ЧЕ-2008 на английском.
Оставила пару дней назад на официальном форуме свой душещипательный рассказ о поездке. Решила его сохранить. Под катом - ничего нового, разве что в хронологическом порядке, а не по темам, как здесь. Плюс включает в себя рассказ о прокатах, который я на русском еще не сформулировала. Если кто под кат зайдет, чур не ужасаться, а тихо мне на ушко говорить, где я напортачила с английским. :)
Tuesday
I came to Zagreb in the afternoon and I missed by just a few hours Steph's practice which was a pity, but I couldn't find any other convenient and cheap flight (this Zagreb and flights there are real disaster...). So, on my way from the airport I received an SMS from notfake that the practice wasn't good at all, Stephane was very angry as he didn't get any jumps right. I answered something like "Well, this is our usual Stephane, isn't he?" :D I came to the rink to collect our tickets and I met the girls there. My friend was supposed to come later, so while I was waiting for her I went to watch "yanki-polka". A few minutes later Brian came to watch the French dancers, Péchalat and Bourzat. My friend is a huge fan of Brian so it was a pity that she missed him there (it always works this way: somebody receives something you need so badly and doesn't even appreciate, ah?). Polka was nice; I saw our Israeli dancers - Zaretskys and cheered them, saw Domnina and Shabalin, a few other skaters and then received an SMS from my friend that she is finally in Zagreb, so I went to meet her in the bus station.
In the evening there was a short program of pairs where Aljona and Robin were just incredible, much-much better than others, it's just another level of skating, I feel. So they won SP and I was glad for them. As all the interesting pairs were in the beginning we didn't wait till the end and went home. Especially since next morning we needed to wake up rather early, to be ready to go to practice.
On our way from the rink we met Sara Maier but we so did not expect to meet her that we forgot to tell her "good luck" or something. That's OK, we "fixed" it on Friday. :)
That day we didn't see Stephane. But that wasn't surprising as he was in a bad mood. :(
Wednesday
Joubert had practice at 9.10 and Stephane was in the next group. We were told that in order to get to the practice rink we may join skaters in the bus which goes there. My friend wanted to see Brian, so at 8.20 we were on the bus, excited from all the skaters that were coming. Lutai, Voronov and Davydov came. And Van Der Perren. And Mishin. I was waiting for Stephane, though I wasn't sure that he'd come to this bus. And... in the last minute I saw his coat with fur cowl which I knew from Moscow already. ::) He was going in front of everybody, not talking to anyone, very concentrated and a bit sleepy. :) Majda, Mr.Grutter and Salome went after him on some distance. I was so excited, I couldn't believe all this is actually happening. So he entered the bus, still not looking on anybody around and went to the front sit and sat there all alone with his iPod. All his team sat not far from us and they were talking about something. So it was half an hour ride with Stephane which was actually not so much with him. :)
We came to the rink, and it was just amazing: we could stand right near the border, I could outstretch my hand to touch skaters (of course I didn't do it :)). Brian's group started to practice. In a few minutes Steph came out and started warming up: he ran round the rink, it was even once that my friend pushed me 'cause I was standing on his way, I don't know how I couldn't notice him (unbelievable! :D). He ran up and down the stairs and did some other exercises. I'm telling this now but I actually can't believe that I had this unique chance to watch him training, wow. So it was time of his group and he came to the ice. He was very serious and very concentrated, he just skated, did some jumps, no quads, but lots of not bad different triples. Najik came with her banner, also jade was there, and few other girls from the forum, we all were cheering him after every jump he did and after his amazing spins too. He had music of "Carne" which he did without jumps. In the end of the practice every skater bows to the audience as if it's a competition. So Steph bowed to us, and we received a huuuuge smile in reply to our "standing ovation". I think he received more attention than any other skater there. ::)
On the way back, Steph took "wrong" (meaning not mine :)) bus, but my friend was happy: Brian was sitting in front of us all the way back (we desperately tried to understand what he was talking about with his Mom, but our French is rather poor :'()
We came to the main rink, gave my banner to the organizers (as we couldn't hang them ourselves according to the rules) and then I saw Steph coming from his bus. Then it was that sad story when I stopped him and he begged "Plizzzz, I want to go", so I was terribly sorry that I did it. And when he was ready to take a picture anyway and told me, "OK, quick", I told him "No, go, go"... I was so ashamed, 'cause he was obviously very-very tired and I came there with my camera and all. I was so confused that I didn't tell to him "Good luck" and that I believe in him so much. Such a shame and it's so silly 'cause those words were much more important than
a picture...
We came in the middle of the men's short. All the good places were already taken, so during performance of "our" skater each one of us went to sit on the stairs. First my friend went to sit there, 'cause Brian was before Lambiel. He didn't do good, at all, during his triple Axel it was like "ouch, poor guy". My friend came back to our sits very sad. In was my turn. I took Swiss flag with me and went to sit on the stairs. Before the warm up I saw Stephane's costume for the first time. Oh, my, it looked sooooo weird. :-/ BTW, on the pictures it looks better, but it real life... Dunno, I didn't like it much. Steph's skating wasn't so good either, not accurate Axel, no quad, I was very sad, but stood up with my flag to cheer him for. When I came back to our sits, my friend told me that they showed me on the screen. Few seconds after that I received an SMS from my parents: "We saw you!!! Was it you with Swiss flag?" I was totally in shock 'cause my parents never, I mean NEVER, watch figure skating. :o Also it's funny, I saw the video after that, they showed me waving that flag and I was standing there NOT glad at all, not smiling, nothing, just waving the flag :))
After that we had a very interesting meeting. Maybe some of you remember that I shared with you bunch of Stephane's photos and told that some Russian journalist gave them to me. So she was there in Zagreb and we met to talk and drink coffee. It was very nice indeed. We drank coffee in "Panorama", skater's hotel, so we saw lots of them there passing by. We saw Olivier, and Joubert, and Shabalin and few others. And guess who were sitting not far from us? Stephane's Mom, sister and friend and also Salome and Majda. Steph came for a few seconds (first I saw his Fur Cowl, then I understood that it was him, then I understood who were sitting all that time near us :D, I just was so into our conversation with that journalist that I didn't notice them before, ooops). There was a funny moment then. This journalist, she likes Steph very much, she always writes about him good things and she is really fond of him as a person (in lambiel_ru we always joke that she is probably a fan too). For example she wrote about him once:
"The thing is that both Lambiel and Weir stand apart from the rest because of their natural and liberated skating. You can see right away when the skater makes a move because that's what he was taught and when he makes the move because he can't imagine any other movement at this place in the program"
She has a few of her articles translated to English if you're interested:
http://www.velena.ru/translations/index.html
Anyway, back to our story. So Steph came in, and I was like "Oh... Steph... :o And his Mom... :o And Silvia... :o" And she, that journalist, said: "Yeah, our sunny boy". :) It was sweet. ::)
Ok, after that we went to see pairs LP and were glad that Aliona and Robin won. Well, they really ARE the champions there and as for now THE BEST in Europe for sure. I wish them to win gold in Worlds too.
Thursday
Morning started with a practice on the main rink. The main rink had two disadvantages: we couldn't stand near the borders and we had no bus journeys with the skaters. :'( It was regular routine already (you get accustomed to the good things so quickly): previous group on the ice, having music one by one, "our" group warming up. Just that we almost couldn't see Steph as Brian was near the rink. So Steph came, saw Brian, stood there for a few minutes (you can see it on najik's video) and went back. Pity. :( During the practice I met najik and doorika and we all were standing and waiting for Stephane to come. Jou was very nice, BTW, smiled to his fans, took presents from them. In general from Tuesday till his not so good performance on Thursday evening he looked very confident and happy. I remember, this made me worry even more about Stephane, and in the end Brian didn't do it well at all, hm...
So practice on the ice started and Steph came. This is always funny to watch him waiting to go to the ice, he is sooooo impatient, he totally hates waiting. I understand him so well, 'cause I hate waiting myself too. ;) This practice was better, he did one quad, almost clean, he did a 3A (at least once if I remember it right), he did a few 3+3+2 combinations, very-very clean and beautiful (so I understood that he was not going to jump two quads, but only one and combination 3+3 instead as he did during the GPF). Then... it was Flamenco. Oh, my God, this program is so unbelievably beautiful, even without jumps. Every movement was complete and just perfect. Flamenco is my favourite program, I saw it on Worlds and totally fell in love with it. It was like a dream, to stand there, during the practice and watch Stephane practicing this program. I really couldn't believe that this was for real. If somebody would have told me less than a year ago that I would come to Euros and would see Stephane during his practice, for sure I haven't had believe him... This was a small miracle, a wonderful present... After Flamenco Stephane bowed to everybody, smiled to our cheering tribune and went away even before the practice was officially over. That was a good sign for me, that he feels ready to fight. Practice finished, when we came out from the rink, we saw the girls from forum talking to Salome and Mr.Grutter. I wanted to say to them so many good words and to thank them for everything, for their love and the patience they have for Steph, but I was a bit shy and they already finished signing posters and went away. I still regret, that I didn't thank them.
After that we went for a walk and we were back for the OD. On our way to the rink we met Kerrs and wished them good luck (my friend was very excited as she loves them very much). OD was interesting to watch, we saw our Israeli dancers and cheered for them with Israeli flag we brought. Olivie and Isabelle were just beautiful, it's so sad that at the end they didn't receive gold. Also the second French pair - Péchalat and Bourzat - was great. If I remember it right, Antonio Najarro was choreographer of this dance which was amazing. Well, this man for sure knows his job. I'm not sure he can choreograph everything, but for "Spanish style" he's the expert.
We went home for a break and when we came back the whole lobby of the rink was red and white: official fan club came to the competition. It was very funny to see all of them. I took a few pictures. And then I saw Maina, I couldn't resist, I approached to them, told that I'm Stephane's big fan from Israel and that I saw their pictures on the official site. And that I saw Maina's pictures there too. And I asked them to take a picture with her. They were so nice and friendly, and they agreed. And when I talked to them Stephane's uncle went by, so I was just "Oh, I know you, you're Stephane's uncle" (rather stupid sentence if you ask me :)). I also told them that we missed them a lot during short program a day before. They answered they couldn't come. The whole conversation was very nice and they took picture of me with Maina.
After that the most intense part of the whole competition came. Men's free skate. From Wednesday evening we started to worry (each one about "her" one ;)), my friend was in a better position: she "had" only 4 points difference, I "had" eight. It was possible in both cases to win, but it was hard, and we were just going crazy of all those "what if" thoughts. The adrenalin was raising... Tomas was the first of the three to skate, his skating was quite good, not unbeatable though. BUT he received about 155 (a bit more than I expected actually as his performance was with one quad, not very clean and with one jump going totally wrong). I calculated quickly that Steph needs at least 163 and... his PB was 161. Well, it still was possible but I was already much too nervous. He came to the ice, in my favourite costume, for my favourite program, and I was sitting there and counting his points... He started his Flamenco with 2A instead of triple and I understood that was it, it wasn't gold already. It was so stupid, 'cause I always say that I don't care about his medals but about performance, but this gold was really possible and achievable, and that last practice went very well and I believed so much that miracle would happen... but it didn't... Everybody says that his performance in Euros was very emotional and great and I was sitting there so upset with his double Axel and double flip before step sequence (by then it was officially "not gold") that I couldn't enjoy his performance... Sometimes being inside of the competition just spoils everything. :-/ That was the last time I saw Flamenco and I just spoiled it for myself with this stupid thoughts about "not gold". :( He finished skating and he looked very glad, I was surprised how glad he was, he couldn't NOT know that he lost already. And then in K&C he made that funny flamenco style "salut de coccinelle" and I understood that he was truly happy. Well, if he was happy, then I should be for sure, right? So I was happy for him. Brian was the last to skate and again his program and jumps didn't go well, somehow when I saw his results I knew immediately that "we" have silver (though then the difference was something like 0.18, it was before points were fixed, I have no idea how I knew about the silver, I just felt it).
And then there was medals ceremony and I didn't hear the Swiss anthem which I wished so badly to listen to. But Steph looked quite glad and happy. And there was funny moment when all the photographers took only his pictures as if he was the main hero there and not Tomas. And Steph was posing to all of them. That's it, the end of the day and actually the end of the competition for me.
Funny thing that before I went to Euros I told to someone that I go to Zagreb with my friend but we are fans of different skaters who are the main rivals. So I don't know how we will get along when one of them wins. Then my friend suggested that they both should lose, then we both will be upset and will comfort each other instead of fighting. I remember saying to him: "Nah, it's not possible, they just can't both lose, to whom?" Well, he was right, I was wrong... ::) I mean maybe this result comes to teach us something: that you can never be sure and you can't be pretentious and forget about other skaters...
Friday-Saturday
OK, so the competition was over. Stephane went for two days to Switzerland, but I didn't know that. So, as a real crazy fan, I went to the exhibition practice on Friday evening. I watched the Russian pairs practice, which was quite interesting, but no skaters showed up for the men practice. We went together with my friend next day, on Saturday too. Steph didn't come again, but then notfake and mel came and told me that Steph even wasn't in Zagreb in that time. Tomas and Jou came to practice so my friend was happy, I stayed with her to watch their practice, it was interesting too. When we were leaving I saw Tomas, approached and congratulated him: well, after all he won in fair play and he is a very nice boy, isn't he? :)
Sunday
The last day in Zagreb. My flight was at 16.00, I wasn't staying for gala (I am still sorry that I couldn't find another flight, 'cause I love "Romeo" so much... :'(). But at least there was also a practice for gala in the morning: first group, practice of finale altogether, second group. Steph was in the second group, so he should have come to the practice of finale. I was a bit nervous 'cause I wasn't sure if he was already back to Zagreb and if I would see him. BTW to get to that practice I had to purchase a ticket to gala, but the nice cashiers took that ticket back from me after practice and returned me my money. But actually I was totally ready to pay just to go to the practice. 'Cause you can never be sure you'll have such an opportunity ever again... I wasn't very concentrated on the ice 'cause I was thinking all the time: "Is he here or still not?" ??? And finally he came, I can't explain you how happy I was that I had that last chance to see him. And to see "Romeo", even without the jumps! Steph was in his funny orange hat so it was very easy to follow him and his movements on the ice (it was rather dark there as they were setting lights for the gala). And he was in a very good mood, danced a lot (not only with Isabelle) and was socializing :)) It was a real pleasure to see him happy and funny like this. We thought we'll be able to meet him after the practice, I hoped to talk to him for a few minutes, we had lots of questions we forgot to ask then in Moscow... Notfake asked him if he had time, but he answered: "After practice I think I'll be in my bed". And he said that after gala it'll be much better to meet him. I was rather upset to hear that 'cause that meant that my last chance to talk to him was blown away, but what could I do? After he skated "Romeo" (oh, it was almost as beautiful as "real" one even with a few spins), he finished his practice and went away from the rink. So I decided at least to give him a present I brought for him. I went out, there were a few more people waiting for him. Someone approached him before me, I gave him a bag with my present (there was also greeting card in Hebrew there, with ladybugs how not :) ) and I saw how tired he was, he was hardly smiling. I took a picture for that fan who approached him before me on her camera and even didn't open mine, I felt so pity for him. Then he saw more people and was just "Ooo... Maybe group picture?", with such hope. Well, girls were not settling for the group picture so it ended with a few smaller groups pictures. And - thanks to meli - I have one such group picture with Stephane too.
That's all, end of story. In a few hours I had my flight. And in the airport I met Yannick Ponsero so I took picture with him and wished him more luck on the next competition. The beautiful fairy tale ended...
Tuesday
I came to Zagreb in the afternoon and I missed by just a few hours Steph's practice which was a pity, but I couldn't find any other convenient and cheap flight (this Zagreb and flights there are real disaster...). So, on my way from the airport I received an SMS from notfake that the practice wasn't good at all, Stephane was very angry as he didn't get any jumps right. I answered something like "Well, this is our usual Stephane, isn't he?" :D I came to the rink to collect our tickets and I met the girls there. My friend was supposed to come later, so while I was waiting for her I went to watch "yanki-polka". A few minutes later Brian came to watch the French dancers, Péchalat and Bourzat. My friend is a huge fan of Brian so it was a pity that she missed him there (it always works this way: somebody receives something you need so badly and doesn't even appreciate, ah?). Polka was nice; I saw our Israeli dancers - Zaretskys and cheered them, saw Domnina and Shabalin, a few other skaters and then received an SMS from my friend that she is finally in Zagreb, so I went to meet her in the bus station.
In the evening there was a short program of pairs where Aljona and Robin were just incredible, much-much better than others, it's just another level of skating, I feel. So they won SP and I was glad for them. As all the interesting pairs were in the beginning we didn't wait till the end and went home. Especially since next morning we needed to wake up rather early, to be ready to go to practice.
On our way from the rink we met Sara Maier but we so did not expect to meet her that we forgot to tell her "good luck" or something. That's OK, we "fixed" it on Friday. :)
That day we didn't see Stephane. But that wasn't surprising as he was in a bad mood. :(
Wednesday
Joubert had practice at 9.10 and Stephane was in the next group. We were told that in order to get to the practice rink we may join skaters in the bus which goes there. My friend wanted to see Brian, so at 8.20 we were on the bus, excited from all the skaters that were coming. Lutai, Voronov and Davydov came. And Van Der Perren. And Mishin. I was waiting for Stephane, though I wasn't sure that he'd come to this bus. And... in the last minute I saw his coat with fur cowl which I knew from Moscow already. ::) He was going in front of everybody, not talking to anyone, very concentrated and a bit sleepy. :) Majda, Mr.Grutter and Salome went after him on some distance. I was so excited, I couldn't believe all this is actually happening. So he entered the bus, still not looking on anybody around and went to the front sit and sat there all alone with his iPod. All his team sat not far from us and they were talking about something. So it was half an hour ride with Stephane which was actually not so much with him. :)
We came to the rink, and it was just amazing: we could stand right near the border, I could outstretch my hand to touch skaters (of course I didn't do it :)). Brian's group started to practice. In a few minutes Steph came out and started warming up: he ran round the rink, it was even once that my friend pushed me 'cause I was standing on his way, I don't know how I couldn't notice him (unbelievable! :D). He ran up and down the stairs and did some other exercises. I'm telling this now but I actually can't believe that I had this unique chance to watch him training, wow. So it was time of his group and he came to the ice. He was very serious and very concentrated, he just skated, did some jumps, no quads, but lots of not bad different triples. Najik came with her banner, also jade was there, and few other girls from the forum, we all were cheering him after every jump he did and after his amazing spins too. He had music of "Carne" which he did without jumps. In the end of the practice every skater bows to the audience as if it's a competition. So Steph bowed to us, and we received a huuuuge smile in reply to our "standing ovation". I think he received more attention than any other skater there. ::)
On the way back, Steph took "wrong" (meaning not mine :)) bus, but my friend was happy: Brian was sitting in front of us all the way back (we desperately tried to understand what he was talking about with his Mom, but our French is rather poor :'()
We came to the main rink, gave my banner to the organizers (as we couldn't hang them ourselves according to the rules) and then I saw Steph coming from his bus. Then it was that sad story when I stopped him and he begged "Plizzzz, I want to go", so I was terribly sorry that I did it. And when he was ready to take a picture anyway and told me, "OK, quick", I told him "No, go, go"... I was so ashamed, 'cause he was obviously very-very tired and I came there with my camera and all. I was so confused that I didn't tell to him "Good luck" and that I believe in him so much. Such a shame and it's so silly 'cause those words were much more important than
a picture...
We came in the middle of the men's short. All the good places were already taken, so during performance of "our" skater each one of us went to sit on the stairs. First my friend went to sit there, 'cause Brian was before Lambiel. He didn't do good, at all, during his triple Axel it was like "ouch, poor guy". My friend came back to our sits very sad. In was my turn. I took Swiss flag with me and went to sit on the stairs. Before the warm up I saw Stephane's costume for the first time. Oh, my, it looked sooooo weird. :-/ BTW, on the pictures it looks better, but it real life... Dunno, I didn't like it much. Steph's skating wasn't so good either, not accurate Axel, no quad, I was very sad, but stood up with my flag to cheer him for. When I came back to our sits, my friend told me that they showed me on the screen. Few seconds after that I received an SMS from my parents: "We saw you!!! Was it you with Swiss flag?" I was totally in shock 'cause my parents never, I mean NEVER, watch figure skating. :o Also it's funny, I saw the video after that, they showed me waving that flag and I was standing there NOT glad at all, not smiling, nothing, just waving the flag :))
After that we had a very interesting meeting. Maybe some of you remember that I shared with you bunch of Stephane's photos and told that some Russian journalist gave them to me. So she was there in Zagreb and we met to talk and drink coffee. It was very nice indeed. We drank coffee in "Panorama", skater's hotel, so we saw lots of them there passing by. We saw Olivier, and Joubert, and Shabalin and few others. And guess who were sitting not far from us? Stephane's Mom, sister and friend and also Salome and Majda. Steph came for a few seconds (first I saw his Fur Cowl, then I understood that it was him, then I understood who were sitting all that time near us :D, I just was so into our conversation with that journalist that I didn't notice them before, ooops). There was a funny moment then. This journalist, she likes Steph very much, she always writes about him good things and she is really fond of him as a person (in lambiel_ru we always joke that she is probably a fan too). For example she wrote about him once:
"The thing is that both Lambiel and Weir stand apart from the rest because of their natural and liberated skating. You can see right away when the skater makes a move because that's what he was taught and when he makes the move because he can't imagine any other movement at this place in the program"
She has a few of her articles translated to English if you're interested:
http://www.velena.ru/translations/index.html
Anyway, back to our story. So Steph came in, and I was like "Oh... Steph... :o And his Mom... :o And Silvia... :o" And she, that journalist, said: "Yeah, our sunny boy". :) It was sweet. ::)
Ok, after that we went to see pairs LP and were glad that Aliona and Robin won. Well, they really ARE the champions there and as for now THE BEST in Europe for sure. I wish them to win gold in Worlds too.
Thursday
Morning started with a practice on the main rink. The main rink had two disadvantages: we couldn't stand near the borders and we had no bus journeys with the skaters. :'( It was regular routine already (you get accustomed to the good things so quickly): previous group on the ice, having music one by one, "our" group warming up. Just that we almost couldn't see Steph as Brian was near the rink. So Steph came, saw Brian, stood there for a few minutes (you can see it on najik's video) and went back. Pity. :( During the practice I met najik and doorika and we all were standing and waiting for Stephane to come. Jou was very nice, BTW, smiled to his fans, took presents from them. In general from Tuesday till his not so good performance on Thursday evening he looked very confident and happy. I remember, this made me worry even more about Stephane, and in the end Brian didn't do it well at all, hm...
So practice on the ice started and Steph came. This is always funny to watch him waiting to go to the ice, he is sooooo impatient, he totally hates waiting. I understand him so well, 'cause I hate waiting myself too. ;) This practice was better, he did one quad, almost clean, he did a 3A (at least once if I remember it right), he did a few 3+3+2 combinations, very-very clean and beautiful (so I understood that he was not going to jump two quads, but only one and combination 3+3 instead as he did during the GPF). Then... it was Flamenco. Oh, my God, this program is so unbelievably beautiful, even without jumps. Every movement was complete and just perfect. Flamenco is my favourite program, I saw it on Worlds and totally fell in love with it. It was like a dream, to stand there, during the practice and watch Stephane practicing this program. I really couldn't believe that this was for real. If somebody would have told me less than a year ago that I would come to Euros and would see Stephane during his practice, for sure I haven't had believe him... This was a small miracle, a wonderful present... After Flamenco Stephane bowed to everybody, smiled to our cheering tribune and went away even before the practice was officially over. That was a good sign for me, that he feels ready to fight. Practice finished, when we came out from the rink, we saw the girls from forum talking to Salome and Mr.Grutter. I wanted to say to them so many good words and to thank them for everything, for their love and the patience they have for Steph, but I was a bit shy and they already finished signing posters and went away. I still regret, that I didn't thank them.
After that we went for a walk and we were back for the OD. On our way to the rink we met Kerrs and wished them good luck (my friend was very excited as she loves them very much). OD was interesting to watch, we saw our Israeli dancers and cheered for them with Israeli flag we brought. Olivie and Isabelle were just beautiful, it's so sad that at the end they didn't receive gold. Also the second French pair - Péchalat and Bourzat - was great. If I remember it right, Antonio Najarro was choreographer of this dance which was amazing. Well, this man for sure knows his job. I'm not sure he can choreograph everything, but for "Spanish style" he's the expert.
We went home for a break and when we came back the whole lobby of the rink was red and white: official fan club came to the competition. It was very funny to see all of them. I took a few pictures. And then I saw Maina, I couldn't resist, I approached to them, told that I'm Stephane's big fan from Israel and that I saw their pictures on the official site. And that I saw Maina's pictures there too. And I asked them to take a picture with her. They were so nice and friendly, and they agreed. And when I talked to them Stephane's uncle went by, so I was just "Oh, I know you, you're Stephane's uncle" (rather stupid sentence if you ask me :)). I also told them that we missed them a lot during short program a day before. They answered they couldn't come. The whole conversation was very nice and they took picture of me with Maina.
After that the most intense part of the whole competition came. Men's free skate. From Wednesday evening we started to worry (each one about "her" one ;)), my friend was in a better position: she "had" only 4 points difference, I "had" eight. It was possible in both cases to win, but it was hard, and we were just going crazy of all those "what if" thoughts. The adrenalin was raising... Tomas was the first of the three to skate, his skating was quite good, not unbeatable though. BUT he received about 155 (a bit more than I expected actually as his performance was with one quad, not very clean and with one jump going totally wrong). I calculated quickly that Steph needs at least 163 and... his PB was 161. Well, it still was possible but I was already much too nervous. He came to the ice, in my favourite costume, for my favourite program, and I was sitting there and counting his points... He started his Flamenco with 2A instead of triple and I understood that was it, it wasn't gold already. It was so stupid, 'cause I always say that I don't care about his medals but about performance, but this gold was really possible and achievable, and that last practice went very well and I believed so much that miracle would happen... but it didn't... Everybody says that his performance in Euros was very emotional and great and I was sitting there so upset with his double Axel and double flip before step sequence (by then it was officially "not gold") that I couldn't enjoy his performance... Sometimes being inside of the competition just spoils everything. :-/ That was the last time I saw Flamenco and I just spoiled it for myself with this stupid thoughts about "not gold". :( He finished skating and he looked very glad, I was surprised how glad he was, he couldn't NOT know that he lost already. And then in K&C he made that funny flamenco style "salut de coccinelle" and I understood that he was truly happy. Well, if he was happy, then I should be for sure, right? So I was happy for him. Brian was the last to skate and again his program and jumps didn't go well, somehow when I saw his results I knew immediately that "we" have silver (though then the difference was something like 0.18, it was before points were fixed, I have no idea how I knew about the silver, I just felt it).
And then there was medals ceremony and I didn't hear the Swiss anthem which I wished so badly to listen to. But Steph looked quite glad and happy. And there was funny moment when all the photographers took only his pictures as if he was the main hero there and not Tomas. And Steph was posing to all of them. That's it, the end of the day and actually the end of the competition for me.
Funny thing that before I went to Euros I told to someone that I go to Zagreb with my friend but we are fans of different skaters who are the main rivals. So I don't know how we will get along when one of them wins. Then my friend suggested that they both should lose, then we both will be upset and will comfort each other instead of fighting. I remember saying to him: "Nah, it's not possible, they just can't both lose, to whom?" Well, he was right, I was wrong... ::) I mean maybe this result comes to teach us something: that you can never be sure and you can't be pretentious and forget about other skaters...
Friday-Saturday
OK, so the competition was over. Stephane went for two days to Switzerland, but I didn't know that. So, as a real crazy fan, I went to the exhibition practice on Friday evening. I watched the Russian pairs practice, which was quite interesting, but no skaters showed up for the men practice. We went together with my friend next day, on Saturday too. Steph didn't come again, but then notfake and mel came and told me that Steph even wasn't in Zagreb in that time. Tomas and Jou came to practice so my friend was happy, I stayed with her to watch their practice, it was interesting too. When we were leaving I saw Tomas, approached and congratulated him: well, after all he won in fair play and he is a very nice boy, isn't he? :)
Sunday
The last day in Zagreb. My flight was at 16.00, I wasn't staying for gala (I am still sorry that I couldn't find another flight, 'cause I love "Romeo" so much... :'(). But at least there was also a practice for gala in the morning: first group, practice of finale altogether, second group. Steph was in the second group, so he should have come to the practice of finale. I was a bit nervous 'cause I wasn't sure if he was already back to Zagreb and if I would see him. BTW to get to that practice I had to purchase a ticket to gala, but the nice cashiers took that ticket back from me after practice and returned me my money. But actually I was totally ready to pay just to go to the practice. 'Cause you can never be sure you'll have such an opportunity ever again... I wasn't very concentrated on the ice 'cause I was thinking all the time: "Is he here or still not?" ??? And finally he came, I can't explain you how happy I was that I had that last chance to see him. And to see "Romeo", even without the jumps! Steph was in his funny orange hat so it was very easy to follow him and his movements on the ice (it was rather dark there as they were setting lights for the gala). And he was in a very good mood, danced a lot (not only with Isabelle) and was socializing :)) It was a real pleasure to see him happy and funny like this. We thought we'll be able to meet him after the practice, I hoped to talk to him for a few minutes, we had lots of questions we forgot to ask then in Moscow... Notfake asked him if he had time, but he answered: "After practice I think I'll be in my bed". And he said that after gala it'll be much better to meet him. I was rather upset to hear that 'cause that meant that my last chance to talk to him was blown away, but what could I do? After he skated "Romeo" (oh, it was almost as beautiful as "real" one even with a few spins), he finished his practice and went away from the rink. So I decided at least to give him a present I brought for him. I went out, there were a few more people waiting for him. Someone approached him before me, I gave him a bag with my present (there was also greeting card in Hebrew there, with ladybugs how not :) ) and I saw how tired he was, he was hardly smiling. I took a picture for that fan who approached him before me on her camera and even didn't open mine, I felt so pity for him. Then he saw more people and was just "Ooo... Maybe group picture?", with such hope. Well, girls were not settling for the group picture so it ended with a few smaller groups pictures. And - thanks to meli - I have one such group picture with Stephane too.
That's all, end of story. In a few hours I had my flight. And in the airport I met Yannick Ponsero so I took picture with him and wished him more luck on the next competition. The beautiful fairy tale ended...