“I was afraid to jump. Tutberidze said to go dancing. Interview with figure skating duo Kuzmina/Studenikin

Dancers Milana Kuzmina And Dmitry Studenikin talk to about the merits of the Jouk/Svinin coaching tandem, share their musical preferences and feel free to talk about the benefits of working with a psychologist.

Kuzmina and Studenikin have shown stable results in junior competitions over the past two years. At the end of the season, the dancers finished fourth at the Russian Championship and third at the Grand Prix Final. Under the guidance of coaches Irina Zhuk and Alexander Svinin, the couple is progressing and next season the guys will compete at the adult level.

After the last start of the season in Sochi, journalist Maxim Khorenkov spoke with the tandem.

—How did you get together?

Milana: I rode alone for a very long time, once I was walking with (Sofia) Leontyeva, she said that she saw Dima during a medical examination and he broke up with his partner. We talked with Sonya, she wrote about me to her future partner. Dima replied that he was leaving Moscow at the moment.

Dmitri: Yes, yes, at that time I was on the metro to the station to go home to Orenburg, I was sitting with my suitcases, Sonya was writing in the evening. Until that moment I didn’t know Milana and we didn’t communicate much with Sonya, we knew each other because we rode in the same competitions.

Milana: And you replied that you were planning to go on vacation (laughs). After a while I wrote: “Well, have you arrived?

Dmitri: I was still in Orenburg and found out when it would be possible to come to them. And then the coaches looked at us.

– In general Is it difficult to be in limbo?

Milana: Yes, it was hard. I skated with partners, some stopped the sport, others changed something in their lives, moved to another discipline.

Dmitri: I was not without a partner for a long time, several options immediately presented themselves, it was April 2022. I already skated and played somewhere, I did not post any advertisements, they immediately wrote to me and offered a ride. I auditioned and visited two girls in Moscow. I decided for myself whether we were suitable for each other or not, whether we liked it or not, without coaching instructions, this is my life. It was uncomfortable skating with two girls in the audition before Milan; they didn’t suit me as partners. I loved everything about Milana.

— First impression of each other?

Milana: I was very scared. Dima also asked me if I was worried. She answered that of course. And he said to me: “What are you talking about, just regular viewing, don’t worry!” »

Dmitri: I wasn’t worried at all, I just came to visit the girl.

— Milana, you have participated in singles skating competitions. Why did you decide to start dancing?

Milana: It did not work. It’s not about physical data, I could skip. Rather, it was because of the coaches that they had messed with my head, and I had a terrible fear: I could not attempt a single jump during training. This only worked in competitions. There was psychological pressure: it’s scary not to fall, but just to try to enter…

Then I skated at CSKA and the coaches, to be honest, didn’t say anything. They didn’t seem to care about me. I loved the sliders (laughs).

After a few competitions, I came out and told my mother: “That’s it, I’m not going to stay in singles anymore, but I want to skate.” Even when I was studying in St. Petersburg with Tataurov, they invited me to dance, and Oleg Stanislavovich himself suggested me. I was also at a screening with Eteri Georgievna (Tutberidze), she said: “You have to go dancing.” I cried to my mother that I didn’t want to. But I never had the idea of ​​completely finishing the figure.

— How long did the Tutberidze screening last?

“I came once, she immediately told me to go dancing. I remember Zhenya Medvedeva coming onto the ice and saying, “Come on, jump. ” And I’m afraid, I didn’t do a triple jump, and here Eteri Georgievna: “So, three-three …”. Zhenya says: “Well, at least try.”

“We get to know ourselves, we begin to feel ourselves, working with a psychologist really helps”

— Are you satisfied with your performances last season?

Dmitri: Overall satisfied. At the first stages of the Grand Prix, there were small problems: in Ufa, the rhythmic dance was not presented in the best way, in Samara the free program was like that. We improved in every aspect as the season went on: speed, artistry, skill, execution of elements, components. The coaches were also happy with us.

— How to motivate yourself for the Grand Prix final, the last start of the season?

Milana: We went to Sochi just to enjoy skiing.

Dmitri: As we prepare for a regular start, we don’t need to spend hours collecting our thoughts to play the last tournament of the season. Yes, we could have performed calmly in three additional competitions!

— What are your plans for the offseason?

Milana: I have exams.

Dmitri: I am finishing my diploma year at the Olympic Reserve School.

— Do you argue often?

Milana: There are no particular conflicts. There are different stories, but it’s best to keep that between us.

— You study with the technical staff under the direction of Irina Zhuk and Alexander Svinin. What strengths can you identify in these specialists?

Dmitri: The list can be endless. The best people. As coaches, they are excellent, their human qualities are incredible. They treat us well and are always ready to help you if there is any problem, you can always contact us.

Milana: We love them incredibly. I have been skating under their guidance for five years now, a kind of connection has been established, you can always ask for advice.

— Do you have a sports psychologist in your group and do you contact them often?

Milana: I am in contact with her almost every day (laughs).

Dmitri: Well, yes, she skates with me. We need a psychologist (laughs). And I don’t apply often.

Milana: I can call Zhanna for almost anything, she is ready to listen to me for at least two or three hours. It really helps. When we arrive at the training camp in Novogorsk, she and I have interesting practical classes. After that, many stay for consultation on various issues, including me. We get to know ourselves, we begin to feel ourselves, working with a psychologist really helps.

— Do you admire anyone from the world of figure skating?

Dmitri: We don’t admire anyone.

Milana: Accept. Of course, we are impressed by the Papadakis/Cizeron and Chock/Bates duos.

Dmitri: Also the British Fir/Gibson.

— Will you be happy to see Papadakis and Cizeron return?

Milana: Yes, it would be cool to see them on stage again.

Dmitri: They will probably be at the top when they return.

— Who is your favorite Russian figure skater?

Milana: Margarita Bazylyuk, best girl.

Dmitri: Vlad Dikidzhi, a cool kid. Arseny Fedotov is a legend, our tournament captain. First him, then everyone else.

“I hope that next season I will draw costume sketches for Dima and myself.”

— What are your hobbies besides figure skating?

Milana: I really like to draw. I hope that next season I will draw costume sketches for me and Dima. I have already drawn the one I want for myself. Whether or not this suits the music remains to be seen.

I also really like horses, and Irina Vladimirovna and I agree on this: I trained before, and she trains now. I even went to see his horse. It’s very dangerous, I wanted to start training again last season – for me, just to skate on the weekends. But Irina Vladimirovna said that it was better after finishing her career.

Dmitri: I can’t single out anything, with such a training schedule I devote time only to training, but sometimes I watch videos and works on graffiti, I watch videos of different graffiti artists on YouTube for this whole culture.

– What kind of music do you listen to? Milana recently attended a Macan concert.

Milana: Yes, I’ve been there, but I can’t say that he’s one of my favorite artists now.

Dmitri: He gave the interview and Milana immediately stopped liking him (laughs).

Milana: Well, I only like his songs. I’ve seen clippings of interviews, but the main thing is creativity. In general, I’m a music lover, I listen to everything.

— What concerts and artists would you dream of attending?

Dmitri: Miyagi & Andy Panda, but they haven’t played concerts in a long time. Before, I didn’t live in Moscow, but now I’ve been in the capital for two years, they haven’t had a single performance. I’ve never been to a concert in my life.

Milana: I just want to go to any concert. It was my first time attending a concert in Macan, and it was Sonya Leontyeva who brought me out.

— The last book you read?

Milana: I prefer psychology, now I’m reading “Games People Play” by Eric Berne. Since childhood, I have not developed a relationship with fiction and reading in general.

Dmitri: I had a humanities class at school, I loved Russian language and literature. Latest reading: Erich Maria Note – “All is calm on the Western Front”.