Dmitri Soloviev: “For me, sport means the Olympic Games, the World and European Championships, not big prize money at Nationals. So it won’t be already interesting for me at the Russian Nationals.”
Olympic champion in a team, ice dancer Dmitri Soloviev about motivation and prize money at the championship and stages of the Russian Grand Prix.
source: matchtv.ru
The Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR) has announced the prize fund for domestic competitions this season. Skaters will receive 2.5 million rubles (41000 USD approximately) for first place at the Russian Nationals, 1 million rubles (164000 USD) for winning the Grand Prix series, and 500,000 (8200 USD) rubles forwinning the Grand Prix stage.
Dmitri Soloviev: Since many athletes now have no motivation because of the lack of international competitions, of course, the material reward gives a certain motivation, for some even stronger one. Because at this time it is generally very difficult to force yourself to train, since so many people ask themselves: for what? We usually prepare to perform at international competitions, to prove that we are the best at the World and European Championships and at the Olympic Games.
But I repeat, I believe that the big prize money at the nationals and stages of the Russian Grand Prix is a kind of motivation for our athletes so that they do not give up. Because you need to cheer them up somehow and reward for their efforts and work. After all, this is not a work of today or yesterday – athletes have been moving towards their goals for many years, since childhood. So there is nothing wrong with that. We all try to make money, and that’s absolutely fine. The main thing is not to lose quality of figure skating in Russia because of this. On the example of our football, we see that we have a lot of money there, but the quality, in my opinion, is very different from the quality of the game of world-class stars, who, although earn huge money, show incredible results and skills. So it is important that this money does not spoil those athletes who earn it for their efforts.
Does the solid prize money at the Russian Nationals make you think about returning to figure skating and teaming up with Ekaterina Bobrova again?
Dmitri Soloviev: No. Katya and I, we have not had any questions about returning for a long time, because after 2018 she said her final no, she would not perform. I had several more options to return, but due to various circumstances it was in vain … No, I am not chasing to return and try to earn as much money as possible in sports. Thank God I have something to do. There are goals and objectives, there is something to work on and develop in. The period when I could return to the sport has already passed. For me, after all, sport means the Olympic Games, the World and European Championships, not big prize money at the Russian Nationals. Because I know what international competitions and medals are in world figure skating. It won’t be already interesting for me at the Russian Nationals.
Related topics: Ekaterina Bobrova Dmitri Soloviev
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