Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: “Of course, it’s very cool to perform on the Olympic ice, but it seems to me there are bigger and cooler things in life that you can wish and dream about.”
Interview with Elizaveta Tuktamysheva for Cosmopolitan.
source: cosmo.ru dd. 21.02.2022 by Daria Gulyaikina
Elizaveta, did you watch figure skating at these Olympics? What are your impressions?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: Of course, I watched figure skating in Beijing. In my opinion, it was very emotional and interesting Olympics. For the first time in my memory, there were such passions at the competitions. It was interesting, and I am very happy for Vika Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov, and for Zhenya Tarasova – she is my good friend, and for Anya Shcherbakova, and for Sasha Trusova, and for Mark Kondratiuk. It seems to me that all our athletes performed very worthy.
Was it easy for you to watch the Olympics? What emotions did you experience at that moment – fear, joy, or, perhaps, annoyance that you were not there?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: There was no annoyance. There was only a purely sporting interest, how our athletes skated. Moreover, this is not the first time that I do not get to the Olympics, and in principle I already know these feelings from my own experience.
In addition, it was fair that I did not get into the national team: the competition in single figure skating is very high. It is logical that girls with quadruple jumps, with good programs, went to the Games, and they performed very worthily.
The trio that represented our country is indeed the strongest in Russia today. There were no negative emotions while watching the Olympic Games.
What did it mean to you to be a substitute at these Games? Is it still your dream to perform on the Olympic ice?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I wouldn’t call it a dream. Naturally, it’s very cool to perform on the Olympic ice, to visit the Olympics, but it seems to me that there are bigger and cooler things in life that you can wish and dream about. I am not an athlete who lives and trains only for the Olympics. Yes, it’s a bit of a shame that it didn’t work out. If it works out next time, it will be cool, if not, then I will find something to do in life. (Smiling.)
Which skater did you root for the most and why?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I can’t single out just one. I was rooting for everyone, I wanted everyone to perform well. The only thing, I was rooting for Tarasova – Morozov, because Zhenya is my friend. They had a very difficult, thorny path, and finally, exactly where they needed to, they gave two good performances, and I was very happy for Zhenya.
In your opinion, the faith of the fans, betting on victory – does it energize or, on the contrary, puts pressure, which only reduces concentration?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: Speaking about me, it seems to me that when fans worry about you and believe in you, it gives good positive emotions. But when they hang a medal on you in advance, it can bring you down, because excessive responsibility start to pressure, you think about it more. It’s complicated. Although it may motivate someone.
I have not been in such a situation when you go to competitions as a specific leader. In general, few people can boast of such moments in their careers. I had them for a long time. I think if you don’t read a lot of the press, disconnect from social networks and focus only on figure skating, no amount of talk around, gossip and bets will bring you down.
It is important for me to abstract and concentrate on figure skating. Then it will be easier to perform. (Smiling.)
Related topics: Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
Ah Liza, I understand everything here. You are a smart Lady. I wish xou success and happiness in life.