Figure skater Kovtun: “I am compared to Dikidzhi because of my appearance, I will strive to be compared in terms of jumps and achievements”

Figure skater Gleb Kovtun wants to be compared to Vlad Dikidji not only in terms of appearance, but also in terms of jumps and results.

On Friday, Kovtun took third place at the Junior Grand Prix stage in St. Petersburg, scoring 204.24 points in two skates. Nikita Sarnovsky won (250.16), Eduard Karartynyan took silver (229.04).

— During the first stage, I missed the opportunity to win a medal, although I was very close: after the short program, there was a reserve. If I had done everything right, I would have been third. After the first step, I drew conclusions and complicated the program.

— How are things going with the quads?

— I tried the quadruple sheepskin coat last season, I used it three times in competition. This season I didn’t have time to ride a quad, so I opted for triple axles. After Krasnoyarsk, we decided to restore the sheepskin coat, and it was quickly possible to restore it. I started riding, it wasn’t perfect, but it was a pretty good result.

– Has anyone told you that you look like Vlad Dikidzhi?

— The first time I heard about it was from commentators. It’s nice to be compared to such a skater. So far they only compare in appearance, but I will strive to be compared in both jumps and achievements.

— Who do you like in the senior team?

— I have loved Vlad Dikidzhi for a long time among men; I’ve been following him since juniors, I even skated several times in the same competitions. For me, it wasn’t a discovery, I knew he skated and jumped well.

Now, I don’t really follow foreign athletes, but when I was younger, of course, I really liked Yuzuru Hanyu in vault, skating and second grade.

— What do you think about competing in men’s single skating now?

— There is a very serious competition in men’s single skating. Every year, new men arrive. Last year there was Vlad Dikidzhi, this year – Kolya Ugozhaev, Grisha Fedorov. It’s the same with the juniors. There and there, there is very serious competition.

— You train in Tyumen, is there competition there?

— Such competition does not exist in Tyumen. I moved from Kurgan to Tyumen as the strongest athlete, and I still remain so.

—Is it difficult when you’re alone?

— It’s not difficult, I compete with participants at the Grand Prix stages and championships. “I get my motivation from the scenes,” reports the correspondent, according to Kovtun.

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