Interview with Alexander Uspenskij
Russian Nationals, January 2008 in St. Petersburg
Q: Sascha, can you please analyze your performances at Russian Nationals?
A: Concerning my performances, there is no way I can call them a 100 percent satisfactory. However, it was still a step forward in this season. First of all, this has to do with the fact that I included a quadruple jump in both programs. This was, you can say so, a discovery for me. I include the quad only since this season in my program and, obviously, it’s not yet solid in competition. While it’s working for me in practice and is working well and land quads of high quality, then the overall situation is a little different in competition. And here I didn’t cope with it.
Q: But you landed the quad already in competitions this season, such as the Grand Prix and the (national) Cup of Russia.
A: Let’s say that there were mistakes on the quad in all competitions this season in each program. Concerning this competition (Russian Nationals), the errors were bigger, obviously bigger – falls – than in the previous competitions. Well, I hope in spite of that that it will work out. I can do the quad, I know that I have it and, when I’m continuing to work and train diligently, I can do it in competition. I feel myself and know that I’m steadier and that I relate more adequately to competition. Each time I feel that I am more confident. However, in this competition a lot of errors occurred, which had nothing to do with excessive nervousness. They were just technical errors. Moreover, looking at my physical preparation it felt clearly easier for me to skate in this competition, even more so than in my last competitions. I worked a lot in December with my coaches, and the workload was indeed very high. And this is very good, it helps me a lot, because I’m feeling that with each time it feels easier and easier to skate through the program. But, as they say, ice is slippery, and it happens that an athlete can’t avoid mistakes. I didn’t avoid them, to be more precise, I didn’t cope with technical elements. Physically, I feel that the programs in this case were easier for me. Therefore I was able to put more emotions into them, to show more speed, in the footwork as well as in certain parts of stroking.
Q: This is true. We noticed that, also compared to other competitions this season.
A: Yes, I’m always judging in reference to myself. And in reference to myself I can say without bias that, yes, this competition wasn’t successful technically, but physically and emotionally I skated stronger.
Q: What happened to you on the practice day between short and free skating? You were injured?
A: I can’t really say what happened. I have to see the doctor, to do x-rays and undergo examinations when I get back to Moscow . According to the diagnosis of our team doctors here it’s probably a strained or inflamed muscle in the abdomen. But this isn’t yet a precise diagnosis. It hurts and I skated with a painkiller shot yesterday. Of course, whatever it was, it disturbed. But this is the last thing I’m talking about. When I stepped on to the ice, I didn’t think about it and even if something was disturbing me, it wasn’t the reason for my failures in the program yesterday. I got a painkiller and I wasn’t in pain. But, maybe, the muscles didn’t work as actively.
Q: What conclusions did you draw for yourself from Nationals?
A: I am not yet really ready to talk specifically about this. The free skating event ended late last night. I had to go back to the hotel, we were talking a little with other skaters, I saw my coach and my brother off to the bus, and then it was already time to go to bed. I decided that I’ll still have time to think about it after the conclusion of the competition. I knew that I still have to skate in the exhibition, that I need to rest a little, to get enough sleep, to come to myself and to focus completely on today. But when I’ll get back to Moscow I’ll discuss everything with my coach. I have my ideas, she has for sure her ideas, and we’ll look for the reasons. For now competitions are an experience, this is also a kind of training for future goals and future victories. And therefore now, as unsuccessful the competitions might be, there is no way we can give up or panic. Probably, each athlete faces failure in his life. These moments have to be overcome, namely overcome. And if, as I think, an athlete copes with and overcomes all difficulties, finds his way, the best exactly for him, individually – how to prepare for competitions, how to get ready, how to summon himself – then a result will come. Plus, of course, (you need) daily effort, practice, daily regimen.
Q: Would you like to comment on your scores that you got here in St. Petersburg ?
A: It never was the case that I was unhappy with my marks, even not a little bit. My goal is the performance on the ice, my job is to do everything, and the job of the judges is to give me marks. Honestly, I don’t remember any situation that I received marks that were lower than I deserved. It never happened. And in this case I am absolutely satisfied with the scores. These were the scores that I deserved at these Russian Nationals. If it happens that judges give some athletes in some competitions a higher or lower score than they actually deserved, then it should be on the conscience of the judges. And they should deal with it themselves. My job is just to perform my program, to skate. I repeat, I am completely satisfied with my scores from St. Petersburg . I am not satisfied with my performance, and the marks were objective.
Q: What do you think about the idea of the Federation to award a bonus of two points for a clean quad at Russian Nationals?
A: I don’t even know what to say about this. On the one hand, it’s right to add points for a so called element of highest difficulty as they take a lot of strength. You put definitely more energy into them than even into a triple Axel or a triple Salchow. And therefore I think that a score of 9 points for a quadruple jump is not correct. The score for a quad should be about 12 points.
Q: Many athletes and coaches believe this.
A: Yes, because it’s anyway a risk. You can miss this jump and it happens, when you fall, that it’s equal to a triple Salchow or loop. You have spent the energy in any case, you strived for achieving a higher level, but you got a score that I would say is low. On the other hand, I think, not to include the quad means to stagnate. Therefore, no matter how many points you get, I think, if you can do it, you have to move forward and not to stagnate. It would be nice, of course, if the (additional) points weren’t just added at Russian Nationals but also at the international level. Concerning the bonus in the given competition, if I’m just judging for myself, I would have received the bonus if I had done the quad and I would have been, obviously, pleased. But here it happened that the skater, who finished fourth, got the bonus and this is how he overtook me. Therefore I could have been not happy from this point of view. But why should I be unhappy? I didn’t do my job, and I didn’t get the bonus. Therefore, may it be as it is. The conditions were the same for everybody, therefore nothing really changed with the introduction of the bonus.
Q: The Figure Skating Federation introduced the bonus in order to motivate skaters to include quads in their programs.
A: I think nobody (of the skaters) was thinking about that.
Q: As we heard, some skaters didn’t even know about the bonus before the short program.
A: I think everybody knew about it. However, everybody chose the best alternative for themselves and chose the program they were ready for on the given day.
Q: How did you like the audience in St. Petersburg and the atmosphere of the Championships in general?
A: It was very enjoyable to skate, the atmosphere was very welcoming, nothing disturbed the competition. Everything was very well organized, the audience was good. However, it seemed to me that there were not so many people in the stands, if you compare it to previous championships. For example, I remember the 2004 Russian Nationals, when we competed in the same place, in the Ice Palace , and the rink was completely full for the exhibition. Obviously, that was great and it was an unforgettable show. Today, unfortunately, the rink wasn’t sold out and the stands were half empty. But those who had come received us well anyway and it was nice to skate.
Q: What do you think about the announcement of Jevgenij Pluschenko that he’ll come back next season?
A: It is difficult to say for me what I think about it. That’s his choice, he has the right to do it. If he wants it, if he feels he has the strength, why not? Personally I always liked his skating, it was always interesting to watch, interesting to skate with him, let’s say at Russian Nationals, but of course without any thoughts about rivalry. I think it will be good, when he comes back. But this is just my personal opinion. On the other hand, there is the point that the chance to make it to the key international events becomes slimmer. But then the chance to get three spots at Europeans and Worlds for the National team is higher and for today this is probably good.
Q: What are your further plans for the season? Maybe you’ll compete in some events like the Final of the Cup of Russia?
A: This is hard to say for now. As I’m now not going to Europeans and Worlds, my first goal will probably to change boots. I think we’ll take this decision together with the coach. The thing is, that the right boot is not very comfortable, it constantly rubs my foot and I had even some problems with my foot this season. If you don’t react in time, this can develop into a big problem. Therefore, as the situation now came out as it is, the first thing will be to change boots.
Q: So it’s not clear yet if you do another competition?
A: Yes. As the Final of the Cup of Russia will be only end of February, we’ll decide about this when the time comes, and we’ll look at my condition and the goals that we set for ourselves. We’ll see. Considering others, smaller competitions, maybe we’ll try to check and to skate the programs in front of an audience. I think there is a quite big possibility that we’ll skate the programs in some competitions.
Q: You actually said that it’s good for you to compete a lot in the season.
A: I can’t say that it’s good to compete very often. In any case you get tired from it and you can’t realize yourself fully. But six to seven competitions in the season is fine. In this season I had five competitions already, so I could compete in one, two more.
Q: Obviously, you made a serious step forward concerning the emotional interpretation of your programs. Nevertheless, here and at the Cup of China, your exhibition program was more expressive. Do you see how you could bring this freedom and emotion from your exhibition numbers to your competitive programs?
A: The only way is to overcome yourself. You have to try in competition to get rid of all these bonds that are preventing you to skate your program like in exhibition. For example, the same step sequences have to be done very clearly in competition – not less than two turns in the twizzle. In the exhibition program I can just do one and a half turn, and nobody is judging me for it, and it’s more spectacular and more beautiful than, for example, in the program. Now everything has to be very clear in each step sequence, we need to control each turn in the spins, each jump has to be clean and this is naturally more difficult. I don’t say that an exhibition program is very easy. That is also hard – you give emotions and you get tired. But competitions are still perceived in a different way.
Q: That means that you have to be totally focused each second, from the beginning to the end?
A: Yes, I should be focused maximally in competition as well as in exhibition. But in addition to that there is a moment of responsibility in competition. I think that’s where the fear of being too emotional comes from. And you think all the time if you have enough strength. But this is also something you just have to learn and namely to overcome yourself. For example, in this competition I tried to overcome myself to the maximum and I did a small step forward. I have time in the sport, and accordingly I have a chance to progress and to perform my program not less emotionally than the exhibition numbers.
Q: Just to confirm – physically it’s already not so difficult for you to skate emotionally, and it’s a psychological question?
A: Yes, it’s more of a psychological question.
Q: You probably need just more confidence.
A: Probably that’s the case.
Q: You always have an interesting inner relation to your programs. Were you able to feel your programs concerning artistry, the character and emotion you want to create? How do you feel yourself in these programs? Does it feel comfortable to skate them? Do they reflect your inner world and character?
A: Concerning the short program, it took me a long time to understand it from this point of view. The thing is, when I chose the music, I just liked it, and I didn’t think about the interpretation and character at that time. When I finally started to practice the program, I was under the impression that this is just a dance, rather empty, that doesn’t have any inner thought that I would like to express. I really hope for next year to do the kind of programs which I already can express. So, in the first competition of the season, I sort of got lost in my short program and it didn’t go too well. Right before Russian Nationals I reconsidered the attitude towards my program and just started to skate it, without thinking anything. Concerning the free program, I reconsidered it completely as well. I expressed not quite the character I was thinking about initially. Allow me to keep this to myself, because this is a personal moment. But anyway the free program is still kind of raw. Actually it’s really hard. I say it again, if I had skated without errors yesterday, the progress of the emotional side of my skating would have been more noticeable. But unfortunately, there were many errors and also small mistakes. All this is visible, of course. When there are falls, popped jumps, small mistakes the program doesn’t look as good, obviously. But this goes for any program. However, in any case, I think that it was emotion-wise already better than at the previous competitions.
Q: Will you change both programs for next season?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you have already some ideas for the new programs?
A: I have ideas, even quite precise ones, but I won’t tell them yet.
Q: Just tell us if they are in a similar style than the programs this season?
A: No. Both programs will be completely different in style from what I skated before.
Q: Thank you for this interview!
Older interview from Cup of China
Harbin , November 2007
Q: What are your goals for this season?
A: For this season, no matter what the outcome is, I set the goal for myself to show the maximum of the elements that I planned to do in my program. This is the main goal. I will judge if the season was successful or not, depending on how I fulfil this goal. If I perform in the majority of competitions the maximum of elements, and not only the elements, but the program as a whole, I can rate my season according to this parameter. I don’t know, if it’s right or not, but I think it’s not right to set a certain placement as a goal. In my opinion, you can set yourself the goal to perform all elements, not only the jumps but also the spins, footwork and accordingly, to perform the program. The placement is the job of the judges.
Q: I agree. When athletes focus too much on a certain placement very often nothing comes out of it.
A: On the other hand, thinking of a placement, the athlete is pushing for leadership this way. But for now I don’t feel inside myself something that allows me to say that my goal is to become the leader, for the current season at least. For now my job is to perform the elements.
Q: What conclusions did you draw from last season, which was, unfortunately, cut short due to your illness.
A: Yes, it was a short season that practically ended in December. I competed only in the Grand Prix events, and that was it. Actually, a lot of changes happened in this time. In particular, I started to work with Marina Grigorjevna Kudrjavtseva. And in spite of some misfortunes in that (past) season, to my mind, there was some progress overall. Maybe it’s not yet so noticeable as I somewhere wasn’t able to cope with some competitions, but concerning the direct training process, I even started to think differently a little bit. In other words, when I started to work with a new coach, I got new emotional input, strength, I received new information which helped me a lot. For example, practically three weeks after I switched to Marina Grigorjevna, I landed the combination triple loop-triple loop. This might not be the most difficult element, but before I switched coaches, I even didn’t think of that. On the one hand, my previous coaches told me as well that I have to reach a new level, but somehow they didn’t get this across to me specifically. This is, of course, not only the fault of the coach. It is possible that I just didn’t understand. But when I went to Marina Grigorjevna, she was able to steer me into a new direction. My whole training changed and rather seriously. I progressed in my spins, and not only there. Even if you judge from yesterday’s program (free skating at Cup of China), after discussing everything, me and my coach said that maybe it wasn’t necessary to risk the quad and to limit ourselves to one triple Axel and to focus more on skating clean. Nevertheless, we understood, that we have to do the quad and to move forward and even if something doesn’t work out, it has to be this way in any case: I have to do the quad and two triple Axels. I tried to give the maximum and made many errors, but it was an experience psychologically which I didn’t expect, to be honest.
Q: So you were shocked yourself about the performance?
A: I can’t say that I was shocked. I probably would have been shocked if I had skated perfectly yesterday. But even what I did yesterday, I didn’t expect, to be honest. It is possible that this is not my best character trait, but I have a lot of doubts and I worry a lot before the competition, which, obviously, has an impact on the performance as a whole. For example, when I skate in exhibitions, I feel that I don’t get tired, that I can even more, that the spins are on a totally different level. Yes, understandably, there isn’t such a tension. In competition I’m not able to overcome that. I’m trying, trying to get into the right mood. For example, yesterday, when I went out to skate, at one point I was terribly nervous, I almost forgot where I was. But then I told myself that I have to get rid of this tension and I just did everything what I can do. When I went for the quad, I had a good set up, but I was tense. Yes, it (the quad) wasn’t clean, but still it was my first quad in competition in my life. As of today I can call this a success. Obviously, I didn’t do anything great, but inside myself I feel that if I did it once in my life, even if not perfect, this means that there is a chance that I can do it again another time.
Q: And even better.
A: Yes, even better.
Q: To me it looked like you were yourself surprised when you landed the quad.
A: On the one hand, I wondered about it when I went to the dressing room after the performance, because, naturally, when I did it in the program - even with the mistake- I didn’t have time to be wonder about it. I had to continue my program in any case. And then I could have wondered about landing the triple Axel. And, on the other hand, when I set up for the second triple Axel, I thought, maybe it’s not worth risking it? But I still risked it. Again, I understood, that if I hadn’t thought about doing a double, I probably would have done the triple Axel cleanly, as whenever inner doubts come up, it’s always disturbing.
Q: As far as I know, your preparation for this event wasn’t the best.
A: Indeed, the preparation for this event wasn’t the best. On (last) Monday, one week ago, we had our last practice in Moscow . It was a very difficult practice as practically nothing worked. But we obviously didn’t give up and didn’t start to panic. We knew that we still have time to recover, we understood that I somehow can forget about the failure in practice. They’re sometime unsettling, especially before an important competition. Actually I’m – and I think that’s right – never not but upset – I am upset, but at the same time I’m trying to achieve more. So I don’t lose heart when I have a bad practice. Because, when something is not working, it still means that I’m doing something. If you are striving for something and you are overcoming some barriers, failures are an essential part of this process. Therefore my principle is: “The one who is not making mistakes, is doing nothing”. Accordingly, mistakes in practice are mistakes in practice from which you can draw conclusions and don’t repeat them in competition. And vice versa, you can correct in practice the mistakes that happen in competition. In practice, you have to work, to try new things, that’s what it’s for and therefore I am calm in practice.
Q: You already talked about changing coaches. Was it your decision to switch coaches?
A: It just happened that as it seems to me, we even didn’t discuss this situation. It was just as if at the same time both of us took the decision to go separate ways. Of course, I worked with Natalja Petrovna for ten years, and I appreciate what she did for me. As a decent person, I have no right not to talk about that. We went through a lot together, like any working team. We had nice experiences and upsetting experiences. But that’s life and we decided to part ways. We parted absolutely without any problems. When I realized that our team practically was done, I prepared for it and I knew that I would talk to Marina Grigorjevna and ask her to become my coach. She agreed. I thank her a lot for that. So we are working together. I progress, and some things don’t work out for me. I’m not in my best shape now. I hope that everything is still to come, because we’re working seriously. I can say that Marina Grigorjevna is doing a lot. Obviously, a lot depends on me. Naturally, no matter how good the coach is, if the skater doesn’t finish the work or doesn’t fully understand, or sometimes his health is not good, or some problems and failures prevent him from focusing on his job, then it’s clear that not everything depends on the coach, although a lot depends on the coach obviously, as well as on the athlete.
Q: Please tell us something about your new programs. You chose classical music for both the short and the free program.
A: Yes, I chose classical music for this year.
Q: Did you pick it yourself? You usually do, don’t you?
A: Yes. To my mind, the program is hard to skate anyway, and when you don’t even like the music, it’s just impossible. First of all the athlete needs to like the music. It shouldn’t be too avant-garde, of course. Although it could be avant-garde if the skater can express it. I can for example interpret the character of my heroes on the ice. I’m always trying to express the character. When we took the music, we composed it in a certain manner to fit the footwork and spins. We built up footwork that absolutely suited (the rules of) last season. However, the rules changed as some point in July. When technical specialists came to our practice, they said that our step sequences that I was able to do really well, didn’t comply the rules. Therefore we changed them completely. As it turned out, the new steps are physically very hard to do. Now each step sequence should take about 30 seconds, and to do all this with upper body movements is rather hard. Of course, you have to work on it, skate it, but if we had known about the new rules earlier, the composition of the music would have been totally different. We won’t change anything, we’ll work. I hope that I can perform this program (well) that is, in my opinion, has an interesting structure. Another question is that my job is to realize all this and really to skate it in an interesting way, the way it is.
Q: A lot of skaters have used both “Don Quixote” and “Turandot” before. What kind of new aspect do you want to show with this music?
A: With this music, these programs of this season, I don’t want to show anything new. But I already have ideas for future programs. Maybe I’ll try to show in my programs what I’m really thinking. What is going on now it not exactly what I’m feeling. I’m also growing up, I develop my point of view. In the past few months I отчётливо understand that I want to express myself the way I am. I’m expressing the current programs and I’m expressing myself through them, but not completely. I would say that I haven’t shown myself yet. I am still inside. What I’m really feeling, nobody has seen yet. And if I’ll be able to express that, then I hope that my thoughts are appreciated.
Q: Thank you very much for the interview!
(You find the original Russian version of these interviews at Alexander’s official homepage: http://www.uspenski.ru/site/index.html)
