Daniil Gleikhengauz: “In order to return, Alina needs to restore at least everything she had before.”
Interview with Daniil Gleikhengauz. He commented Alina Zagitova’s come back with a new program, warned about Evgenia Medvedeva’s non-participation in the Russian Grand Prix and commented on what was happening with the Team Tutberidze’s Instagram accounts.
by Dmitry Kuznetsov for sport-express.ru dd. 08th November 2020
Daniil Markovich, in Syzran you said that you wanted to see Alina’s programs at least in the show. Can we say that you are satisfied?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: Honestly, I really liked how she skated her new program “Esmeralda”. She was a little nervous in the program with a flower (a program dedicated to the Gleikhengauz’s mother choreographer Lyudmila Shalashova. – ed). Because a long break is stressful for any athlete, you had to feel the ice. In “Esmeralda”, as you noticed, she already got used to the ice, and in my opinion, performed very well, did all the jumps. I think that the most important premiere was successful.
Now Alina often posts photos from her practices on Instagram. Has she really started to visit Chrustalny more often?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: True, now she began to study less and train more, like the good old days.
Does this mean something more? What is she training for?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: Only she can answer this question.
Asking you purely as a coach, does she have a base, a shape to return to sports? If she wants, will she come back?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: In order to return, she needs to restore at least everything that she had before. To jump five triples cline, 3-3 combinations, plus get in physical condition needed to do this content in the second half of the program. When and if she does this, then it will be possible to speak of a come back.
Have you watched the Guberniev’s interview with Zagitova?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: I rather had such feelings … I was a little offended at him (laughs). No, from a journalistic point of view, I think he asked the questions that he wanted to ask. Another thing is how it was perceived. But Alina answered great, coped with everything. So, I think nothing terrible has happened.
Do you feel that Zagitova’s character is changing? She is now the host, maybe she talks more willingly?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: She grows up, that’s what you feel. That she’s no longer a little girl, but an adult with her own thinking, plans. And I like to watch this process, it’s great that she turned from a little girl who won the Olympics to a beautiful young woman right in front of us. And she continues to give joy to the audience.
Are you preparing new programs?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: You saw them today.
I remember they were spoken of in the plural.
Daniil Gleikhengauz: Today it was short and free programs. If it was necessary to perform.
Can the mistake after flip could be related to the quality of the ice? Mikhail Kolyada had a similar one, the fans write that not everything was ok with the quality of the ice.
Daniil Gleikhengauz: We also joked so. (Smiles.) That this is all because of Fernandez – he left a hole after him. Speaking seriously, this was an accident – it happens, she flew off the edge.
How is Evgenia Medvedeva’s health?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: She is still healing her back. The last time we saw each other, she said that she seemed to feel be better. But this bothers her very much, she worries that she cannot just train, without thinking about anything else. And she has a desire to train. It’s a shame, because there were good run-throughs of both the short and free program, the shape has improved. But what can you do, you have to wait. As soon as she says that she feels well and her back does not hurt we will prepare for the next competition.
Do you have any idea whether she will perform at the Russian Grand Prix?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: “Russian Grand Prix”? How many days are left before it, twelve? I think no.
And the fifth stage of the Russian Cup?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: Here it’s possible to say we’ll see.
This season, according to the regulations, it is impossible to qualify to the Russian Nationals only with one stage of the Russian Cup, even participating in the “Grand Prix”. Have you already contacted the federation on this issue?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: I understand what you are talking about. But a lot of athletes got in such circumstances. I hope that the Federation will meet halfway. I think it is important for everyone that the main athletes of the national team compete at the Nationals.
So you hope that Medvedeva will be allowed to the Russian Nationals?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: Of course. But so far there has been no direct conversation.
How is Daniil Samsonov doing? We haven’t heard about him for a long time.
Daniil Gleikhengauz: We work on both programs, but the knee still hurts. Therefore, we try to dose the load. As soon as Danya is ready, you will immediately see him at the competitions.
He won’t be in Kazan, right?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: No, he won’t compete in Kazan. It seems to me, he didn’t plan to.
I can’t help but ask you about Instagram – an important thing in figure skating these days. What happened to the Team Tutberidze’s account? Maybe there were some attacks on you too?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: Apart from malicious comments and wishes, there were no other attacks. And “Team Tutberidze” Instagram was blocked because of a huge number of complaints on it, as they say, from bots. People who understand this will help us, they are already doing this, and I think soon it’ll unblocked. As for Eteri Georgievna’s Instagram, it was hacked, the mailing began from the account, and Instagram itself blocked it.
Is there an understanding whether these are links of one chain and not an accident?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: Look, I can’t say surely about this, because I have no evidence.
But do you suspect anyone, maybe like a joke?
Daniil Gleikhengauz: No, we try not to joke on this topic. (Smiles.)
Related topics: Alina Zagitova, Daniil Gleichengauz, Evgenia Medvedeva
One thing is for sure. If Alena wants to perform, she’ll get in outstanding shape and her skating will surpass her previous achievements