Evgenia Medvedeva: ‘I said to myself: ‘Girl, you done well, you deserve it, do what you want.’ And now my body is thanking me that I eat normally’
Interview with Evgenia Medvedeva for Forbes.
source: Forbes youtube channel
About age minimum
Evgenia Medvedeva: Me, as a person who won all her main titles at the age of 16-17, cannot agree with this decision. But I hope that such a decision will positively affect the health of athletes. Now skaters do very complex elements, you won’t win without quadruples – I won with triples, it’s more gentle.
I disagree, but I hope for the best. I hope it will be useful.
About suspension of Russian skaters
What will happen to figure skating? Will it be locally Russian?
Evgenia Medvedeva: For now, yes, while it will be local. A lot of Russian competitions like the Grand Prix are planned. So the guys will compete inside the country. But we have strong competition, so it won’t be boring.
Do you communicate with the guys from the national team?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Yes, but we communicate not as athletes, but as friends. Therefore, we do not particularly discuss the topic of sports.
Are they not demotivated now?
Evgenia Medvedeva: I did not ask. But if put myself in their place, it’s hard. I would be desperate.
About getting to Eteri Tutberidze
Evgenia Medvedeva: In the group of one previous coach, I was always considered the smallest, most frail, unathletic. They said I wouldn’t achieve anything. My mother and grandmother took me to the director of the CSKA figure skating school. She said: let’s go to Eteri Georgievna Tutberidze.
A couple of days later we came to Eteri Georgievna – I was small, about 7 years old. Two more people came with me to the try out. These two were not taken, they took me. Because I was small, thin – that’s exactly why they took me. At one place they said that I would not achieve anything, but here they took me.
Who in the family wanted you to become a figure skating star the most?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Nobody wanted me to become a star. We did not have the task of becoming a star, conquering Moscow.
But there are a lot of parents who want.
Evgenia Medvedeva: Unfortunately, nothing works out for such families. My family, they didn’t pressure me, they tried to prove to me and proved that every person should have his own business. Mom said: I get up in the morning and go to work, and your grandmother wakes up and prepares breakfast for you, cleans the apartment, goes to the store – this is grandmother’s business, and your business is to get up in the morning and go to training. I was inspired, put on the path, that you are not obliged, but this is your business.
About Kamila Valieva
Who are you friends with in figure skating?
Evgenia Medvedeva: With Kamilka Valieva.
How is she?
Evgenia Medvedeva: She’s fine. The girls are holding on. Frustrated, of course.
There is so much politics in big competitions.
Evgenia Medvedeva: Let’s not get into it. The most important thing is that the baby is fine.
Did she recovered quickly from the PR flood that fell on her?
Evgenia Medvedeva: You know, as person who was hurt that after the Olympics, people close to me told in an interview about my condition after the Games … I trusted people, and then they said in an interview: you can’t imagine, Zhenya cried so much, Zhenya was so worried, she felt so bad. Although I didn’t talk about it myself. Therefore, I will not talk about Kamila’s condition. But I honestly tried to do everything to make it easier for her.
I was very hurt then that other people told about my feelings that I did not disclose, did not want to talk about myself.
About being an adult
Evgenia Medvedeva: I really enjoy being an adult. I have never, ever wanted to go back to my childhood. This does not mean that I had an unhappy childhood, that I was deprived of something – no, I was a happy child, I had both games and friends.
But I always felt like I had a thought in my head, no matter what. And I want to express it, I tell people in absolute seriousness, but they don’t take me seriously. And I was so offended. I was not taken seriously for quite a long time, until the age of 19-20. When I crossed the line of 20 years, they began to talk to me like to an adult.
There were many moments when I talked to people on a serious topic – for example, starting a business, bank deposits, well, a really adult topic. And I often noticed that a person was like this: ha ha, wht are you talking about? A person just laughs. And I’m so offended, it’s unpleasant: why can’t you listen? I seem to be saying the right things. Therefore, I am pleased that now my words are taken seriously.
What do you think is the reason?
Evgenia Medvedeva: I am a young girl, of small stature, fragile. Who devoted her whole life to sports, and many people think: what can she know, besides sports, she has not seen life. But in fact, I saw life in parallel with sports.
Are you a feminist by nature?
Evgenia Medvedeva: I am for healthy feminism. In today’s world there is discrimination, you can’t get anywhere from it. The topic is serious, you can talk for a long time. Healthy feminism – yes, I support girls who pave their way, who fight for their rights, promote their business. It’s quite difficult for girls in business. And it’s pretty cool that they do it.
About a photo shoot for Maxim magazine and role models
You were on the cover of Maxim magazine. What kind of a page this in your biography?
Evgenia Medvedeva: An offer was received, we thought that I was no longer 15, everything was legal, we could do it, I seemed to be pretty, in shape – why not? I already wanted to declare myself that I will not always be in figure skating dresses, that I will not always walk in long skirts. I am also a beautiful girl who was invited to the cover of Maxim.
For me, this cover was a kick in the recognition of my sexuality. I can’t say that I’m super happy with the cover, I can’t say that I’m super happy with how I look on it. But for me, this is a huge step in recognizing myself as a girl, and perhaps even as a woman.
After that, I felt that I wanted a beautiful photo shoot. Once I had a photoshoot with a friend, and then I think ‘I have beautiful underwear with me, let’s try’. And here – a photo session in underwear, and it turned out so beautiful, so tender, unusual for me, and not vulgar at all.
It turns out that the female body can be very touching and beautiful – depending on how you present it. For me, this was also a discovery of myself and a rather important step in my life.
Do you have a style icon?
Evgenia Medvedeva: I like Kendall Jenner in appearance, they often compare me with her, because we have a similar appearance type. She is a beauty.
About not competing
Is it a pleasure for you to move away from discipline?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Oh sure.
Have you ever failed discipline for 2-3 weeks?
Evgenia Medvedeva: During the competitive period – never. Always disciplined, that’s why there were results.
Are you maintaining the regimen now? Daily routine, a glass of water in the morning, restrictions …
Evgenia Medvedeva: I read books, I try to discipline my brain. But I give my body concessions, because many years of sports it is difficult. Now my body is thanking me that I eat normally, the way I want, I allow myself something tasty but not in some wild quantities.
I try to limit sugar, but I’m not a fan of super mega healthy eating. I can allow myself fried food, and stuff like this. And my body thanks me for it.
Did you feel better after you stopped competing?
Evgenia Medvedeva: At first it was difficult without discipline, without competitions. I have gained a lot: there was no load, but there was food. It has changed places, it is not clear what to do …
But I said to myself: girl, you did well, you deserve it, do what you want. Gatherings with friends until 5 in the morning, tasty treats in unlimited quantities – and then the body was like this: well, we ate, everything is cool, thank you very much, Zhenya. In principle, you can go back to some discipline.
Can you have a glass of prosecco?
Evgenia Medvedeva: I am 22 years old. Sure I can.
About personal life
During the “Ice Age” there were many different rumors. How do you take them?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Pretty hard. It’s hard for me to share my personal life with people in such detail. I was brought up in such a way that my life is something that I hold in my hands and do not give to anyone. Especially if it’s something personal. Especially if some kind of relationship begin. I can’t do like: here watch.
Do you believe in love?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Of course. I’m a girl. Why should I not believe in love?
And with Milokhin – is it a fake?
Evgenia Medvedeva: Why fake? We’ve said a million times that we’re friends. And all that was, some interesting moments … There was no script. Just the way it went. The project is over – the common themes are over and we don’t see each other that much.
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Nice interview