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This interview is originally from http://www.mk.ru/
Q: Zhenya, I remember how you came on ice after your first gold medals - all covered n golden bracelets and chains. Then you probably didn't think about what would people think of you. Do you ever miss that careless time? Evgeni: I don't miss that. Then, you are right, I finally got to the grown-up life. I never had anything, and suddenly, there is money - one, two, three - I can buy gifts for my parents, gold stuff. So I was buying, and giving presents, and taking a bunch of friends to the store. It was nice that I could do something, you can't imagine. But that time is over and there is no going back. Now, I'm completely calm. From that other life, if I wanted to bring something, that would probably be only the drive to win. And boyish gamble. And the health. Q: Is ice more of a work today? Evgeni: Of course. First of all, you can't win without working. Everyone is expecting that from me – the Russian citizens first of all . So, I have to work a lot and can't let myself get weak. Q: You can't allow yourself to make a mistake, but life has it's own rules - you admit you are tired, you have injuries. Evgeni: My back, my knee. I missed several Grand Prix events and right away I've got to hear - he thinks too much of himself, "a star", so he didn't compete in Canada and Japan. He is going to shows and making money. I didn't reply because if I bring my attention to that, I won't have the strenghts for the sport. We talked to the doctors in Switzerland about the surgery - that would be right before the Olympics. I wanted to get the complete rehabilitation abroad - my back, both knees and groin. I'm tired from getting in shape and having problems at the same time. Q: Are you afraid that the doctors would find so many problems that it'll take half the life to treat it. Evgeni: Since I was 13, I always had some injuries. Unfortunately, in sport, you can't get cured once and for all. Because when you start jumping or learning new elements... For example, my left knee hurt sometimes. This year I started to do new quad - the salchow, and that was it, it started to hurt again. If I start learning the quad lutz, I do that now, my right knee would hurt. I did the "donut" spin a lot - my back hurt. I couldn't get out of bed for two days. Plus I have a problem with a nerve in pelvic area. S, I just have to overcome that. There are pills, painkillers. And I have to rest a little, of course. We’ll manage. I have to overcome all of it, the time in sport isn’t endless. Q: This year’s free program is a masterpiece. When do you have time to create the masterpiece? The skating season is endless if you count the tours… Evgeni: I’ll tell you, we already have some ideas for the next season. We picked the music for the Olympic short, and we have options for the free program. We even have the first drafts of costume designs. As for the “Godfather”, I’m often asked if I feel sorry to skate such a program in the pre-Olympics season? The answer is I’m not sorry because the one that we’ll make in a year won’t be worse. In reality, this program is the most difficult in my career, most dynamic and craziest. Q: Who is the mastermind behind the craziness? Evgeni: The Team. Sometimes Mishin gives the ideas, sometimes me, sometimes the choreographers, Sergei Petukhov who choreographed both current programs and Edwald Smirnov who found the new moves for the free program Q: Are you a performer or a co-author? Evgeni: I also finished the work on some moves, but I think many athletes skate like that. The principle “a coach is the boss, that means I’m an idiot” won’t do for the success. Take the second part for example where the violin is included in the slow theme – that was my idea. I came to Edwin Marton, composer and violinist, in Hungary and we set with him in the studio for 4 hours. I said, “Edwin, I need some feeling for the nerve, how can we do the violin there?” Edwin said, “Not a question.” He said it and he did it. He made several options and I picked what was closer to my soul. Q: Zhenya, during the free program you hands are in blood. Evgeni: Yes, the red gloves mean blood. You saw, before the circular footwork, I re-charge the rifle, sort of point it to the judges and the spectators, fight away the enemies – I suffer, feel pain, kiss the cross, and turn to G-d. There is a mafia fight. This is not the first mafia theme for me. There are many jokes about that. That happens. I skated to Michael Jackson, so does it means I think about him constantly? Or Nijinski? There were tons of characters, and here are the two programs with the criminal theme and immediately, “Is that close to him? He probably socializes with the criminals”. Think what you want. Q: Honestly, I never thought about this. Tell us, ISU forbid you to perform in show in Prague and you have to come on ice and apologize. What were your words at the moment? Evgeni: There were words. I simply apologized because 15,000 fans were there. Awesome arena and ice, good atmosphere, I was in such a good mood. The banners were everywhere where I was standing with Gloria Gaynor, the project was so serious. The tickets were expensive. Some people understood of course that it’s probably wasn’t my fault but the majority couldn’t realize how come he is healthy and unharmed and he can’t skate. What is this? Why? It’s really disgusting that skaters can be forbidden from skating. This the step back. Q: You’ve grown up. Evgeni: Maybe. The time goes by. I became more experienced in skating and a life. And I have an experience of changes in life. Q: Before taking the ice, there is a unbreakable mask on your face, no strong emotions after, calm interviews, and there is fire, fun and passion on ice. Can we assume that you express yourself like that somewhere else in life? Evgeni: Also in sport – I like tennis, golf, and hockey. Maybe it’ll show up in movies. I have a dream idea – to be in some movie. Q: About the criminals? Evgeni: Why not? Q: Is that just an idea or someone invited you somewhere in particular? Evgeni: I have an invite but as usual, it’s like somebody calls you somewhere, and calls, and calls, and then there is a pause. Q: Now they make long movies, the series as a rule. You would clearly not agree for a small part. Evgeni: Yes. Q: But the lead will require time and getting into the character… Evgeni: I don’t think getting into a character would be a problem since I’m always in character, and as for time, the shooting was planned to begin in November, and then there was no word. I want to believe that I find something my own in life off the ice. I found my own style in skating. Q: What it under someone’s influence or against it? Evgeni: Of course, it should be credited to all of us – Alexei Nikolaevich Mishin, many choreographers that worked with me, myself and finally, my mom. Mom picked and helped with some moves, not like a choreographers of course. She doesn’t coach, she has some tips. She feels me like any mother feels her child. I’m grateful to her. Well, I don’t know how it all happens on ice. Maybe it’s a gift, but I have to work and work to make it perfect. Sometimes I love working, and sometimes I’m just too lazy to do everything. Not so lazy, just tired. Q: There are different options to help with being tired and stress. What do you prefer? Evgeni: If you mean alcohol, I’ll be sincere – I drank before like any normal person. You can say as a normal athlete. Now I don’t drink at all. Q: Not a drop? Evgeni: Not a drop. No beer, no wine. I won’t drink a gram before the Olympics, nothing. Everyone who knows asks what did you get treated or something? I just made the decisions. You can consider I swore it off. Q: It’s common to say that today, you don’t have rivals. At the same time, they are slowly getting closer. Do you fell it. Evgeni: There are many good contenders. If you make a serious mistake, you get eaten up. Take Joubert – great athlete coached by great coaches – Tarasova and Yagudin. But always said and will say that Plushenko’s main rival is Plushenko.
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