Volkov told how he motivated Kovalev to skate without international competitions

Figure skating coach Alexander Volkov told Sport Day after Day he was motivated Artem Kovalev skating in conditions of non-admission to international departures, trying to make the skater understand that sooner or later the suspension will be lifted.

– How to continue to motivate an athlete if the next season can also take place in the country?

– Last year, Artem qualified for the Junior World Championship for the first time and did not make it. Nobody went there. There was a time when he came and asked why we were skating, I have several years already, there are no international competitions, I want to compete with other countries. Yes, it was hard. I tried to make him understand that it will end sooner or later, everything will return to normal, there will be international competitions, from the world, from Europe. I told him he wasn’t that old and he could still ride a horse.

He’s an adult, so you had to talk to him, especially when there were unsuccessful practices. It also happens. Of course, you want to drop everything, hang up your skates and go do whatever you want. Tips, for example. I hope everything went well, now he is skating, trying, the season has gone pretty well.

Kovalev was fifth in the Russian Championship last season and 10th in the last Russian Grand Prix final.

“Day to Day Sports”