest show in which you took part?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Definitely, yes. I think Ilia himself will say that Karenina is one of his most striking productions.
Alexander Enbert: One hundred percent. Ilia always has flagship performances. I spent a lot of time at the training camps in Sochi over the years. Of course, we watched Carmen, Romeo and Juliet. When I first came to “Carmen”, I caught myself thinking that this is a real ice show. This is how it should look: with an idea, with art, with choreography, with creativity, with elements. From year to year, Ilia’s shows are getting better and better. And yes, this is the best thing I have ever been involved in.
Will it be possible to rest in Sochi with such a busy schedule?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Actually, we do not have such a tight schedule. Everything is relative. And, if we compare with the New Year’s shows (three shows a day. – ed) “The Wizard of Oz”, which we skated in Moscow, two days off a week and one performance a day – it’s just a luxury!
Alexander Enbert: Yes! And in comparison with sports training camps, everything is simpler here. There is a minute to touch a water (laughs).
Were you afraid to drop Zhenya in the first training sessions?
Alexander Enbert: I’m still afraid. I fulfill all the elements very responsibly.
Medvedeva patted her partner on the shoulder approvingly.
Medvedeva was also asked several questions about her plans for the 2020 Olympics and answered a question about her future.
We talked about pair elements, but today you also had a triple toe loops from an unusual entry…
Evgenia Medvedeva: This is not an unusual entry, but an exercise that we have been doing since the age of 11. It is done to develop the second jump in combination, but it looks very picturesque, so I decided to jump like this.
Are there any other jumps planned?
Evgenia Medvedeva: As you can see, no.
And in the future shows? There are still two months ahead.
Evgenia Medvedeva: This show is not about jumping, absolutely.
You are the Tokyo Summer Olympics ambassador. Games in two weeks. Do you know something about your possible trip to Japan?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Negotiations are underway. There are discussions about how I will or will not attend the Games. There is no clarity, because every week everything changes. Only before the start of the Olympics itself it will be clear in what form I will participate in the event.
That is, the probability of a trip to Japan remains?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Of course it does.
The last question that can be answered without specifics. Does your future in sports depend on your health?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Sure. It depends on health one hundred percent.
Related topics: Evgenia Medvedeva, Natalia Zabijako Alexander Enbert
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