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PISEEV TALKS ABOUT CREATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF RUSSIAN OVERLORDS
Director-general of the Russian Figure Skating Federation Valentin Piseev briefly summarized the Russian team's performance, spoke about the future training strategy and commented on how the ISU evaluated the organization of the World Figure Skating Championships.
- Valentin Nikolaevich, what is the main result of the championships?
- Our team result - two medals - silver (pairs skating) and bronze (men) is what we planned, but not where we expected. We had hopes for ice dancers, but both couples made mistakes. Nevertheless, it's a huge progress for Russian figure skating. Our athletes became much more reputable. Debutants Tatiana Volosozhar - Maxim Trankov can be called unique. This couple is a real contender for the Olympic gold in Sochi. Young athletes' level also increased considerably. One year ago many skaters got PCS less than 7.25s, now most of them get 8 and more. If they showed more consistency, the results could be better. But the most important thing is that at the next world championships we have three spots in pairs, women singles and ice dancing, and two in men.
Lately, we hear that the Russian coaches should concentrate on working with Russian skaters. But we have a lot of young skaters, and they need strong "sparring partners". What to do?
- We need strong athletes to look up to, I agree.
Well, if the French champions Nathalie Pechalat - Fabien Bourzat leave Zhulin, who would Ilinykh - Katsalapov train with? By the way, after the European Championships it was made clear that French dancers, being foreigners, couldn't live in the Olympic training centre in Novogorsk, and only intervention of Russian Deputy Minister of Sports Yuri Nagornykh helped to solve the issue.
- Everything should be done reasonably. You can't rush from one extreme to another. And the question is not whether to expel [them from the group] or not. In each case we must consider the expediency. If our athletes benefit from [training together], then the foreigners should stay and train. If it is contrary to our interests, then something needs to be changed.
I agree that French couple was an example for Ilinykh - Katsalapov, but perhaps now they can be replaced by other athletes, Canadians or Americans, for example. The principle is that our Russian coaches must work with our athletes. Everything else should be subordinated to this work.
How can it be achieved in case of Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband? It is hard to imagine that they would put aside the Canadians and Americans to work with Yana Khokhlova and Fedor Andreev.
- We have expectations for Khokhlova - Andreev. (FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU) In this case, you should take into account the fact that Fedor is Marina's son. Therefore, work is work, money is money, but there are still some moments that will probably let her pay more attention to this couple.
Won't this situation make Zhulin and Morozov take their students and go abroad?
- I think they are interested in working with with Russian skaters. For example, we will not object if Miki Ando or Florent Amodio stay with Nikolai Morozov. As for the rest of his students, again, we have to act in accordance with our interests.
As for Alexander Zhulin, he should decide for himself whether he is in sport or in show-business. His skaters train for four hours a day, without break, when everyone else has already switched to two practices a day. Sasha is very talented and we can rely on such a coach. But Zhulin should decide. I hope we will have serious discussion soon.
What can you say about the championships organization? At a recent press conference the head of the International Skating Union (ISU), Ottavio Cinquanta, said that the work of organizing committee was eight on a 10-point scale.
- You know, I think that the previous championships could hardly be estimated as six. In such a short time in the situation of force majeure we did our best to hold the competition at highest level. And I think we succeeded, thanks to the professional work of coordinated team that prepared Worlds 2005. Both then and now there was no problem with transport, accommodation, training, nutrition of athletes, coaches, delegates and officials. I haven't heard any critizism, nothing negative, only good things. And I don't want even begin speaking of our hospitality. Reception in Russia cannot be compared to any other country. Abroad they try to save on everything, while we can't afford looking cheap.
Source with translation from here on FSU
Director-general of the Russian Figure Skating Federation Valentin Piseev briefly summarized the Russian team's performance, spoke about the future training strategy and commented on how the ISU evaluated the organization of the World Figure Skating Championships.
- Valentin Nikolaevich, what is the main result of the championships?
- Our team result - two medals - silver (pairs skating) and bronze (men) is what we planned, but not where we expected. We had hopes for ice dancers, but both couples made mistakes. Nevertheless, it's a huge progress for Russian figure skating. Our athletes became much more reputable. Debutants Tatiana Volosozhar - Maxim Trankov can be called unique. This couple is a real contender for the Olympic gold in Sochi. Young athletes' level also increased considerably. One year ago many skaters got PCS less than 7.25s, now most of them get 8 and more. If they showed more consistency, the results could be better. But the most important thing is that at the next world championships we have three spots in pairs, women singles and ice dancing, and two in men.
Lately, we hear that the Russian coaches should concentrate on working with Russian skaters. But we have a lot of young skaters, and they need strong "sparring partners". What to do?
- We need strong athletes to look up to, I agree.
Well, if the French champions Nathalie Pechalat - Fabien Bourzat leave Zhulin, who would Ilinykh - Katsalapov train with? By the way, after the European Championships it was made clear that French dancers, being foreigners, couldn't live in the Olympic training centre in Novogorsk, and only intervention of Russian Deputy Minister of Sports Yuri Nagornykh helped to solve the issue.
- Everything should be done reasonably. You can't rush from one extreme to another. And the question is not whether to expel [them from the group] or not. In each case we must consider the expediency. If our athletes benefit from [training together], then the foreigners should stay and train. If it is contrary to our interests, then something needs to be changed.
I agree that French couple was an example for Ilinykh - Katsalapov, but perhaps now they can be replaced by other athletes, Canadians or Americans, for example. The principle is that our Russian coaches must work with our athletes. Everything else should be subordinated to this work.
How can it be achieved in case of Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband? It is hard to imagine that they would put aside the Canadians and Americans to work with Yana Khokhlova and Fedor Andreev.
- We have expectations for Khokhlova - Andreev. (FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU) In this case, you should take into account the fact that Fedor is Marina's son. Therefore, work is work, money is money, but there are still some moments that will probably let her pay more attention to this couple.
Won't this situation make Zhulin and Morozov take their students and go abroad?
- I think they are interested in working with with Russian skaters. For example, we will not object if Miki Ando or Florent Amodio stay with Nikolai Morozov. As for the rest of his students, again, we have to act in accordance with our interests.
As for Alexander Zhulin, he should decide for himself whether he is in sport or in show-business. His skaters train for four hours a day, without break, when everyone else has already switched to two practices a day. Sasha is very talented and we can rely on such a coach. But Zhulin should decide. I hope we will have serious discussion soon.
What can you say about the championships organization? At a recent press conference the head of the International Skating Union (ISU), Ottavio Cinquanta, said that the work of organizing committee was eight on a 10-point scale.
- You know, I think that the previous championships could hardly be estimated as six. In such a short time in the situation of force majeure we did our best to hold the competition at highest level. And I think we succeeded, thanks to the professional work of coordinated team that prepared Worlds 2005. Both then and now there was no problem with transport, accommodation, training, nutrition of athletes, coaches, delegates and officials. I haven't heard any critizism, nothing negative, only good things. And I don't want even begin speaking of our hospitality. Reception in Russia cannot be compared to any other country. Abroad they try to save on everything, while we can't afford looking cheap.
Source with translation from here on FSU