Yuko Kawaguchi: “Among skaters of past generations, I like Yagudin, life experience is visible”

Double European Champion Figure Skater Yuko Kawaguchi who competed for Russia with Alexander Smirnov, told that she values ​​art and artistic talent, which Alexei Yagudin manages to transmit on the ice even after the end of his career.

Kawaguchi and Smirnov are two-time European champions (2010, 2015), two-time silver (2009, 2011), bronze (2008) at the European Championships, two-time bronze medalists at the World Championships (2009, 2010). They retired in 2017.

— Which Russian figure skater do you like?

— My favorite couples in the entire history of figure skating are Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov. I asked to join Tamara Nikolaevna’s (Moskvina) group after Elena and Anton’s performance at the Nagano Olympics. Their skating inspired me to radically change my life.

But I look at the current world of figure skating and I understand that I certainly would not have sent a fax to Tamara Nikolaevna and would not have moved to Russia. I am attracted to ice art. Before, there was a lot of it, but today it is different. Athletes have to think too much because of the rules, which leaves less room for creativity.

Among the skaters of past generations, I love Yagudin. His programs on the show are exactly the same art and artistry. You can see the life experience and maturity so many years after you have finished your career. It is great that your health and strength still allow you to show a lot in public. We are very lucky to be able to enjoy Alexey’s skating! As it is, I do not watch competitions, not even the Olympics. To be honest, I did not follow much during my sports career either. Today, the work of a judge also influences this: when you watch fifty people in a row, analyze the nuances of each skate, your eyes already refuse to see the ice, “Kawaguchi told .

Yagudin retired from figure skating in 2003.

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