Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: “I would definitely not refuse going under a neutral flag because I love the whole atmosphere of competitions abroad.”
Translation of Elizaveta Tuktamysheva’s comments about her decision to take a pause in her career.
original source: fontanka.ru dd. 23d November 2023
Here’s a translation of Elizaveta Tuktamysheva’s comments given in an interview for Fontanka.
“Q: How did your coach Alexei Nikolaevich Mishin react when you told him about the decision to take a pause in your career?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I could see in his eyes that he was a little disappointed and wanted me to continue skating. But not once did I hear anything like, “You must continue…” He understood my situation, accepted it, and did not impose his opinion. We simply discussed that I can always come back to the rink. Sometimes I help him work with the kids. We are still in touch, and life hasn’t separated us.
Q: Your announcement caused a lot of stir on the Internet. Reactions were varied. One of the most frequent comments was, “This is not a pause in the career; it’s the end.” What would you say to that?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I would say that I can return to the ice and restore triple axels, triple-triple combinations, and more with the desire and sufficient motivation. Moreover, I’m not leaving the sport. I still skate in shows, I do lutzes. With excitement, I can even attempt a triple axel. So, I’m not sitting idle, and I haven’t hung up my skates. At least, I believe in that. I have tangible examples of people who came back even after a two-year break, like Evgeni Plushenko.
Q: Is the decision somehow related to the fact that our athletes currently cannot participate in international competitions?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: When you’ve tasted international victories, of course, it’s not as interesting to compete in Russia now.
Q: Do you feel that personally this situation (with the ban on participating in international competitions, the Olympics, the requirement to compete under neutral flags) has taken something away from you?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I’ve been skating successfully for quite a long time, and there were years when we were still allowed to compete. I won quite a lot, and I don’t feel like I missed out on anything over the last two years. I have already become a World and European champion, and overall, I am satisfied with what I have. But I’m afraid that the younger generation may have a different feeling. What to do in their case is a more difficult question, I think.
Q: Figure skating for us, for our country, is like a new ballet, a new space industry — something that unites us and constitutes national pride?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I think there is some truth to that. Compared to 2010, we have many champions in singles and pairs skating and dance. Our figure skating is now renowned for having an excellent school. Children watch competitions, and parents want to enroll their children in this sport. It’s very beautiful and very challenging, like ballet, with immense loads and incredibly tough barriers to break through.
Q: Would you skate under a neutral flag if there were no other option to compete in international competitions?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: I think if the federation sent its athletes under a neutral flag, if such an opportunity were permissible, I would definitely not refuse. Certainly, I would go because I love the whole atmosphere of competitions abroad.
Q: Soviet athletes sometimes felt like legionnaires, gladiators who went out under the flag of their country. They competed not for themselves or their ambitions but specifically for the flag. What are you skating for?
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: In this regard, I am more selfish than Soviet athletes. I always skated for myself and for my team. It was essential for me to show myself that it was Liza Tuktamysheva who took the first place. In this regard, I am just an ordinary girl.”
Related topics: Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
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