“Why do we need a single skater who cannot do seven jumping elements in a free program? If I have three out of seven, then who needs it?” Alena Kostornaia about switching to pair skating
Alena Kostornaia about switching to pair skating.
source: Super dd. 20th January 2023
For several days, figure skating fans have been discussing unexpected news. 2020 European Champion Alena Kostornaia stopped working with coach Elena Buyanova and left single skating for pairs. Now the athlete will perform in a pair with Georgy Kunitsa under the guidance of a new coach, Sergei Roslyakov.
According to Alena, recovery from hip surgery took a long time, and during that time she was seriously thinking about her future. After finding it difficult to perform her usual elements on ice, the figure skater decided to try her hand at pair skating.
Alena Kostornaia: “When I tried to restore the elements, I experienced a very big load. My leg began to hurt a lot, which didn’t happen when I learned movements from pair skating. In training, I worked on my single elements; in the evening, I went to another skating rink and worked on pair elements. No matter how strange it may sound, my leg didn’t hurt when I was doing pair elements, but on jumps, for example, it still hurts. Therefore, I will try myself in pair skating, but, of course, it’s too early to talk about some serious results.”
When asked if it was true that coach Elena Buyanova was unhappy with Kostornaia’s decision to train in a pair with Kunitsa, the skater answered bluntly that they really tried to dissuade her.
Alena Kostornaia: “Elena Germanovna was worried that Gosha (short for Georgy) and I started to learn the elements. Yes, we had conversations. They tried to dissuade me, but I thought, “Why do we need a single skater who cannot do seven jumping elements in a free program?” If I have three out of seven, then who needs it?”
Alena explained the frequent change of coaches: during her career, Kostornaia managed to work with Eteri Tutberidze, Evgeni Plushenko, and Elena Buyanova. Alena explained it as a craving for experiments and the search for new approaches.
Alena Kostornaia: “Each of my coaches helped me, but everywhere there were moments that I didn’t really like. The older you get, the more you understand what you want to get from working with a coach. Hence the desire to experiment. I am just looking for something suitable for me, and I am very grateful to each of my coaches. This is an invaluable experience!”
Coach Elena Buyanova, in a conversation with the press, noted that she had “let go” of the figure skater “long ago” but she learned about her final decision from the new coach of Kostornaia, Sergei Roslyakov.
Alena also told Super that she completely trusts her new partner, Georgy Kunica. Now they are resting together in Cuba. It remains only to wish the new pair good luck!
Related topics: Alena Kostornaia
they are dating
Resting together in Cuba? Sounds like dating
Yeap. Hope the desire to do pairs won’t pass together with love)