Rafael Arutyunyan: “What do I wish for Ilia Malinin? For the important things he has planned in his life to definitely come true. And that he should not be afraid to make difficult and uncomfortable decisions. It’s not always possible, nor necessary, to be nice.”
Rafael Arutyunyan about working with Ilia Malnin
original source: Sports by Maya Bagriantseva
Rafael Arutyunyan explained to ‘Sports’ how they work with Ilia Malinin. Here’s a translation of his comments.
Several times a year, Malinin flies from Virginia to California – to Rafael Arutyunyan. Arutyunyan has been working with the Malinin family for several years. Ilia comes to solve technical issues that arise during the season, to conduct training camps, or simply to try new jumps.
“Rafael Arutyunyan: He says he likes coming to me, and of course, it makes me happy to hear that. Working with such a student is a gift for a coach. I sometimes joke: training you, Ilia, is boring, you do everything I say, I have never had such an experience. Everything comes easily to him; he is undoubtedly an incredible talent, especially when it comes to jumps.
I am ready to help with everything else, I always emphasize: I am always here to help.
Ilia is impeccably attentive and respectful towards me and my work. He is a very good guy, understands me with half a word, never argues, and absorbs everything. It’s rare when an athlete can listen to a coach so well.
Circumstances have turned out such that we are too far from each other geographically. Unfortunately, as one of my favorite students, Michelle Kwan, said, we had a bit of wrong timing – our times did not coincide.
I am grateful to Ilia’s parents for continuing to work with me. In any difficult moment, I am always ready to be there – because they are incredibly decent and respectable people who treat me with great respect. We have been working together for a long time, and they know that I am always open to them.
What do I wish for Ilia? For the important things he has planned in his life to definitely come true. And that he should not be afraid to make difficult and uncomfortable decisions – that’s the essence of growing up. It’s not always possible, nor necessary, to be nice.”
Related topics: Ilia Malinin, Rafael Arutyunyan
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