Tamara Moskvina: “Only the final result matters. To show it at the right time is the main goal of our work”

Interview with Tamara Moskvina. About the importance of the Grand Prix series before the Olympics, possibility of changing the programs and rivalry with Eteri Tutberidze, who began to train Evgenia Tarasova – Vladimir Morozov.

source: russian.rt.com dd. 9th September 2021, by Elena Vaitsekhovskaya

In the Olympic season, your and Artur Minchuk’s athletes, world champions Anastasia Mishina – Aleksander Galliamov and European champions Aleksandra Boikova – Dmitrii Kozlovskii, are the favorites. What were you guided by when choosing themes for the Olympic programs?

Tamara Moskvina: For both pairs I chose the music and those programs that, in my opinion, both specialists and public will like. So that they satisfy the tastes and expectations of a wide variety of groups, let’s put it this way.

Did you do any kind of curtsey towards the Chinese public?

Tamara Moskvina: In China, classical music is very popular and loved. But even knowing this, before making a final choice regarding programs, I consulted with Chinese specialists, with the specialists from our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asked them how famous this music is in the country, how it can be perceived … Based on this, we came to a decision.

I know that you spend a lot of time in the Internet.

Tamara Moskvina: Not now, just no time. But I certainly do read a few things.

This means that you should be aware that on many resources where figure skating is discussed, your choice is criticized, and sometimes harshly. Although personally to me criticism in relation to both pairs’ programs seemed rather premature. I suppose when the programs are well prepared and skated with all the intended elements, they will start to give a completely different impression.

Tamara Moskvina: Criticism reached me, while I found two articles saying the same things that you’ve just said. When everything is ready, everything will fall into place.

Do you admit at least a hypothetical possibility that any of the four programs will be replaced during the season?

Tamara Moskvina: Everything is possible in life. Just before our conversation, I was driving the car and heard on the radio that a military coup had taken place in Guinea. Did someone predict it? Moreover, many skaters change the programs or music during the season, as Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov have already done. I also had to change the music during the season for one reason or another. Let’s see. It certainly doesn’t make sense to discuss all this now.

Are you saying that we need to wait until the judges see your skaters’ programs?

Tamara Moskvina: For me in this respect it is more important what I see myself. It’s me who will need to make the final decision. The Olympics are still far away enough, so I’m not worried ahead of time. We really have a lot to finish, finalize the music as well. We have already changed some points right after those skates that took place in St. Petersburg.

One of your pairs listed for the Skate America, which starts the Grand Prix series in October. Do you plan to show your skaters somewhere before?

Tamara Moskvina: Sure. Unfortunately, it so happened that we actually have only one event, convenient for both Mishina – Galliamov and Boikova – Kozlovskii. This is Finlandia Trophy.

Will both of your pairs perform there?

Tamara Moskvina: Yes. Of course, I would like to avoid a situation when my athletes will take places and rating points from each other, but, unfortunately, we have no choice. The remaining events are simply inconvenient for us. Somewhere there are no high-level rivals, somewhere the competitions are held at times that are not suitable for us. Therefore, Artur Minchuk and I decided that there are much more advantages from the performance of both pairs in Finland than disadvantages.

Boikova and Kozlovskii will begin the Grand Prix series from the very first stage in the United States, that is, in October, while the first start for Mishina and Galliamov is scheduled for mid-November in Japan. Does this mean that you are preparing your pairs on a different schedules?

Tamara Moskvina: The training schemes are certainly different. Just because of what you said.

How important is the Grand Prix series in the Olympic season?

Tamara Moskvina: It seems to me that such competitions are important in any season, and especially in the Olympic one. Any competition on the eve of the Games is a test of the athletes’ readiness, the dynamics of their shape, and the readiness of programs. It is necessary to compete, compare yourself with others, develop not only physical shape, but also an inner confidence that everything is done correctly: the elements become more stable, the scores for the components grow.

During the Grand Prix, both of your pairs will meet with Evgenia Tarasova – Vladimir Morozov. Did the transfer of two-time European champions to Eteri Tutberidze bother you in any way? Or on the contrary added excitement?

Tamara Moskvina: Actually, our pairs have very clear plans of work not only with me and Artur, but also with each of the specialists, and there are quite a few in our team. And these plans are made without taking into account transfers of our competitors.

But sure you look around, read what they write.

Tamara Moskvina: Of course, we look, if there is such an opportunity. We try to keep track of our competitor’s skating, programs, transitions, entries on elements, where the development of pair skating is moving in general. In short, we are trying to get and process the maximum of the most diverse information. At the same time, I’m not too interested in being guided by who and how performed in the past, who coached whom and what titles they won.

All that matters is what is happening now, especially when it comes to competitors. And this is not some exact pair, but at least the entire top six of the world championship. We have great respect for all the specialists who train athletes, but who of the skaters left whom and where they moved, is still secondary here. Some changes are constantly taking place in our team, but we do not shout about it at every corner.

Why, by the way?

Tamara Moskvina: Because only the final result matters. To show it at the right time is the main goal of our work. If it works out then we will discuss everything in detail. And premature words do not say anything at all.

Related topics: Alexandra Boikova Dmitri Kozlovski, Anastasiia Mishina Alexander Galliamov, Tamara Moskvina