Anastasiia Gubanova: “I don’t want to make any promises, but most likely, this will be my last season in the sport.”
Anastasiia Gubanova on Olympic Qualification, New Programs, and Future Dreams
original source: Sport24 dd. September 24th 2025 by Konstantin Lesik
Anastasiia Gubanova secured silver and an Olympic quota for Georgia at the qualification event in Beijing. In an interview, she shared her thoughts on competition, her performances, future plans, and the supportive figure skating community. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“I’m happy I managed to perform well and not disappoint myself or my team. I’m just incredibly happy,” Gubanova began.
“Q: Was everything perfect?
Anastasiia Gubanova: No, it wasn’t my maximum. It was a solid performance, but I know the areas I need to work on and improve.
Q: What specifically?
Anastasiia Gubanova: Spins. I lose points on them. Honestly, I don’t enjoy doing spins, but I know I need to work on them.
Q: What do you enjoy most?
Anastasiia Gubanova: I love jumps! I love skating and dancing. My favorite jump is the flip – it comes very naturally to me.
Q: Have you tried a quad?
Anastasiia Gubanova: I’ve tried a few times, just for fun, last season. I didn’t aim to land it or master it; I just wanted to see if it was possible. But I don’t plan to include it in my programs… What’s the point? I don’t fully rotate it.
Q: Was it painful to fall?
Anastasiia Gubanova: Not at all. (laughs)
Q: How was the atmosphere here in China? The crowd seemed lively on the second day.
Anastasiia Gubanova: Yes, during the free skate, there were so many people cheering. It was really loud and supportive. I’ve been to China before, and they always welcome us warmly.
Q: The stakes were high – Georgia’s Olympic quota was on the line. Was that pressure overwhelming?
Anastasiia Gubanova: Honestly, I was very nervous, especially after my disappointing performance at Worlds. I struggled with nerves throughout that period. But at the most crucial moment, I just turned my brain off and focused on doing my job.”
Georgia and Team Event Hopes
With the Olympic quota secured, Gubanova expressed excitement about Georgia competing in the team event at the Olympics.
“Q: Do you think Georgia has a chance for a team medal?
Anastasiia Gubanova: Of course! If everyone performs their best, we can fight for a spot on the podium.
Q: Is an Olympic medal your ultimate dream?
Anastasiia Gubanova: Every athlete dreams of winning an Olympic medal, but I have more personal dreams, and not all of them are related to figure skating. Life exists beyond skating. While figure skating is important, it’s just one part of life, not the entirety of it.”
On Program and Music Selection
Gubanova shared insights into the selection process for her new programs, designed to highlight her strengths during this significant Olympic season.
“Q: How did you select the music for this season’s programs?
Anastasiia Gubanova: For the Olympic season, I wanted to skate to styles that suit me best. I feel most comfortable with an Indian style and a lyrical theme. My friends helped me choose the music for the short program – they sent me suggestions. Now I’m an ‘Indian girl,’ and I love it!”
She elaborated on her free skate music:
“We chose it almost spontaneously while in Georgia working with Adam Solya on the choreography. One evening, inspiration struck, and it just came together. I had been searching for this exact piece – specifically in this arrangement – for three years. It’s from the movie Ghost, but not the original version; this one includes dialogue. Adam mentioned it had been his dream to create a program with this music, and as soon as he played it, I was moved to tears. The next day, we started choreographing. It felt like destiny.”
On Overcoming Challenges
When reflecting on her struggles following a disappointing World Championships outing, Gubanova admitted it had been a tough period.
“Q: Was it hard to recover from the setback at Worlds?
Anastasiia Gubanova: Every athlete experiences failures, and this was my turn. It was very difficult to step back onto the ice and train after returning home. But I managed to pull myself together, and the team atmosphere helped me get back to a more normal state and keep working.”
On Age, Competitors, and Career Plans
“Q: Is it harder to maintain your form and schedule as you grow older, especially with younger competitors rising?
Anastasiia Gubanova: Every age comes with its challenges. For example, I don’t worry about my weight anymore – I don’t restrict my diet at all. But between the ages of 15 and 18, it was very difficult. Now, the challenge is more mental – just stepping onto the ice and skating feels harder. But every stage of life has its difficulties.
Q: How much longer do you plan to continue skating?
Anastasiia Gubanova: I don’t want to make any promises, but most likely, this will be my last season in the sport.”
On Friendship and Support
Gubanova spoke fondly of her friendship with Dmitri Aliev, who often voices his support for her:
“Q: Dima Aliev always speaks warmly about you. Do you follow and support him as well?
Anastasiia Gubanova: First and foremost, we’re good friends, and it means a lot to me that he supports me. I’m most grateful for our friendship. His advice is very helpful – we can just sit and talk…”
Q: While fishing?” (laughs)
Anastasiia Gubanova: No, I’m allergic to fish! But we often visit each other, and we have great conversations.”
On Watching Competitions and Adeliia Petrosian
Gubanova shared her thoughts on supporting other skaters:
“Q: Do you watch Russian competitions?
Anastasiia Gubanova: Of course, I watch them and cheer for everyone.
Q: Did you see Adeliia Petrosyan’s free skate in Beijing?
Anastasiia Gubanova: Unfortunately, no. I was giving interviews at the time and couldn’t watch. But I’m so happy for her. It’s a very emotional moment for all of us, especially for Adeliia, given the immense responsibility she carried. I’m thrilled she succeeded and made everyone proud.”
On the Best Skater of the 21st Century
When asked about her pick for the best figure skater of the 21st century, Gubanova didn’t hesitate:
“Q: Recently, my colleagues debated who the greatest skater of the century is. Who’s your choice?
Anastasiia Gubanova: My pick is Ilia Malinin.”
Related topics: Anastasiia Gubanova
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