Boykova/Kozlovsky: “A Russian couple, competing for another country, becomes second with imperfect performances. Are you saying that pairs skating is okay? »

Skaters Alexandra Boykova And Dmitri Kozlovsky said that world pair skating is going through a serious crisis.

The second stage of the Russian Grand Prix began on Saturday in Kazan. Boykova/Kozlovsky scored 80.92 points and took first place in the short program in the pairs sports competition. Second place went to Elizaveta Osokina and Artem Gritsaenko (73.22). Natalya Khabibullina and Ilya Knyazhuk withdrew from the competition due to an injury to their partner.

Earlier, an Uzbek couple of Russian origin, Ekaterina Geinish/Dmitry Chigirev, finished second in their first stage of the ISU Grand Prix.

Kozlovsky: Good skating, great Salchow. It’s interesting what the judges scored for him. It seems to me that it would be better not to do so. The twist is good, Sasha had to struggle with the throw, the support is good. Not grandiose, but high-level rental.

There is no difference depending on the number of participants. I didn’t even see anything when the guys were injured in training; it seemed like no one was carrying anyone off the ice. Then I saw that there were two couples left on the ice. It’s a shame, the guys would have been the highlight of the tournament. Of course, it’s more interesting to ride when there are a lot of competitors. But we no longer compete for medals, but for records, for new limits of our abilities. It’s not so interesting to just come and get medals; we want to show great skating, record scores, if we deserve them.

The downside is that there is no need to separate the pairs into steps. Figure skating is expected to evolve in the sense that everyone will compete on the World Grand Prix stage and then reach the final and the World Championships. I don’t think the European Championship is necessary.

Boykova: We are sorry that Natasha and Ilya were injured, good luck to them. But we went here first, knowing there would be three couples here.

— Is there a crisis in pairs skating?

Boykova: It’s everywhere in the world, we can’t ignore it. Previously, there was more competition among the juniors; you had to try hard to get into the national team. It’s of course a shame, but there are always slowdowns.

Kozlovsky: I remember when we started, at Skate Canada, we took fourth place after two impeccable skates. Now a Russian couple comes along, competing for another country, and becomes second with less than ideal results. Are you saying that pairs skating is doing well in the world? We skated with couples of the highest level, where we had to make great efforts, showing the highest level throughout the season. Now those who have never been to the Grand Prix win. It’s really bad, I don’t remember it in a very long time. I have the right to say it.

– What to do?

Kozlovsky: To generate interest, sport must be a business. The world needs to offer better products. Today, Russian athletes perform in one way or another on the international stage. If Sasha and I started skating for another country, we would not stop being Russian athletes. I was born here, trained under Russian coaches in the Russian system. Registration will not change anything. As long as we move in this direction, such things will happen, ”reports the correspondent of , reporting the words of the skaters.

The skaters will present their free program on Sunday on the Grand Prix stage in Kazan.

More sports news in our telegram channel .