Interview with Silvio Smalun (German Nationals)
We are happy to publish a new interview with Silvio Smalun on our website. To the regret of many skating fans, Silvio announced his retirement earlier this season. His fans then put together a scrapbook for him that he received during the German National Championships in Oberstdorf in January 2007. Silvio really appreciated the gift and wants to thank everyone who participated.
Q: First of all we ask the question that for sure all your fans have: Will we see you on the ice in the future? Or did you close this chapter in your live forever? Just now you won many new fans after your performances in the TV show “Stars on Ice”. The new and your “old” fans alike would like to see you skating once in a while – even without Lucy:-)
Silvio: Actually, I don’t see my future as a skater so much. But I want to stay involved in the sport and I want to do a little bit for myself and skate in shows once in a while. It is planned to do a second TV show, and if it happens I’d like to be part of it.
Q: By participating in “Skating with the Stars” you got to know a completely different kind of competition. How did you like it compared to “amateur” competitions? Was it more fun or was it a “serious” competition?
Silvio: “Stars on Ice” was completely different from competition, of course. It wasn’t about competing, it was a show, entertainment, and it was made to entertain people. It was similar to an exhibition, but obviously it was less athletic, less exhausting, let’s say “valuable”. The experience wasn’t bad, it was nice. You met a lot of people and you could see how everything is done (on TV), and it was great fun. But you can’t compare it in any way, one thing is a TV show and the other thing is sport. Both are fun in their own way.
Q: The audience liked you and Lucy as you could see in the Pro 7 forum or in the guestbook of your homepage. Were you interested in these comments and have you read them? Did you expect to get so much positive feedback?
Silvio: Well, I did look into my guestbook I was surprised to see so many entries, of course. I didn’t expect at all that the TV show would be so popular, that people are drawn into it and then write down their opinion. Not each comment was appropriate (laughs), but I must say that it made me happy, because I also took part in it to give figure skating another platform and to show in a completely different way that it’s not all about who has better connections and wins thanks to that, but I just wanted to prove that the sport doesn’t have to be strict, but can be funny and relaxed and modern. I was pleased that this message came through.
Q: How did you cope with Lucy’s bubbling personality?
Silvio (laughs): Lucy had incredible energy, but she had her limits. During the practice on the ice she had to think and was less active. Off the ice, she was looking for attention and was entertaining. She had to do her work, though. Sometimes it needed, let’s say, patience or “close your eyes and just do it” attitude, but overall it went well.
Q: You placed well at the World and especially at the European Championships last season. Are you pleased with how you ended your career?
Silvio: For me personally this was one of the best seasons I ever had while I competed, and of course I preferred to retire when I was on the top of my personal development than retiring with a bad season. I just wanted to know it for myself that I’ll leave the scene with a good performance. I’m pleased with it and now I can enjoy it.
Q: Some of your teammates, who didn’t realize their Olympic dream yet, decided to continue their career probably to 2010. Did you never consider that?
Silvio: For sure, I never considered to go on until 2010! I’ve reached an age where you want to be responsible for earning a living yourself and you have to look that everything takes the right direction. For me this is now just the right time to say, it’s over now and you have to look around. It was fun, I’ll never regret it, but financially I didn’t earn enough to go on until 2010. I think, it would have been a little late to start working then.
Q: Why did you decide to retire after what was your most successful season?
Sivlio: I decided to compete in the Olympic season. Obviously it was a big goal for me in my career (to go to the Olympic Games). It was no question, I think it’s the best thing and I want to be there. I gave everything in that season, therefore it went quite well and I would have left after this highlight. I already took this decision for myself. However, it didn’t work out with the Olympics, but it was close. I don’t have to blame myself. I was qualified, and that is the most important thing (laughs).
Q: So there won’t be a comeback?
Silvio: Well, I don’t think it’s so easy to start a comeback with the new system. I don’t know, maybe it’s not so far fetched to make a successful comeback in Germany. However, on the international scene, I don’t think it’s so easy to just come back for the Olympics.
Q: To me, the men’s competition used to be stronger before.
Silvio: Yes, maybe it wasn’t so strong last season in competition. But I have to say, Worlds was really good! When I participated, everybody was really good, of course! (laughs)
Q: Did you have idols before?
Silvio: Your idols are always those who were successful at that time, and when I started, there was Viktor Petrenko, of course. He was the idol that you tried to follow.
Q: Now you focus on your studies and professional future. Will you stay involved in figure skating in any capacity, such as coach, choreographer, judge, commentator?
Silvio: In my heart I will stay involved with figure skating, of course. The connection will never be cut off, I like the sport and I will follow it. I want to be on the ice myself a little bit, because I like to skate. We’ll see if some shows come out of it. However, I don’t really plan to work as a coach or choreographer, but sometimes it comes different as you plan! (laughs). As a jugde or coach… I don’t know. I had to give some advice during the TV show, and that was ok, but taking over responsibility for young skaters and to lead them to the top? Well, I think, you can’t just go out there and be a coach, you need professional training, experience and now I’ll see first if I can work in a different area. It’s easier to skate in a show than to have responsibility for someone else.
Q: Will you watch the European and World Championships on TV?
Silvio: Sure, if I have time I will watch Europeans and Worlds on TV. I also watched what was shown recently. When there is interesting skating on TV, I’ll watch it.
Q: Thank you very much for the interview and all the best for your future.
(Interview by Sabine Carbin and Irene Probst)









































