“For the Russian Cups, Tarasova/Morozov won’t need me.” Trankov – about the “last car” and doubts after the Olympics

Two-time Olympic champion in pair skating, now coach of Olympic silver medalists Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov Maxim Maxaim Trankov admitted in a interview that he was unsure whether he needed to continue his skating career coach, talked about his wards’ plans, and also why the team Eteri Tutberidze – High.

– Maxime, how are Zhenya and Vova? Will they roll or not?

– When the guys and I had the last conversation on this subject, they said unequivocally that they would continue. This was expressed to me and Eteri Georgievna. Another thing is that I now need to understand if I will continue in this headquarters (laughing). And will I work with guys.

– What is the problem?

– The season has been very difficult, I am completely emasculated. Therefore, I now have to figure out if I want to continue coaching or if I have to change something. Also, Zhenya and Vova are the only couple I have, and when they’re done, I won’t have any of my own students. It also leaves its mark.

Also, it is very important to know what kind of competitions we will have now. Because to go to the Russian Cup stages in Syzran, relatively speaking, the guys don’t need Maxim Trankov constantly in training – here they know everything without me and will cope with everything. We are waiting for the decision of the ISU, a lot will also depend on it. Because going to international competitions – World and European Championships – is a whole other level of motivation.

– You say you won’t have your students. Have you thought of a tandem with Pavel Slyusarenko and his band?

– Well, for this I have to return to my homeland – to Perm (laughing). And I don’t really like that kind of feedback.

– Well, or Pavel will completely move to Moscow.

– I think it will be very difficult in terms of ice. In Moscow, few people are ready to give it away, especially to non-residents, so this option is unlikely at the moment. But, of course, I wanted to work with Pasha, that would be a great option. He recently invited me to Perm to help him train with his couples, set up programs, but the thing is, after the Olympics I was really devastated and really needed some to be with my family, so it didn’t work out. But he has good guys, junior pairs, which I really like. Therefore, of course, I will always be happy about such cooperation.

– So, since this is the case, let’s summarize some intermediate results of the work with Eteri Georgievna. How will you remember this season in Khrustalny?

– Well, it was the first season I had the chance to join this headquarters. I can say it’s an incredible experience, just colossal and a really serious opportunity to be part of something big. To be honest, I just don’t understand those who voluntarily leave there – like a coach known to all of us. Ambition, ability to work independently… It’s all there!

I had the chance to see how great professionals work, to see with my own eyes the training of our wonderful girls. Nowhere else would I have this. Therefore, I will always speak only warmly about this coaching staff – about Dan Gleikhengauz, Serezha Dudakov and, of course, Eteri Georgievna. They got me and the guys out of a situation where there was just no one to help us. They gave us a hand to jump into the last car – and we are very happy that everything went well for us.

Also, Eteri Georgievna’s team didn’t really need us. I mean, it’s still pair skating, a whole new type of skating for his team, not profile skating… And yet, they helped us tremendously.

Were they not necessary? Eteri Georgievna said she was interested in pair skating. What, they say, are the shortcomings.

Well, there are gaps, it’s true. But I just know the whole story of how the guys generally managed to get into Eteri Georgievna’s team. It’s long, there’s a whole pattern, everything was very difficult. One day, one of his characters will tell him. I can’t dwell on that.

– But to summarize, is the option in which Tarasova / Morozov will stay in the Tutberidze team, but you will not train them, is it possible?

– Yes. Well, we have, in principle, everything is possible now. There are tiktokers who are no longer figure skaters, the news feeds are exploding… So yeah, I can’t rule it out. Now I need to rest and figure out what I want next, and start there.