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This interview is originally from www.kommersant.ru
Interview with Evgeni Plushenko and Alexei Mishin about world leadership, rivals, trends in figure skating and knee injury. ("W-sport" Waleria Mironowa) Q: Before this season it seemed that everything is obvious (including leadership of Plushenko). But it appeared that it is a little bit different... A. Mishin: Just now it is hard to analyse the whole season, but anyway, I am happy that Evgeni, after losing at Grand Prix Final and European Championships, finally showed how to win. Even though, because of his knee he could not skate everything he is able to, he was the best. It is a proof that at this moment he is the best. Q: A fall does not fit to victory but there were 6.0 notes to decide about your gold... Evgeni: Actually, It was not my fault. I suppose I tripped on a red sequin on the ice. It might have been something from the audience and the girls who cleaned the ice were not able to see it. Q: Have you ever faced a situation like those? Evgeni: Never during such important competitions. I must say that after this fall I didn't think of that I just wanted to finish my free skate and I did it. I was thinking about repeating the jump but then it would be my third rittberger, which I would attempt. I thought: "I can make it or not, but it will not influence on my final score". Before that fall I skated very difficult program with combinations like no other skaters. Q: After your performance there was no doubt that Evgeni Plushenko is the champion. You knew it as well while you were waiting for the marks. Evgeni: Now, it may look, as it was obvious. But the point is that when we were waiting for marks, my coach said: "Zhenya you will win". He saw previous performances including Joubert’s, which was very warm, accepted by the audience. My coach believes with me all the time.... While I was waiting for the marks I did not think whether I will win or not, I was thinking if I receive only 5.9 or if judges give me 6.0s...I was very, very happy. I won although I was not in my best form. My knee did not stop me from getting the gold. A. Mishin: Just before his performance I told him: "Do what you can, you do not have to skate to the maximum". I saw performances of his rivals, and there was youthful thrill or enormous strength and speed. They did not have what Zhenya has: technique and difficult combinations, artistry, class. That is why after his performance I said: "Don't look at the marks. You really won" Q: What is your opinion about the skaters from the top 4 places? A. Mishin: I really appreciate Stefan Lambiel and I was surprised that he was fourth not second in free program. Please do not think that I am telling this because I used to train him. Yes, I used to be his coach and I taught him triple axel and something more...Don't treat me like boaster but when I watch champions like:Brian Joubert, Stefan Lambiel, Shizuka Arakawa or Sasha Cohen... I am proud that they learned from "Mishin's system" Q: What could you say about N.Morozov, who would like to work with Plushenko? A. Mishin: It is a second person who put something new and amazing to the figure skating. But I haven't not heard that he wants to cooperate with us. Q: Do you need a new rival like the one you had (Yagudin)? Evgeni: Everything is changing. Nothing what is connected with skating and dances lasts forever. There are some elements which remain the same. But the major part of it is changing. A. Mishin: Yes, there are a lot of examples. We used to watch Ludmila Bielousowa and Oleg Protopopow, Ludmila Pachomowa and Aleksander Gorszkow,Galina Ulamowa. Their grace, elegance, and talent impressed us. Now it is a sign of past because such abilities are very common. Q: These 1,5 months between Europeans and Worlds must have been very hard time for you. Evgeni: No. Journalists often ask us whether we had changed something in the program. We did not change and trained as usually. Of course I spent some time on having my knee treated. Before every practise my couch massaged my knee, because if you do it regularly it may help. A. Mishin: Now, The doctor and I think there is no use in operating knee although his knee is a little bit swollen. Q: In Dortmund, like in Budapest you skated last in the group and all the skaters before skated without a mistake. Was it hard for you to concentrate? Evgeni: No. I didn't have a bad feeling like I did in Hungary. I did not feel better but I believed in myself. A. Mishin: I also was very calm. Zhenya is one of the skaters who became a champion - junior world champion, at the age of 14. That is why many people think he should win all the time. Reality is not so simple. After Europeans I knew that nothing very bad had happened. Zhenya had to change his attitude and it was easier for him to skate in Dortmund. Of course I was not absolutely calm after Budapest but long time ago there was a champion who went to the bottom and was manage to stand up. Jumps to the bottom can be very instructive. This is why I did not do anything special during practises. I knew it was test for me and my coach skills and it partly depended on me whether he would win in Dortmund. Q: Well, you used some philosophy to solve the problem.... Evgeni: We understood that there is no use in crying over spoilt milk... A. Mishin: Yes, exactly. Training a skater like Plushenko is a big responsibility. I'll say it right off the bat - I have never told Evgeni that he is a rare talent. You can't experiment on a talent like that. You need to concentrate on him your knowledge and experience. When I was a young coach I used to give advice very easily. Now when I want to advise Evgeni I'm thinking about it 100 times. Dynamics of relationships between coach and skater develops. At first coach is a boss and skater is silly, then a coach still is a boss and skater isn't a silly...And when a skater becomes older he starts to understand everything and analyse...He has got an authority in the world of sport, that is why a coach must respect his opinions, ideas...It is also the time when "a boss" has to defend his position because if a skater becomes his own boss it's really bad especially for himself. Q: During World Championships in Dortmund, a few skaters had very good presentation, showed quad jumps and interesting programs. Do you have something up your sleeve, some new elements that will help you to keep the domination? Evgeni: From my point of view it's not a good idea to concentrate only on jumping all triples and quads. Firstly, it's very difficult to do and secondly, there is no message in it. You need to prepare thematic performance and include there some new elements for instance Biellmann spin... A. Mishin: It's all about variety and Zhenya showed it in Dortmund. It is also very important to put your soul, light into the performance. We have reserve in that case. Q: World championships before Olympics will take place in Moscow... Evgeni: I look in the future with hope. Whether in Moscow, whether in Petersburg where I live, I feel like home. Home sweet home...I really enjoy performing there. Q: How about your rivals? Are you afraid of them? Evgeni: No. But of course I respect especially the skaters who were with me on the podium. They are very close to win. I was really impressed by Stefan Lidemann. He surprised everyone and gets a bronze. Figure skating is unpredictable sport and you never know who can "attack you"...But anyway, they don't have Yagudin's skills yet...
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