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Elena Vodorezova: "If you're like everyone wlse, nobody will notice you" (excerpt)
On November 16th in Paris, a fourth event of the "Grand Prix" will commence; three of our country's strongest single skaters will be there - Andrei Griazev, Ilya Klimkin, and Sergei Dobrin. The former is trained by Elena Buyanova, remembered by the whole world by whole maiden name Vodorezova.
If figure skating gave out a prize for the most fantastic debut, Vodorezova's 16 year old Georgian student Elene Gedevanishvili would have sure received it last season. She was fifth at Europeans in Lyon, was in top ten at the Turin Olympics, and became a national hero in her own country - in all of figure skating history, no Georgian athlete has ever risen so high.
However, the partnership broke up in mid-October, and Vodorezova's group became almost entirely male, as in April it added Artem Borodulin, the only Russian single skater who managed to get into the Junior Grand Prix Final.
Actually, we started our conversation with juniors. With the Junior Worlds of 2004, where Vodorezova first brought forth Griazev at such an important competition, and where the skater became champion.
Two years ago, Andrei was on level with Evan Lysacek, and sometimes won over him. Since then, the American has twice medaled at senior Worlds, while Griazev never made it into even top ten. In your opinion, who competitive is he going to be this season?
I would put the question differently: how much does Andrei want to be competitive? A coach can only help. Same goes for the whole team that works for the athlete. Needless to say, the previous season was awful for Griazev. He was shocked himself. He went through a lot, and I hope he re-examined many things. I think he understood that this could well be his last Olympic cycle.
How much he has changed, and how well we've put together the preparation will become clear at competitions. I'd like to hope our work will pay off.
You know, we've all been spoiled by Lesha Yagudin and Zhenya Plushenko. We'd come to any competition, and not even have to worry about the results. We always knew we'd have gold and silver. Though for each of those athletes only first place existed. We were lucky that we, and not America, had them. There aren't any skaters like that now. Take Johnny Weir, whom I like a lot. He has everything to become World champion. But he hasn't! He was second in the short program at the Olympics, but only came fifth at the end. Every time, he lacks something.
In your opinion, how will Plushenko's absence affect men skating?
Not having him on eligible ice is bad. He's our gem and our pride. On the other hand, it should make everyone else go the extra mile to occupy the niche that has now become vacant.
Talking about Russian athletes, each of them has to understand the responsibility that wasn't there when they arrived at the competition as number two or three. It's very different to not have someone else's back in front of you.
(the next fragment was about Elena's relationship with her students)
... My relationship with Griazev wasn't easy at first. He came to me temporarily in 2004 as the student of the great Tarasova. Tatiana Anatolievna's husband was very sick at the time, so she couldn't possibly attend practices regularly. I, though, was a nobody to him, just a temporary person he was dumped with for the time being. At practices, Andrei neither saw nor heard me. We went together to Junior Worlds where Griazev won, then to Europeans, but it changed nothing at all in our relationship.
Has it normalized by now?
I can only hope that's so. I hope Andrei trusts me. Though we're still rather like allies. Tarasova is the coach. I go along with this.
We had a difficult start of the seasons. Griazev had a meniscus surgery in April. He was insanely worried, not knowing how he'll feel, and what would come in general. During post-surgery treatment the leg muscles atrophied, so instead of going home to Perm, Andrei had to stay in Moscow and do general physical exercises with a special doctor. Then he went to a training camp in Sochi. He was killing himself with work to the point where even I was impressed.
When doctors allowed Griazev to go back to ice, he started testing out the knee. Obviously, he couldn't yet jump, Andrei was doing footwork, but I could see that in those steps he was testing the entry into triple axel. He constantly keeps this very jump in mind. He lived with his thought in mind - will he be able to do this?
It was so scary to watch him. It's like it's my responsibility - I was the one who brought him to the surgeon. I was restless until Griazev started jumping. He was doing everything just as he had the night before the surgery. Finally, when he did tat axel - then I could relax.
What do you expect from Griazev this season? What would you like to see?
Everything!
© Sport-Express, 14.11.2006 [the original/complete version]
© Translation from Russian: PtichkaFS
On November 16th in Paris, a fourth event of the "Grand Prix" will commence; three of our country's strongest single skaters will be there - Andrei Griazev, Ilya Klimkin, and Sergei Dobrin. The former is trained by Elena Buyanova, remembered by the whole world by whole maiden name Vodorezova.
If figure skating gave out a prize for the most fantastic debut, Vodorezova's 16 year old Georgian student Elene Gedevanishvili would have sure received it last season. She was fifth at Europeans in Lyon, was in top ten at the Turin Olympics, and became a national hero in her own country - in all of figure skating history, no Georgian athlete has ever risen so high.
However, the partnership broke up in mid-October, and Vodorezova's group became almost entirely male, as in April it added Artem Borodulin, the only Russian single skater who managed to get into the Junior Grand Prix Final.
Actually, we started our conversation with juniors. With the Junior Worlds of 2004, where Vodorezova first brought forth Griazev at such an important competition, and where the skater became champion.
Two years ago, Andrei was on level with Evan Lysacek, and sometimes won over him. Since then, the American has twice medaled at senior Worlds, while Griazev never made it into even top ten. In your opinion, who competitive is he going to be this season?
I would put the question differently: how much does Andrei want to be competitive? A coach can only help. Same goes for the whole team that works for the athlete. Needless to say, the previous season was awful for Griazev. He was shocked himself. He went through a lot, and I hope he re-examined many things. I think he understood that this could well be his last Olympic cycle.
How much he has changed, and how well we've put together the preparation will become clear at competitions. I'd like to hope our work will pay off.
You know, we've all been spoiled by Lesha Yagudin and Zhenya Plushenko. We'd come to any competition, and not even have to worry about the results. We always knew we'd have gold and silver. Though for each of those athletes only first place existed. We were lucky that we, and not America, had them. There aren't any skaters like that now. Take Johnny Weir, whom I like a lot. He has everything to become World champion. But he hasn't! He was second in the short program at the Olympics, but only came fifth at the end. Every time, he lacks something.
In your opinion, how will Plushenko's absence affect men skating?
Not having him on eligible ice is bad. He's our gem and our pride. On the other hand, it should make everyone else go the extra mile to occupy the niche that has now become vacant.
Talking about Russian athletes, each of them has to understand the responsibility that wasn't there when they arrived at the competition as number two or three. It's very different to not have someone else's back in front of you.
(the next fragment was about Elena's relationship with her students)
... My relationship with Griazev wasn't easy at first. He came to me temporarily in 2004 as the student of the great Tarasova. Tatiana Anatolievna's husband was very sick at the time, so she couldn't possibly attend practices regularly. I, though, was a nobody to him, just a temporary person he was dumped with for the time being. At practices, Andrei neither saw nor heard me. We went together to Junior Worlds where Griazev won, then to Europeans, but it changed nothing at all in our relationship.
Has it normalized by now?
I can only hope that's so. I hope Andrei trusts me. Though we're still rather like allies. Tarasova is the coach. I go along with this.
We had a difficult start of the seasons. Griazev had a meniscus surgery in April. He was insanely worried, not knowing how he'll feel, and what would come in general. During post-surgery treatment the leg muscles atrophied, so instead of going home to Perm, Andrei had to stay in Moscow and do general physical exercises with a special doctor. Then he went to a training camp in Sochi. He was killing himself with work to the point where even I was impressed.
When doctors allowed Griazev to go back to ice, he started testing out the knee. Obviously, he couldn't yet jump, Andrei was doing footwork, but I could see that in those steps he was testing the entry into triple axel. He constantly keeps this very jump in mind. He lived with his thought in mind - will he be able to do this?
It was so scary to watch him. It's like it's my responsibility - I was the one who brought him to the surgeon. I was restless until Griazev started jumping. He was doing everything just as he had the night before the surgery. Finally, when he did tat axel - then I could relax.
What do you expect from Griazev this season? What would you like to see?
Everything!
© Sport-Express, 14.11.2006 [the original/complete version]
© Translation from Russian: PtichkaFS
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© , 2005-2010 The website owner is not affiliated with Andrei Griazev in any way and doesn't have any connection with him.
The site is intended for private non-commercial use only. All the rights to the images and text used on this website belong to their respective owners.
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