Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: “I never go through periods of not eating. If I were to skip meals, it would lead to exhaustion. I try to maintain consistent eating habits to stay comfortable.”
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva on nutrition, childhood inspirations, and key moments in her career
original source: Championat / Sport24 / MatchTV
2015 World and European champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva opens up about her approach to nutrition, her early influences, and pivotal turning points in her figure skating journey during fan meetings and interviews. Here’s a translation of her comments.
On Nutrition and Maintaining Balance
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva shared her dietary principles, which emphasize balance and consistent meals:
“My diet hasn’t significantly changed since my competitive days. I still love meat and protein because I feel a noticeable difference in my physical condition when I get enough protein. If I skip breakfast, for example, and don’t have eggs or a sandwich with cheese, I feel off.
For lunch, I tend to have soup, and in the evening, I’ll have either fish or meat. I never go through periods of not eating. If I were to skip meals, it would lead to exhaustion. I try to maintain consistent eating habits to stay comfortable.
That’s just how I am – I need to eat in small portions, but I can’t feel extremely hungry. If I don’t eat, I immediately feel bad. I feel tired and don’t want to do anything. I don’t even want to talk, and people start asking if I’m okay. If I’m hungry, it affects me so sharply that everyone notices. It’s plain for all to see,” said Tuktamysheva.
On Her Childhood Inspirations
When asked about athletes she looked up to, Tuktamysheva revealed:
“I didn’t really have sports idols. I only knew about Evgeni Plushenko, Irina Slutskaya, and Alexei Yagudin. When I started competing at major events and training under Alexei Nikolaevich Mishin, I only knew that he was Plushenko’s coach.
I wasn’t particularly interested in figure skating at that time and would occasionally watch competitions. As for posters, I had only Tokyo Hotel and Avril Lavigne on display. I combined a childlike sense of wonder with the beginnings of professionalism as an athlete,” Tuktamysheva said, as quoted by Sport24.
On Fan Questions About Her Career and Relaxation Methods
During a fan meeting, Tuktamysheva answered several questions about her career and personal life:
“Q: How did your teachers react to you missing school for figure skating?
Elizaveta Tukamysheva: They all understood because, by that age, I already had significant achievements. At first, my classmates didn’t quite understand, though.
Q: Were there any defining moments in your career?
Elizaveta Tukamysheva: There were two. The first was when I spent two weeks at training camp when I was nine years old. It’s difficult for a child to separate from their parents at that age. The second was when I lost my physical form, yet I always had the thought that I still had more to accomplish in figure skating.
Q: What calms you before competitions?
Elizaveta Tukamysheva: I remind myself of the phrase that ‘in the grand scheme of the universe, this means nothing.’ That really helps me put things into perspective. Also, I hate the cold. It’s the only thing I don’t like about this sport.
Q: How do you relax?
Elizaveta Tukamysheva: In the evenings, I’ll sometimes have a glass of wine and listen to intellectual conversations. I also enjoy bachata dancing – it’s where I can let loose and dance a bit. But clubs? They’re definitely not my thing,” said the 2015 World Champion.
Related topics: Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
Leave a Reply