Two-time world champion in women's single skating Evgenia Medvedeva spoke about the decision to change her free program at the start of the new season, not ruling out that in the future she may return to the dance choreographed by Ilya Averbukh.
– Initially, we staged “Anna Karenina” as a demonstration piece. The first time I skated it was at a show in Japan. It was immediately clear from the audience's reaction that everyone liked the program. And I myself felt this image, got used to it,” the figure skater admitted. – Very beautiful and powerful music from the film “Anna Karenina”, which penetrates me, in which I really dissolve. Our entire coaching team liked this exhibition number, and then for the first time it was mentioned in passing, why not take “Karenina” for the free program? It would be wrong to say that the previous free program, choreographed by Ilya Averbukh, did not work out for me. On the contrary, at the Ondrej Nepela tournament she received very good audience reviews and was highly appreciated by judges and specialists. However, the image of Karenina touched me so much that I decided I needed to change it. Together with the coaches, we came to the conclusion that the Anna Karenina free program would be preferable for me in the Olympic season.
– Should the programs of the Olympic season be different? And if so, then with what?
– It seems to me that for the programs of the Olympic season it is better to choose strong music and a recognizable image, understandable not only to compatriots, but also to everyone else without translation. Anna Karenina matches this. Not everyone might have read the work of Leo Tolstoy, but the 2012 film Anna Karenina, which won an Oscar, starring Keira Knightley and starring outstanding actors such as Jude Law and others, was probably seen by many. I appeal to all amateurs and professionals of figure skating, take the time and watch this film if you haven’t seen it yet. You will get tremendous pleasure from the picture. On ice I retell exactly this story, and if you watch the movie, everything will be clear to you. The program features music from the film, which was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Music. It is very strong, piercing, and penetrates into the very heart. It has always been important for me to understand what I am skating about, what story I am telling on the ice. The theme of “Karenina” - her love story, her experiences - is humanly understandable to me. This particular image is unusual for me. I'm very interested in working there.
– Remind me, please, who directed “Anna Karenina”?
– Daniil Gleikhengauz and But I would like to immediately add that I also like Ilya Averbukh’s free program. I haven’t put it away in a distant drawer, I don’t rule out that I’ll return to it in the future.
– Performance atJapan Open, judging by the estimates, confirmed the correctness of the decision?
– The scores for the components in Anna Karenina were higher. And I repeat that this program is very convenient for me to use. I have loved the image of the heroine for a long time. The program, I think, was a success. Although it is not for us to judge this, but for the referees and figure skating fans.
Before the start of the Games, Gracenote, an entertainment and sports analytics company, named figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva as Russia's best hope for gold. She took second place in the singles short program.
Photo: Kenjiro Matsuo/AFLO/Global Look Press
Before the start of the Olympics, figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva was considered Russia’s main hope for gold. Gracenote, an entertainment and sports analytics company, called the 18-year-old athlete's chances of winning in South Korea the highest among all Russian competitors.
Now this assessment has changed - in the short program Medvedeva took second place, losing only to her compatriot Alina Zagitova. However, Medvedeva still remains the favorite of the Olympics - both Russians set world records during the competition, while Medvedeva loses to her competitor by a little more than a point, but wins in experience.
Grandmother's surname and "Children's World"
Medvedeva was born in Moscow in the family of individual entrepreneur Arman Babasyan and former figure skater Zhanna Devyatova, and she took her surname from her maternal grandmother. Currently, her parents are divorced.
Medvedeva was brought to figure skating at CSKA when she was not yet three years old. She was born with low weight, and to improve her health, doctors advised her to take up swimming or figure skating. For the mother of the future athlete, the skating rink was much closer than the swimming pool, so the choice was obvious.
For the first time, Medvedeva saw figure skating on TV. She really wanted to study after visiting demonstration performances, where a concert beam snatches the main character on the ice. The girl dreamed of going out on the ice in the same way, and having the beam snatch her out. Her mother bought her first skates by mistake at Detsky Mir, and Medvedeva skated on skates that had neither teeth nor ribs for a whole year.
In the Russian national team from the age of 11
Photo: Yohei Osada/AFLO/Global Look Press
Already in 2011, at the age of 11, Medvedeva joined the Russian junior team, and in 2013 she began performing in international competitions - at an earlier age, the International Skating Union (ISU) simply does not allow children to go on the ice. Her international debut took place at the Grand Prix stage in Latvia. She confidently won this, as well as the next stage in Poland. In the Grand Prix final, which took place in Japan, Medvedeva became third, losing only to compatriots Maria Sotskova and Serafima Sakhanovich.
By March 2014, she reached bronze at the Junior World Championships, where she again lost only to Russians, Elena Radionova and Sakhanovich. The second season at the junior level was triumphant for Medvedeva: she won both the Grand Prix final and the Russian Junior Championship, and then won the World Championships in Tallinn. It's time to move to the adult level.
Rapid rise in the absence of competition
Photo: Scott Mc Kiernan/ZUMAPRESS.com
Since 2007, Medvedeva has been training under the guidance of Eteri Tutberidze. Yulia Lipnitskaya also trained with her, and in Sochi she became the youngest single Olympic champion in the history of figure skating (she won the title in the team tournament at the age of 15 years 249 days).
A situation in which one coach trains several skaters competing for the highest places is not uncommon. The group of Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband trained for a long time two of the strongest pairs of dancers in the world, Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White. At the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver they took gold and silver. Brian Orser is now simultaneously working with Japanese Yuzuru Hanyu and Spaniard Javier Fernandez, who won gold and bronze respectively at Pyeongchakh 2018.
However, Tutberidze did not have to divide attention between Lipnitskaya and Medvedeva for too long. In November 2015, Lipnitskaya left her group, after which the figure skater’s career went downhill. Other potential rivals of Medvedeva also began to withdraw. Sochi 2014 Olympic champion Adelina Sotnikova took a break from her performances, the results of Elena Radionova and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva began to steadily decline, the Japanese Mao Asada and the Korean Kim Young Ah retired, and the Italian Carolina Costner was disqualified for helping her ex-boyfriend Alex Schwatzer dope.
Medvedeva had an open path to the top, and she did not miss her chance. In October 2015, she made her debut in adult figure skating and immediately began winning. By November 2017, she had won 15 of the 16 international tournaments in which she took part. Medvedeva won two European Championships, two World Championships, two Grand Prix Finals and many other less prestigious competitions. It seemed that she simply had no competitors.
Record holder and first in everything
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich/Globallookpress.com
Medvedeva became the first representative of women's single skating to win the senior world championship the next year after winning the junior one. She was also the first Russian woman to defend her world champion title. In total, during her not very long career, Medvedeva set 12 world records, two in junior and ten in adult figure skating.
At the moment, she holds the records in the free program (160.46), and in total (241.31). The highest achievement in the short program (82.92) was taken from her by Zagitova. In Pyeongchang, Medvedeva broke records twice in the short program - in the team tournament, in which Russia won silver, losing only to Canada, and in the singles tournament.
Anna Karenina instead of Ilya Averbukh's program
Skaters rarely change programs during the season, trying to bring their performance to shine. Last fall, Medvedeva decided to make adjustments by replacing the free program. She still skates the short program to Frederic Chopin's Nocturne No. 20 performed by Joshua Bell, but she replaced the free program choreographed by Ilya Averbukh (January Stars by George Winston and The Departure and Dona Nobis Pacem 2 by Max Richter). Now during her free program, music from the movie “Anna Karenina” is playing. This program, originally intended for demonstration performances, was staged by Daniil Gleikhengauz and Eteri Tutberidze.
“Not everyone might have read the work of Leo Tolstoy, but the 2012 film Anna Karenina, which won an Oscar, where Keira Knightley played the main role, and which starred outstanding actors - Jude Law and others, was probably seen by many. I appeal to all amateurs and professionals of figure skating, take the time and watch this film if you haven’t seen it yet. You will get tremendous pleasure from the picture. On the ice, I retell exactly this story, and if you watch the movie, everything will be clear to you,” Sportbox.ru quotes Medvedeva.
According to the figure skater, it is very important for her to understand what program she is skating and what story she is telling. “The theme of Karenina—her love story, her experiences—is humanly understandable to me. This particular image is unusual for me. I’m very interested in working there,” said the Russian woman.
Injury and first defeat in two years
Photo: Igor Russak/ZUMAPRESS.com
In November 2017, Medvedeva announced that she had a plaster cast on her foot. Doctors diagnosed her with a fractured metatarsal bone. Despite the injury, the skater was going to compete in the Grand Prix final, but doctors insisted that she miss the tournament in Japan. For the same reason, Medvedeva was unable to compete at the Russian Championships. Both tournaments were won by the current world junior champion, 15-year-old Alina Zagitova, who also trains in Tutberidze’s group.
By the time of the Moscow European Championship, which took place in January 2018, Medvedeva recovered from her injury. Her first head-to-head confrontation with Zagitova took place on the ice of Megasport. The younger skater won both the short and free programs. Zagitova's program is technically more complex, and she also performs most of the jumps in the second part of her performances. Medvedeva and Zagitova are considered the main favorites of the Olympic singles tournament.
Speech at the IOC meeting
In December 2017, Medvedeva, as part of the Russian delegation, spoke at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne. Together with her, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Alexander Zhukov and the head of the Independent Public Anti-Doping Commission Vitaly Smirnov took part in the meeting. They tried to convince the IOC to allow the Russian team to participate in the Olympics in Pyeongchang.
The Russians' performance did not lead to the desired result. On December 5, the IOC Executive Committee disqualified ROC for the period of the Winter Games. In South Korea, Russian athletes compete as “Olympic athletes from Russia.” Also at the 2018 Olympics, displaying the Russian flag and playing the national anthem are prohibited.
Japan, Japanese culture and Japanese cartoons
Video: JFS
Medvedeva has repeatedly declared her love for Japan, where she often gives demonstration performances and enjoys great success among local fans. The Russian woman calls herself a fan of everything Japanese: literature, fashion and anime. In particular, she is interested in the anime series Sailor Moon (literally translated as “beautiful warrior Sailor Moon”). The story is based on the reincarnation of an ordinary Japanese schoolgirl into the warrior girl Sailor Moon, the defender of the Moon Kingdom, who lived in ancient times.
For her performances in Japan, Medvedeva often chooses the image and music from the Sailor Moon series. She once surprised journalists by reading a poem in Japanese. Drawings and posts by her fans from the Land of the Rising Sun constantly appear on the Russian woman’s pages on social networks. She also plans to study Japanese more seriously.
Video: Medvedeva interview
Medvedeva loves to read Arthur Conan Doyle. She really liked the British series about Sherlock Holmes starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. The Russian woman names Tom Yum soup, common in Laos and Thailand, as her favorite dish. She also loves sushi, marmalade and fruit. In music, she prefers Michael Jackson, Metallica, Bon Jovi, Scorpions and K-Pop (a music genre that originated in South Korea and incorporates elements of Western electropop, hip-hop, dance music and modern rhythm and blues).
The managing editor of the R-Sport agency, Andrei Simonenko, having watched the new free program of the two-time world champion to the music from the film Anna Karenina, discusses in the blog about figure skating “Hooks and Hooks” about the possible causes and consequences of changing the composition during the Olympic season.
Saturday morning ceased to be languid after Evgenia Medvedeva, where the skaters performed only free programs. “Do you know that Zhenya skated Anna Karenina, and with last year’s jump arrangement?” - a fan I knew wrote to me before the competition was shown on television.
In fact, this could have been a one-time event - after all, the Japan Open is more of an exhibition tournament. And the two-time world champion performed “Anna Karenina” in Japanese shows in the summer. But soon the information was confirmed - . “Anna Karenina,” directed by Daniil Gleikhengauz, was transformed into a competitive program, and it is with this program that the two-time world champion will continue to perform this season.
To be honest, this is, of course, a surprise. First, the season is underway, culminating in the Olympic Games. Any stress, which, of course, is a change of program, is undesirable - simply because it disrupts the usual training regimen. Secondly - and this is also a compelling circumstance - it was with Averbukh’s programs that Medvedev triumphantly took peak after peak in the world of figure skating over the past two seasons. In order for Evgenia and her coach to abandon the work of such an authoritative author as Averbukh, there had to be very serious reasons.
What can definitely be said is that Averbukh’s program was not unsuccessful. Medvedeva performed with her at the test skates of the Russian national team in Sochi and at the Ondrej Nepela memorial in Bratislava. Both times I received a lot of positive reviews in the press - including enthusiastic words that are not thrown to the wind.
But at the same time, I must admit, there were some questions. In particular, the “rawness” of the program was striking. The idea of the power of faith, with which the entire composition was to be imbued, was read through the initial and final parts. Otherwise, the choreography seemed too complicated. Adding to the figure skater’s difficulties was the fact that the arrangement of elements in Averbukh’s program was new to her. All jumps and combinations, except for the two-and-a-half-turn axel, were moved to the second half in order to receive bonus points.
And all this caused Medvedeva visual discomfort. In Sochi, having made several mistakes, she commented with a gloomy look on the free skate with the words “nothing worked out.” In Bratislava there was only one blemish, but still Evgeniya, characterizing her performance at the tournament, used a harsh word. I promised not to write it - and I don’t write it, but I can’t deny that it happened.
Nevertheless, after Ondrej Nepela’s memorial, Medvedeva, according to her, has not yet thought about changing the program. “We will look for some “tricks” so that it is both comfortable for the horse and looks interesting,” she said, referring to cosmetic improvements. And... two weeks later in Japan she took to the ice with another free program.
Why did the figure skater and her coach decide to change the program? I will try to express my version, which, of course, may turn out to be incorrect. Zhenya is a perfectionist. You have to understand that even with those two performances, which were about “nothing worked out” and a harsh word, she would still most likely have won the Olympic Games. But what she needs most now is the confidence that she will do everything with the highest quality possible - or, in other words, ideally - at that most important moment, in February 2018. If with the old technical content Medvedeva set a phenomenal world record at the end of last season, if now, in Japan, with the very first performance of the new free program she showed one of the best results in history - then why take the risk? If not everyone accepted the idea, why not turn to an image as strong, soulful and impressive, but at the same time understandable to the whole world, as “Anna Karenina”?
But, on the other hand, isn’t there a risk that Medvedev changes the program in October, when the season has already begun? Is she showing some weakness, uncertainty, or signs of panic? I asked one specialist to answer this question, whose name I will not mention for obvious reasons.
“No, this is in no way a panic, there’s no need to even doubt it,” my interlocutor emphasized. “Such a change of program for a professional like Medvedeva is not a problem at all. Yes, I think there is some stress, but the skater is switching.” not to a completely new program, but to familiar technical content and a story familiar to her, with which she has already performed. That is, there is simply adaptation. This is one of the most painless options for changing a program. At the same time, I would like to note that I really liked her performances from the previous program. And those blots that were there - listen, even with them Zhenya is ahead of the rest. Why does she need to “ring” in ideal form now? She will be completely fine at the most important tournaments."
The only person who probably feels somewhat unusual now is Averbukh. But it should be noted that the skater still has his short program. And the free program... The following thought came to my mind: did everyone want Medvedeva to try new styles? Please! Zhenya in Anna Karenina is completely different from her usual self. And judging by the scores that Medvedeva received at the Japan Open, the judges really welcome this change of image.
So - and yet she is different! And at the same time - unsurpassed. Despite the “exemplary” nature of the start in Japan, Medvedeva again turned out to be head and shoulders above everyone else - both Japanese Mai Mihara and her group friend. The unbeaten streak, which is almost two years old, continues.
Two-time world and European champion, Russian Evgenia Medvedeva, spoke about the new free program “Anna Karenina”, and how this image is close to her.
— Zhenya, why did you decide to change the free program and chose “Anna Karenina”?
Initially, we staged “Anna Karenina” as a demonstration piece. The first time I skated it was at a show in Japan. It was immediately clear from the audience's reaction that everyone liked the program. And I myself felt this image, got used to it. Very beautiful and powerful music from the movie “Anna Karenina”, which penetrates me, in which I really dissolve. Our entire coaching team liked this exhibition number, and then for the first time it was mentioned in passing, why not take “Karenina” for the free program?
It would be wrong to say that the previous free program, choreographed by Ilya Averbukh, did not work out for me. On the contrary, at the Ondrej Nepela tournament she received very good audience reviews and was highly appreciated by judges and specialists. However, the image of Karenina touched me so much that I decided I needed to change it. Together with the coaches, we came to the conclusion that the Anna Karenina free program would be preferable for me in the Olympic season.
-- Should the programs of the Olympic season be different? And if so, then with what?
It seems to me that for the programs of the Olympic season it is better to choose strong music and a recognizable image, understandable not only to compatriots, but also to everyone else without translation. Anna Karenina matches this. Not everyone might have read the work of Leo Tolstoy, but the 2012 film Anna Karenina, which won an Oscar, starring Keira Knightley and starring outstanding actors such as Jude Law and others, was probably seen by many. I appeal to all amateurs and professionals of figure skating, take the time and watch this film if you haven’t seen it yet. You will get tremendous pleasure from the picture. On ice I retell exactly this story, and if you watch the movie, everything will be clear to you.
The program features music from the film, which was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Music. It is very strong, piercing, and penetrates into the very heart. It has always been important for me to understand what I am skating about, what story I am telling on the ice. The theme of “Karenina”—her love story, her experiences—is humanly understandable to me. This particular image is unusual for me. I'm very interested in working there.
-- When was the decision made to change the free program?
After the tournament in Bratislava. Then it was decided that the free skate should be changed to “Anna Karenina”. Although the decision was not easy. It is clear that taking such steps during the season is quite risky. But the season had just begun, there was enough time left.
-- How much has the new free program changed compared to the exhibition routine?
The demonstration routine differs from the program you are performing, so we made the necessary changes to the content and added jumps. But the general message, pattern, tracks, rotations remained the same. Immediately after Bratislava, before the Japan Open, we practiced a new free program. But since it’s convenient for me to use this program, we did everything quite quickly and with pleasure.
- Remind me, please, who directed “Anna Karenina”?
Daniil Gleikhengauz.
But I would like to immediately add that I also like Ilya Averbukh’s free program. I haven’t put it away in a distant drawer, I don’t rule out that I’ll return to it in the future.-- Performance at "Japan Open", judging by the assessments, confirmed the correctness of the decision made?
The scores for the components in Anna Karenina were higher. And I repeat that this program is very convenient for me to use. I have loved the image of the heroine for a long time. The program, I think, was a success. Although it is not for us to judge this, but for the referees and figure skating fans.
Olga ERMOLINA
Photo from the official website of the Japan Open tournament