Romain Savosin started figure skating in 2003. At the age of eight, he joined Alexei Chetverukhin’s group and still trains under his guidance. The best result in Savosin’s career was silver at the 2019 World Junior Championships, after which the skater fell into obscurity and even missed the competitive year.
In the 2023/24 season, Roman resumed his career and won silver twice at the Russian Grand Prix. In an interview with , Savosin spoke about the new stage of his career, his long work in the technical staff and the competition in the national team.
— Roma, last season there was a sort of career restart. How do you rate the competition year?
“I’m happy with the season and I think it’s the best of my career so far.” I felt like I had restarted my career. Before this season I hadn’t played for a year, but now I’m back. Of course we will strive to do better, there is always something to work on.
— Last offseason, did you and your coaches set a goal to achieve such a brilliant comeback?
– I was just playing. There was no plan to prove anything to anyone. Before the start of the season, the programs were set. It was important to me that the judges and spectators appreciated the progress. And that’s what happened. Many highlighted programs and development. It was nice.
— The public, which began to be interested in figure skating relatively recently, heard about you for the first time this season. I did not encounter any questions: who is Roman Savosin?
— I have not personally met him. But it’s clear that many viewers have never heard of me before. During this season, I gained a fan base; they create groups on social networks and post extracts from my programs. I am a subscriber and I follow.
— During this break, I probably managed to miss the medals and the feelings that one experiences during the awards ceremony.
– Certainly. It’s a great feeling to stand on a pedestal, I miss it. At the awards ceremony, the motivation is even greater to work to climb the level again.
— How long will the royalty you received during the season last?
– I don’t want to think about it. I’m just living in the moment, preparing for the new season and not looking too far ahead.
— So there will be a next season, is that sure?
– Yes of course. I will play.
— How exactly do you prepare for the season?
— We are driving until the end of May. We are currently implementing programs. Then there will be a vacation and a training camp in Moscow in mid-June. During my vacation, I want to forget about figure skating and physical activity. The only thing is that I plan to stop playing football. As the season progresses, fatigue builds up and we want to rest, that’s normal. Usually we have three weeks off, and after a week and a half the desire to go on the ice appears.
– Remember the most significant event of the season.
“There were a lot of them this season. But I remember the short program of the Grand Prix stage in Ufa. I participated in the first competition and scored 100 points. I got back on the ice, I skated very well, it was an event for me. I would also like to highlight the “Russian Challenge”, the show program tournament, which was a new experience.
— From a psychological point of view, was it difficult to go to the start after the break? Has public fear arisen?
— On the contrary, it was easier to go to the first start after the break than to the following ones. I repeat, I had no objective of taking a place. I just wanted to show off. There was therefore no psychological burden. But when I went to the next tournament after finishing second, the enthusiasm skyrocketed. The highlight of my experiences was at the Russian Championships, and then I calmed down again.
— Figure skating experts have also noticed a transformation in your skating. Do you read what they say about you?
— After the performance, I definitely watch the show with commentators. I find what they say about me interesting and important. I also read the comments on social networks. This year I have heard a lot of positive feedback about my programs and my progress. But I didn’t encounter any hatred.
— You are currently one of the oldest single skaters in Russia, you are 24 years old. Do you feel your age?
— We also have Dima Aliev, he is a little older. Of course, age takes its toll. I feel like I have less room for improvement. Young people have more opportunities, it is easier for them.
— During what period of your career did you feel happiest?
— I will probably highlight two points: second place at the World Junior Championships and this season.
— Has anything changed in current figure skating compared to your junior years? Sometimes it seems to me that there is less soul.
“I don’t agree with the idea that there are fewer souls.” The competition has become stronger, you can feel it. The guys are progressing. Personally, since that time, my approach to sport, my thoughts and my feelings have changed. I began to treat figure skating more consciously. I understand when I need to make him work and when, on the contrary, to rest. I learned to feel.
— You have said more than once that you don’t like to train, but you like to perform. Do you realize how lucky you are? There are very few “starter” athletes.
— I agree, in that respect, I was lucky. It is much more important to perform than to train. It is much easier for athletes who participate in competitions with pleasure. Of course, I worry before performances, sometimes a lot. But everything is in moderation.
— You have been training for many years under the direction of Alexei Chetverukhin. How did you get into his group?
— I started skating with Andrei Grigorievich Hekalo at CSKA. Then he went to work in the steam room, and our group was given to Oksana Vladimirovna Lyashnevskaya. And at the age of eight I moved to Alexey Alexandrovich Chetverukhin. We have been working with him for 16 years now.
—Who was in your “children” group with Chetverukhin?
— Liza Yushchenko and Denis Khodykin skated in the group, and later Vova Litvintsev came.
— Do you remember those moments fondly? Do you keep in touch with anyone?
— We have always had a good group. We always keep in touch with Denis, we communicate when we meet during competitions. Vova and I have been good friends for many years. Guys don’t disappear at all. Sometimes coaches come to congratulate them on the holidays.
— At one point, you remained the oldest in the group. Isn’t it difficult without internal competition?
– It happened a long time ago. I became the eldest at 16. I’m used to it, it’s even easier for me in such conditions.
— 16 years of collaboration is a decent length of time. Your relationship with your coaches has surely undergone many transformations.
“During this period we developed a better mutual understanding, we got to know each other well. It is now easier for us to seek compromise on certain issues. I can always turn to coaches for advice. They are dedicated to the students and are willing to help them, even if the issue is not about sports.
– Remember the last time the coaches raised their voice at you.
– It happens. It’s a training process, that’s normal. I can do stupid things that I will be ashamed of later.
— During times of crisis, have you considered changing seats?
– Of course, I thought. The coaches know it too. But for me, I realized that I would never go anywhere. Certainly.
— Do you plan to stay and coach in Chetverukhin’s group in the future?
— I’m trying not to make any plans right now. But I will be accepted as family, I’m sure of it.
– Now you also make tackles. What level of children do you work with and what roles do you hold?
— I help train athletes in the junior group. Basically, I’m a skating coach. I go out on the ice with a fishing rod, it’s not physically difficult. When I was little, I didn’t like the fishing rod; it was uncomfortable for me to jump on. Now I no longer ask students if they feel comfortable. The coaching group decided a fishing rod was necessary, so I went out and worked.
— Don’t you think that a coach must overcome all the circles of hell and start working with children from the very beginning to reach the stars through “flashlights” and “sleds”?
– I don’t think this is a mandatory condition. But I will say that working with beginning bands is the hardest thing that can happen. Teaching children the basics is not easy. Additionally, this job is not for everyone. You must love children and have great patience.
— You said you didn’t see yourself as a coach in the future. Has your opinion changed?
— No, everything remains at the same level.
— I was reviewing your children’s programs. It turns out you were so choreographic originally!
“Here, I can say thank you to the coaches and choreographers who taught me and staged such programs. I didn’t think about choreography when I was a kid. I did it the way they set it.
— Do you perform in the show?
— This winter I performed in Pyotr Chernyshev’s show. I’m not invited to any other shows, but I want to play there and that’s what I love.
— By the way, do you participate in any productions? You should do well.
— In fact, I even produced the pieces for the latest programs myself. At the end of the workout, there may be some time left, I come up with steps, create a track, and then we implement it into the program.
— Let’s say a few words about world figure skating. How do you like Ilya Malinin?
– What can I say?.. It’s fantastic, it’s cool! Many years ago, I could not imagine that figure skating would reach such a level. Now I won’t be surprised by anything. Malinin is capable of a lot. If he jumps with five, I won’t be surprised.
— I saw on social networks that you also know how to jump a quadruple axel. I didn’t even notice the edit right away.
– Yes, it’s a good Photoshop. I was surprised that not everyone got the joke. Even today, people send me this video and write that it is fake. I wasn’t trying to fool anyone. It was just a joke.
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Source : MatchTV
I’m John White and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. My specialty is covering sports news, which I’ve been doing for over 6 years now. During this time, I have worked as an author with Athletistic, a popular online news website focusing on sports topics.