“After the couple broke up, I thought about whether to continue.” Interview with American figure skater Mitrofanov, who now skates with Efimova

Mikhail Mitrofanov was born in the USA, his parents left Russia in the 90s. Recently, the 26-year-old skater changed partners and started playing with Alisa Efimova, who has already changed federations three times. The couple’s coaches are also from the Russian Federation.

In an interview with , Misha spoke about significant changes in her career.

“I considered Audrey as my little sister”

– Why did your relationship break up with Audrey Lou?

– Audrey really wanted to go to college, I offered her to do somewhere in Boston, and she dreamed of studying in California. Since we’ve been training in Boston, I realized we couldn’t work anymore. I tried to dissuade him, to prove to him that there are good institutions of higher learning in this city. But if it’s a dream, you have to do what your heart tells you.

It was very hard, after all, we skated for six years, became very good friends, I considered her my little sister. Now we don’t communicate much anymore, she is very busy with her studies. I also have little free time: I ride or train children.

– Can we say that Lou has finally put an end to his career?

– Yes. When she left for college, she finished her career in pair skating.

– And you immediately started looking for a partner?

– After the couple broke up, I thought about whether to continue. I decided that I wanted to go further and after a few weeks I started looking for a partner. I realized that the dream of going to the Olympics was alive. You should try to do everything possible for this.

“Efimova is cool, she skates well. We have good communication, we both speak Russian.

– Why did you associate with Alisa Efimova?

– I met Alice when she worked with Tamara Moskvina in St. Petersburg. We trained there for three weeks with a former partner. When I found out that their couple with Ruben broke up, I wrote in the messenger, offered to try to team up with me.

Alice is cool, she skates well. The adaptation will take time, in July it will only be a month since we started working together. However, we have good communication, we both speak Russian, the coaches also speak Russian.

– Have you already thought of other partners?

– There were other options, but Alice was the best fit according to our data – body, height. We found each other quickly, and while everything is going well, we immediately felt each other.

Did you help her adjust?

Yes, I help as much as I can. Alice is a wonderful person, an independent person, only respect for her.

– You work in the USA, but everyone around you speaks Russian…

“It’s a big plus that we all have a homeland, it helps. Our coaches came back in the 90s to Dallas and lived there for a long time. Then came the opportunity to work in Boston.

– You said you dreamed of playing in the Olympics. Because of Alice’s passport, this can be problematic.

“We are looking at that. I think there will be no problem, we have an action plan.

– What are your goals now?

We cannot skate this season. The task is to perform normally in our competitions, to prepare well for the next season, to understand each other as well as possible.

“Moskvina – respect, I only liked working with her”

“You mentioned working with Tamara Moskvina. Tell me what kind of internship?

– The Federation suggested, knowing that I am Russian-speaking. Russia is one of the strongest countries in figure skating. Naturally, we immediately agreed.

Moskvina has a top level training process, we understand why Russians skate so well and strive to have such a system. My coach Alexei Letov built a similar one in Boston. Respect to Tamara Nikolaevna, I only liked working with her. You can see that she loves this sport, knows everything about figure skating.

“Let’s imagine that such a course is now offered. Would you accept?

– Yes of course. But I understand that now it is almost impossible. If they offer it in the future, I will agree.

– How long do you see yourself in figure skating?

– I will not linger, if it makes sense to ride, I will continue. Now there is one. If he disappears, you must finish.

You said you wanted to become a doctor in the future. Is everything the same now?

– No more. I have almost graduated from university, but I understand that this is not my path. I intend to do management in hospitals – financial issues, management.

“Parents always thought – maybe go back to Russia…”

– Your parents moved in the 90s due to the difficult situation in the country. What kind of business did they have?

They were distributors of chewing gum and candy. This business has been sold for a long time.

How often do you remember those times in your family?

“Yes,” my grandmother sometimes tells us. Only respect for this time. There were good times and bad bad times. There were different stories related to the crime. One of them – a parcel was sent to my father, but my great-grandfather opened it, there was a bomb in the box, and his arm was torn off. Terrible.

– During all the time you lived in the United States, did your parents think about coming back?

– It’s hard to move. They used to think – maybe go back… But they still decided to stay.

What are they doing in the United States now?

– Mom is a real estate agent, she sells houses in Texas, her father is engaged in monitoring, analyzing oil on the stock market.

“Do you like anything Russian music?”

– I like lube and DDT. The parents listened to them live.