“I’m not even thinking about pair skating. But things can still change.” Interview with figure skater Ksenia Sinitsyna

Ksenia Sinitsyna started the 2022/23 season with bronze at the Russian Grand Prix. Then followed the championship of Russia, in which the skater took eighth place. However, in January, Ksenia was injured and was forced to miss the rest of the season.

The correspondent met with Sinitsyna and found out how her health is now, how she sees the next season on her own, and how the work with ultra-si elements is going.

– You failed to skate until the end of the season due to a stress fracture. How is your health now?

– It’s good now. I’m getting back in shape little by little, I’m preparing for the next season.

– Do you already have programs for the next season?

— Yes, both programs are ready. Both are new.

Which specialists have you worked with?

– Vera Anatolyevna Harutyunyan directed the short program for me. She came from America. We organized a free program with Maria Kasumova.

– For more than a year, Russian skaters have not performed on the international stage. What do you think about this?

– Of course, it’s a bit disappointing, because it’s very interesting to travel to different countries, see how people live there, and perform in such an environment with foreigners. Anyway, our figure skating federation tries to convey this atmosphere so that we feel just as comfortable. Try to fill the stands. This support is felt, the warmth of the public. Still very interesting to play. In this regard, little has changed.

— This summer, your group had problems with the rink. Where should you ride now?

– Now we are skating in the Palace of Inspiration. From August 1, we return to our home (to the Snezhnye Leopards sports complex). In “Inspiration”, they meet us halfway and give quite a bit of ice cream and a room.

– You have also been trained in shopping malls. How was this experience?

– Of course, it’s hard. In principle, the ice rink there is not like in a shopping center, not plastic. There was a great skating rink. The dimensions are the same as the standard ones for the ice rink. Not much ice was allocated, we had to go out for mass skating. Of course, it is more convenient at home.

– In your sport, girls finish skating quite early. What motivation do you find for yourself?

– The motivation is to skate for the public. I’m happy when they write flattering reviews about the work I’ve done. It’s nice to enter the arena and give pleasure to people, to myself and to the coaches of my skating. Show what we have accomplished. The motivation is always there – to work on improvement, to develop and to find something new and interesting in yourself.

– Last year, you said that pair skating was not your way. Did you have to reconsider the transition to this species?

– No, for the moment, everything suits me in individual skating. I’m not even thinking about pair skating. But that can still change.

– When you tried pair skating with Georgy Kunitsa, how did your coaches react?

“They were the first to know that I wanted to try pair skating. I fully discussed this point with them. They understood, suggested the best, said I can always go back and they will always be by my side.

– Did you manage to talk with George after he teamed up with Alena Kostorna?

– Not really. We didn’t talk about that. Our paths have diverged a bit.

– During the last off-season, you thought about what to do next – to continue or not. Is there uncertainty now or are you full of energy?

— Right now, I’m full of life and energy. I am ready to perform next season and please the public.

– If you look a little further, would you like the same long career as Elizaveta Tuktamysheva?

– Of course, I really want to skate like Lisa. She has always been my idol. She is a long-liver of figure skating. It’s a motivation for me, Lisa is an example to follow. I really want to keep riding as long as possible, why not ride.

– The women’s singles progresses every year. The first places go more often to very young skaters. How can we psychologically accept that we are in competition, but that there are fewer and fewer chances of a podium each season?

– You always want to be in the lead, but you always understand it. You work for yourself, for your own satisfaction. You calculate your strength, you understand what kind of content the younger generation is releasing. At the same time, you yourself are trying to get harder, learning multi-turn jumps in order to strive for a podium finish.

— Are you still working on ultra-c elements now?

– Yes. Quadruple sheepskin coat, quadruple salchow, triple axel that I twist slowly. Several attempts per workout to catch this moment of twist.

Are there plans to include them in the program?

– Some kind of ultra-if will definitely try to finish up the season.

– You and your trainer Svetlana Panova went through fire, water and copper pipes. All this time there was no desire to try other figure skating schools?

– No. For me, Svetlana Vladimirovna is the best coach. She clearly understands how to give and distribute the load. I am very happy to work with her. Thank her for everything.

– There were rumors that you were invited to Khrustalny. Is it true ?

No one invited me, I never heard of it.

How do you see the next season for yourself?

I don’t know for sure yet, we’ll wait and see. The most important thing is to be healthy. Make the season without injuries. I want to make the most of this season.