Evgeni: That's right. It's my lifetime dream. I've won everything else except for Olympics. But if I don't win, I won't be too upset. I 'll be working even harder. Maybe,I'll win in four or eight years. I'm going to skate 10 more years.

Q: Who are your main rivals?

Evgeni: Goebel, Eldredge, Stojko, Weiss, Yagudin, Chinese skaters, whose names I can't remember no matter how hard I try. But main rival is me. To go out there and do everything you can, not thinking about jumps, rivals, this is the hardest thing. I was able to do it last season.

Q: After September 11 do you have any fears of traveling to USA?

Evgeni: Of course, it's scary. But I'll get over it.

Q: Has the thought of not going to SLC ever crossed your mind?

Evgeni: To be honest, I'm a regular guy, and I have my fears and different thoughts. But I have to go to SLC. I have been waiting all my life for this,working hard. I'll go to SLC no matter what.

Q: Choosing MJ music,have you kept in your mind the fact that Olympics are taking place in USA?

Evgeni: Honestly, no. But it's a plus, and we realized it when the program has already been done.

Q:Why do you always participate in Cup of Russia?

Evgeni: I like the city, the crowd. It's so great to skate at home!

Q: Aren't you afraid of revealing your new program so late?

Evgeni: I'm not going to do it at Cup of Russia. It's not ready yet. I 'll skate it at Grand Prix final.Too late? I don't think so. The season is long. Judges and crowd are going to have enough time to like my program.

Q: What is your relationship with Alexei Yagudin? Are you friends, enemies?

Evgeni: We are rivals on the ice. Off the ice we are not the closest buddies, but we are friendly enough. Thre are rumors that we are fighting, but it's not true. We are fighting only on the ice.

Q: When you both were coached by Mishin, have you been friends?

Evgeni: Sometimes we went to night clubs together and played tennis.

Q: Yagudin is older.Have you learned something from him?

Evgeni: I haven't learned anything from Yagudin, I've learned from Urmanov.

Q: Who is number 3 in Russian team?

Evgeni: Klimkin and Abt are fighting for the third spot. Sasha is my close friend, and I want him to win.

Q: You have achieved almost everything in the sport. Do you have star disease?

Evgeni: Fortunately,I had it at the very beginning. At 15 I won bronze, and I even could win gold at Worlds.I came back home thinking that there's no need for me to work any longer. My mom cured me very fast. No blows on the back of the head,though. She just said:" You've got to get down. "I understood. I saw a lot of examples of not so happy stories because people even didn't try to fight star disease.

Q: Have other coaches tried to steal you from Mishin?

Evgeni: Of course, very often. American coaches, Russian coaches. They promised me big money. I feel great with my own coach. I don't need anybody else.

Q: Who is your favorite skater?

Evgeni: In the childhood it was Victor Petrenko.

Q: What is it-ideal skater?

Evgeni: This one doesn't exist. The prettiest girl and the best car don't exist as well.

Q: Do you consider yourself an ideal?

Evgeni: No, but I'm aiming for it.

Q: Do you want to try pair skating?

Evgeni: I think, I'm pretty good at singles. I could do all triples at 11. That's a high level. There was none who could do all triples at 11. I had been improving very fast. But I've never been strong enough to lift a girl.

Q: It seems that Biellmann is getting for you harder and harder...

Evgeni: I'm still very flexible. But from doing quads all the time, I'm getting some nagging injures-groin, back.Biellmann is not harder for me, it's more painful.

Q: Have you ever done something crazy?

Evgeni: I'm a reasonable person. At school I fought sometimes. Kids were saying that figure skating is sport for the girls. Then I had to prove them wrong.

Q: Is it true that you were invited to dance at Mariinski theater?

Evgeni: Yes, it happened when I moved to Leningrad to train with Mishin. I was confused. I said: "You've got to ask my mother." My mom said that I had to decide myself. I chose skating.

Q: Are you going to win Olympics?

Evgeni: I'm ready.

Q: Do you have a girlfriend?

Evgeni: I don't want to answer this question.If I say no, my girlfriend (if I have one) will be upset. If I say yes,my female fans are going to be unhappy. Let's keep it a secret.

Q: Do you often hear love confessions?

Evgeni: Very often. But I'm not sure if they love me or my skating.

Q: I've fallen in love with you. What am I supposed to do?

Evgeni: Don't give up on love!

Q: Is it true that you are involved with Sasha Cohen?

Evgeni: We are friends. We are calling each other, writing letters. But there's no romance.

Q: Do you believe in friendship between a man and a woman?

Evgeni: Of course, Sasha Cohen is my friend.