Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin: We mentioned that we didn’t rule out changing citizenship, but neither the USA nor Israel were mentioned. All this was blown up by “journalists”
Interview with Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin. About switching to Georgian team, new programs and debut competition.
source: sport-express dd. 7th August 2023 by Dmitri Kuznetsov
Diana, Gleb, congratulations on your victory at the first tournament under the Georgian flag. What is it like to be back after such a break, the uncertainty? Does it feel like being born anew? Or, on the contrary, did it pass without problems and worries?
Diana Davis: Thank you for the congratulations. Nervousness was definitely present, and because of that, I didn’t feel well before the performances. But fortunately, we managed to overcome it, and Gleb helped me a lot with that.
And did they already play the Georgian anthem at the award ceremony?
Diana Davis: We didn’t know that the anthem would play, and honestly, we forgot a little how it is. We were warned that the anthem would still play when we were already on the pedestal. We were pleasantly surprised, but not for long. A beautiful melody started playing, unrelated to the Georgian anthem.
Gleb Smolkin: At least, the image of the Georgian flag appeared on the monitor screen.
Let’s talk about your free dance. Why Tchaikovsky, why this music by a Russian composer, as many have noted? And who choreographed the program?
Diana Davis: The majority of the musical accompaniment of the program is from Darren Aronofsky’s movie “Black Swan,” and only a couple of times does the original music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” sound.
Gleb Smolkin: As we mentioned before, initially we planned to come to the test skates, and our previous free dance, which was choreographed by Benoit Richaud, was created for the Russian audience and internal competitions. At the end of the season, we were supposed to perform in a show with a symphony orchestra to Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” and during the process of creating the routine, both our coaches and we realized that this material could become a new free dance.
Our coaches Elena Novak and Alexei Kiliakov choreographed the program. We’re trying to combine contemporary choreography with classical elements. To share our own story of the prince’s seduction by the devious black swan.
If we’re talking about the performances themselves, what is each of you satisfied and dissatisfied with? Maybe there’s a specific aspect that you liked the most and that you need to work on the most? You mentioned wanting to improve your skating skills — do you see progress in that area?
Gleb Smolkin: We’re overall satisfied with the performances. The goal was to start competing again, especially as it was the first time with our new team. We received feedback from the judges and comments about what we should pay attention to in the future. As for skating skills, we definitely started feeling much more confident on the ice. Our coaches focus a lot on skating skills and positions.
Diana Davis: The judges also noted that our transitions between elements have become more complex, and our positions have improved.
Gleb Smolkin: Many judges have also mentioned that Diana has significantly progressed in her skating skills over the past year, which allowed our pair to look more harmonious.
And last about Lake Placid — your scores. It’s often said that breaks, especially in dance, don’t lead to good results. You clearly didn’t lose any points. Were you surprised to see 190+ points on the scoreboard?
Gleb Smolkin: We didn’t focus too much on the scores we could get in this tournament for various reasons. The first start, the new flag, and the change of team — all these were factors that were hard to predict. After the rhythm dance, we were hoping for slightly higher scores, but luck wasn’t on our side with the draw; we practically opened the competition. In the free dance, we felt relieved when we saw that our performance was highly appreciated, and there was a comfortable gap in the scores.
Gleb, you somewhat sarcastically said, “we’re nepotistic,” and it was quite vivid. So tell me, is there still a reputation factor here? Or is it purely the result of your work and nothing else?
Gleb Smolkin: I think that the reputation factor in dance has always been and will always be significant, as this is a subjective sport. However, reputation is earned on the ice for any top-level pair, and judges never take into account how much the press says about you and how it’s presented. Therefore, skipping a season is a blow to competitive reputation, ranking, and other professional aspects. Everything else doesn’t matter.
Diana Davis: I also believe that especially now we have nothing to do with “nepotistism.” Of course, people will say what they want, but we don’t pay attention to it.
About the transfer. I think it’s no secret how your move to Georgia was discussed in Russia. At one point, the federation said that there would be no transfer, that it was nonsense and that no money was spent on you. Then it turned out that the transfer happened very quickly — there was a request from Georgia on May 22, and it was approved by May 25. And the expenses were compensated. Can you share your perspective on the whole situation, how it all happened? Because it feels like “they married me off without me.”
Diana Davis: At the time when we were preparing for the test skates, we weren’t thinking about the transfer. The rumors about the USA and Israel were simply made up.
So you’re saying you didn’t look into the option with Israel, as it was reported?
Diana Davis: We didn’t seek to go anywhere, so no one refused our transfer. In an interview in December, we mentioned that we didn’t rule out the possibility of changing citizenship, but neither the USA nor Israel were mentioned. All this was blown up by “journalists” and had no confirmation. I had already been released for Georgia back in 2016 when I was competing in singles, and even then, I thought that if I were to change countries, it should be Georgia. I have Georgian roots, and I grew up in a Georgian family, so the choice was clear for me.
Gleb Smolkin: Money for your accommodation, training, and trips abroad wasn’t provided. It was our choice to train in another country. We returned the salary that was set for us after the Olympics, the amounts for insurance, equipment that was spent on us for 2022-2023. Now we definitely don’t owe anything to anyone.
I understand that you don’t speak for other figure skaters, but what do you think about Russian figure skaters moving abroad in general? The procedure is quite non-transparent, isn’t it? Dario Cirizano wasn’t allowed to leave, and in your case, the press secretary of the FFKKRF, Olga Ermolina, mentioned a two-year quarantine from the moment of the request from another federation, which, to be honest, doesn’t quite align with ISU rules.
Gleb Smolkin: In our case, everything was done in accordance with ISU rules. If a skater competes domestically during the season, the federation has the right to impose its own quarantine, again referring to the expenses incurred during the season. We couldn’t compete domestically, and a year was also missed on the international stage, so the release was granted.
What do you think about the idea of compensations for changing citizenship? Because now in Russia, they are considering passing a law about this.
Gleb Smolkin: I think those who seriously consider such laws either don’t have children engaged in professional sports in Russia, or they easily come by a lot of money, and they have no idea how much each parent has to invest their own resources into their child’s sport before they join the national team and the state starts spending money on them.
I just have to ask, can you voce the amount for the compensation? An approximate amount?
Diana Davis: Of course not (smiles). We reimbursed everything that they asked.
How does your current training situation look now? Has anything changed since your interview in December?
Gleb Smolkin: Right now, we have a certain clarity about the future. At least, we have the opportunity to compete in international competitions and find out at what level our development stands. Psychologically, it’s a strong boost.
What’s your next tournament?
Diana Davis: We plan to continue the season with a series of challengers, but we’re not exactly sure where yet.
There’s been a lot of debate about this — does Eteri Georgievna visit you in the USA? Does she help with your training process and daily life? How significant is her role for your pair now?
Diana Davis: I don’t think much has changed. She came to the USA to bring our costumes and to make sure everything fit (the costumes were made by Olga Ryabenko. — Ed. Sport Express). She helped us fix what was necessary in them. As a coach, she never interferes with our training process. She can only offer some advice and of course, we listen. But I think many parents do the same. Including Gleb’s mother.
Gleb, do you plan to acquire Georgian citizenship? And do both of you need to come to Georgia together because I understand there are still issues with leaving the USA?
Gleb Smolkin: Citizenship will only be necessary for the Olympic Games; by that time, we hope to earn that right through our results. As for leaving, there are no longer any problems. I recently received my Green Card.
If it weren’t for February 24, would your life have turned out differently — both regarding changing citizenship and everything else?
Gleb Smolkin: Of course. Before February 24, we had just returned from the Olympics, where we represented Russia and, like many, couldn’t anticipate that life would change so drastically. I believe that for most people, life has now been divided into “before” and “after.”
Related topics: Diana Davis Gleb Smolkin
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