“Our goal is to win any competition” – figure skaters Tyutyunina and Grachev

Skaters Sofia Tioutiounina and Matvey Grachev, after finishing third in rhythm dance at the Russian Grand Prix in Moscow, said their goal was to win every tournament.

On Saturday, Tyutyunina and Grachev took third place in the rhythm dance on the Grand Prix stage, scoring 71.11 points. First place went to Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin (87.78), second place to Elizaveta Shanaeva/Pavel Drozd (78.97). Tyutyunina and Grachev teamed up in September and last season the skater competed with Andrei Bagin.

— Sofia Tyutyunina (ST): We are moving towards victories every day, but today’s third place was a surprise for me.

— Matvey Grachev (MG): We are doing everything possible to achieve this result. Sometimes circumstances turn on us. We tried to avoid the mistakes made in Samara, to be in a calmer mood and approach skating soberly.

— When did you decide to become a couple? How long have you been training?

— ST: We tried for the first time during the Russian national team trials in mid-September. We have been working together for a little over two months.

— Sophia, did you feel a feeling of dissatisfaction?

— ST: Of course, I didn’t become aware of myself at all. I had no idea about finishing the sport. I would continue 100 percent. Fortunately, Matvey was found and we continued to participate in the competition program. Matvey simply wrote to me through Yegor Bazin and came.

— Matvey, how did you find out that Sonya was without a partner?

— MG: It’s difficult to hide something in ice dancing. Everyone communicates with each other.

— ST: I officially announced it.

— MG: I didn’t really have a choice. When Sonya agreed, I was jubilant.

— Did you skate fast?

— ST: I wouldn’t say it’s really very fast. We are still in the process of deploying. In dance, it’s a slow process. The goal is victory in each competition,” reports the correspondent according to the skaters’ words.