Interview with Alexander Zhulin
May 2007 in Moscow

Q: After you came back to Russia last year, you told me that you didn’t get enough ice time. How are your working conditions now?

A: We get a lot of support, and they promised to open a third ice rink right here on the territory, and we’ll have more ice. Now we have six hours practice per day and I can say that this is immediately showing results. When we didn’t have enough time before, I kept telling them, give me six hours, and you’ll see the result. Now it is much better.

Q: Now Natasha Mikhailova is training here with her new partner.

A: Yes, it was a move of necessity. Her previous partner Arkadi Sergeev suffered from a severe injury, he ruptured the outer ligaments of the ankle and had a fracture. He came back on to the ice after not having skated for four months. Natasha was training alone. We waited for him. He came back, he really wanted to skate and still wants it, he is a good boy, but he had a meniscus injury that wasn’t treated, the physicians just had overlooked it. Natasha understood that probably another season will be lost. Two seasons in a row…She said she doesn’t want to lose another season. We felt bad for Arkadi, but then I called the Federation. Mikhailova/Sergeev and Platonova/Maksimishin both were strong couples. She (Platonova) had a problem with her back and decided to retire, and Arkadi has a big problem with his leg. So we went to Odintsovo, and we had a try out in the presence of Tatiana Anatolievna Tarasova, Alla Shekhovtseva, Liosha Gorshkov, and all together we decided they should try to skater together. Liosha acted very honourably and gave me the boy. Natasha didn’t want to move to Odintsovo and didn’t want to leave me. So Andrei came here, and I thank Liosha very much. The only negative thing is that we didn’t split up on good terms with Arkadi. He was very upset. I think life will judge. If Arkadi wants to skate with another partner, I’ll be happy to help him.

Q: I think Natasha and Andrei look quite good together. This was their third practice, wasn’t it?

A: Yes, this was their third practice. For the third practice … at the first practice, I started to have some doubts about this partnership. Everything seemed so small, but they are improving quickly. Natasha has been skating with me practically for a year and understood my ways. For him of course…. My technique is very different from the technique of many other coaches, there are special things that you have to understand. But Andrei is learning quickly, and I see the desire to learn in his eyes, so I think that it will work out. For me it is very important that the students believe in their coach.

Q: Maybe they’ll even make it to some fall competitions such as Oberstdorf.

A: That’s probably too fast (laughs). We’ll try but I’m afraid they won’t make it.

Q: Well, but there was the third Canadian couple, Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje, they only teamed up last August and went to Junior Worlds, finished third…

A: …and then went to Worlds. I remember. But maybe it makes sense to wait a little bit. Hopefully they’ll get a Grand Prix like the Cup of Russia.

Q: Figure skating has become very popular with the shows and tours now. Do you feel the rise in popularity? Are many children signing up for lessons?

A: Probably many children showed up, but I’m not really following that, as I am very busy with my group of skaters and I can’t coach children. But I know that all skates in Russia were sold out. I think it is important to build more ice rinks, then we’ll probably have even more people who want to skate.

Q: The “Stars on Ice” project will continue. Will you participate again?

A: Probably yes, so far they didn’t offer me a contract. If I participate, it will be with another partner or in another role.

Q: Thank you very much for this interview.