“I don’t really understand the general admiration for taking things so lightly, just having fun and enjoying it. For me, the focus is more on the mastery of the skater.” Adeliia Petrosian on Alysa Liu’s approach to skating
Adeliia Petrosian finds Alysa Liu’s approach to skating interesting but says she is not personally inspired by it, emphasizing discipline and mastery over enjoyment.
original source: Sports
Russian figure skater Adeliia Petrosian stated that she is not inspired by American Alysa Liu’s approach to training. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“Q: What do you think of Alysa Liu’s approach to training and competition?
Adeliia Petrosian: I don’t really understand the general admiration for taking things so lightly, just having fun and enjoying it. For me, the focus is more on the mastery of the skater.
When Alexei Yagudin, Yuzuru Hanyu, Yuna Kim, Aliona Savchenko, Tatiana Volosozhar, or others I admire skated, I didn’t care whether they were enjoying themselves on the ice, whether they showed it, or talked about it. I was interested in watching their skating and their programs because their performances were so beautiful and skillful they brought a lump to my throat.
That’s what moves me more, I think. Alysa is interesting now for her approach – she’s brought something new and put the spotlight on it. But I can’t say I’m truly inspired by it.
Q: She says she might skip a practice to meet friends. Have you ever thought about that? Or is that from another universe for you?
Adeliia Petrosian: For me to just skip a practice? I don’t think so. I once tried to ask for time off, but… I was skating my free program at the time.
Q: So that kind of lightness didn’t work for you?
Adeliia Petrosian: Well… Sport is still about discipline. That’s what it’s built on. That’s why sport seems hard. And it is hard. Overcoming is part of sport. And part of training.
We might get some leniency in practice if things are really tough or we’re not feeling well – they might let us leave early or give us an easier assignment. But you still have to go out and do the maximum you can at that moment.
Q: What’s the secret to her being Olympic champion, even though there were skaters like Kaori Sakamoto and others? How did she become Olympic champion with that approach?
Adeliia Petrosian: I’d like to know that too. I don’t know. From the start, I was rooting for Kaori. I really like her skating, her presentation, her huge, soaring jumps. I thought she could do it and was hoping for that.”
Related topics: Adeliia Petrosian, Alysa Liu
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