Stepanova and Bukin: “We follow international figure skating and enjoy it. We wish everyone luck – it’s an Olympic season, and it’s tough for everyone. I ’m sure we’ll all be there soon and finally be part of the full figure skating family.”
Aleksandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin expressed their desire to return to international competition.
source: MatchTV
Ice dancers Aleksaandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin expressed their desire to return to international competition after winning their fifth Russian national title. Here’s a translation of their comments.
“Bukin: I’m grateful to everyone who was in the arena today and cheered for our sport and ice dance. As for becoming five-time Russian champions, it’s hard to talk about – I haven’t fully realized it yet. There are certain things I’d like to improve. The skate wasn’t easy for me; it was a huge experience. I enjoyed it, even lay down on the ice. For us, the Russian Championships are over, and I’m happy.
Stepanova: The free dance is rarely easier than the rhythm dance. There are more tasks, more nuances, the program is longer, and it’s the final point. Maybe having a day off was unnecessary. It’s always different. Waiting for your starting number isn’t easy. It’s a responsibility; it’s the Russian Nationals, and it’s always tough.
Q: Do you watch international competitions and imagine where you might place?
Bukin: We follow international figure skating and enjoy it. We wish everyone luck – it’s an Olympic season, and it’s tough for everyone. I’ve never compared what place I might take there. It’s impossible. Only when you go there and get your scores can you compare. We’re really looking forward to the chance to go and compete at the world level.
Q: How do you find motivation?
Bukin: Sometimes you have motivation, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you come to practice with crazy motivation, and sometimes you just want to stay home and watch a show. Motivation isn’t the most important thing.
We have a goal we’re working toward. It’s a guiding star you can’t abandon halfway. You try to reach your dream. Yes, it’s not always easy, and I think the other guys also want to compete internationally. I’m sure we’ll all be there soon and finally be part of the full figure skating family. I hope it happens as soon as possible.”
Related topics: Alexandra Stepanova Ivan Bukin
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about being in the figure skating family internationally because your figure skating family shares your feelings as well: there are Russian skaters, single individual and/or teams represent different countries in the figure skating world who are G-O-O-D and enjoyable to watch and engage the audience internationally and they even have success, landed on the podium or place in the top eight or ten depending upon the competition..
Unlike your Russian Nationals, the judges are stricter because as a spectator myself, I noticed mistakes that some competitors had made, but were not called, but internationally, the jumps must be perfect going in and going out, spins and other technical skills.. with the selection of music and must have a theme and be believable in all disciplines, especially ice dance, just saying.
I believe in the integrity of the sport and that means fairly realistic judging system for all competitors..
It’s okay that everyone is patriotic for their skaters: I’m the same way cheering and routing for my own country and my requirements are that they do their best and have fun doing it without any pressure on themselves..
AIN athletes are in majority of the sports internationally especially in tennis and swimming , but they have to meet the requirements to compete internationally for the Olympics: only four of the elite Russian skaters met those requirements and rules and because they met those requirements, your male skater is being trained with Nathan Chen’s coach with the Americans and other international skaters..I didn’t know that fact, but now I do..
Our judging system is strict in figure skating Championships basically for Nationals and World Championships..
Under Bach as the president, Elite Russian skaters were supposed to be in all disciplines, but the requirements were not met with the pairs nor ice dance regulations..
What happened: you have to be NEUTRAL not patriotic especially with the war of Ukraine and Russia and also included with the doping scandal ( coach E. T. Because the buck stops with her)..
The agreement was that Elite Russian Federation could send a WOMAN, MALE, PAIR and ICE DANCE TEAM before President Bach retired and that was expected for the 2026 Olympics like other Elite Russian athletes in other sports to uplift the ban on elite Russian athletes and the spectators internationally were informed that elite Russian athletes will be called AIN skaters and pair and ice dance teams, but that was rebuttal by whoever in Russia.. so the Results were Nationals only..
By right, you should be competing at European Championships that is coming up soon as well and WORLD that is coming up too as well as the Olympics, just saying..
And FURTHERMORE, you should as an AIN skaters, be in the CS Challenger Series and the Grand Prix Series.. so I don’t get it, but that is me!!!
Thanks for sharing and I enjoyed your rhythm dance that I saw that you followed the changes of the rhythm dance theme that you enjoyed doing: the free dance program was interesting , reminded me of the French team in which their theme is abstract like Abstract Paintings..
Thanks for sharing your insights, but I believe that the ice dance teams are going to be FIERCE and very COMPETITIVE because the best teams globally would be competing again and some are training partners in different facilities around the world!!!
And I can’t wait either!!!