Post by Admin on Jan 7, 2014 8:44:05 GMT -6
From Sovetski Sport (Russia):
March 30, 1989
KATYA PLUS SERGEI ARE EQUALIZING
translated by Maureen Diffley
The following are excerpts from a Russian article published in 1989.
During Katya's absence (due to a serious leg injury - remember Rodnina saying that our pair skaters were starting too young. But what to do with young talent?), Sergei skated with a 30 kilo weight.
Also European champions Larisa Selezneva and Oleg Makharov missed the world event as he came down with hepatitis.
A reporter asked Leonovich how G&G could win the 1989 World championships - the biggest event in the year - in their first start of the whole season.
Leonovich: "Everything has to do with responsibility before the team. They always fight to the end. Maybe it's true that the competition here was weak - Selezneva and Makharov, Woetzel and Rauschenbach [E. Germany] weren't here. That's all true. But for Katya and Serezha, in their position, any competition is serious. Moreover, the marks of 5.9 speak to their high class."
Rodnina agreed, "Absolutely. The kids showed that they're real champions. I was very worried for them. What if there's a new trauma?... By the way, did you notice how much Katya's changed?"
Yes, this year when we didn't see her on the ice, she really grew up and became a true beauty... Before G&G had speed, excellent technique and throws to make your head spin. Now we see a duet skating and feel the unification of sport, art and music. They now have emotion, deep feeling - harmony. On the ice they show a lyrical expressive dialogue...
Interviewer: Katya, you've become popular. Do you have an idol?
Ekaterina: "Rodnina. We came to TSKA in 1972 and 1976 when Irina Konstantinova became Olympic champion. After many years, we, too, became Olympic champions. Who would have thought it?"
Their victories in 1986-87 created envy for some. Before Calgary, Grinkov's parents received letters saying that their son had committed a crime (trans. his parents were police officers!). Katya got threatening letters. They were upset by this. Especially Katya. But to their credit, they didn't break down...
Interviewer: Who is the leader in the pair? It seems to me that it is Katya.
"A good calvaryman should be able to carry his lady into a favorable light," jokes Grinkov in response. But Gordeeva, Leonovich, Zueva and Rizhkin disagree with me and say that on the ice, Katya and Sergei are equal and compete only during vacations when playing tennis or fishing.
Sergei was recently asked, "Katya has noticeably matured. Has your relationship changed at all?"
He became flustered, saying nothing. But Leonovich laughed and said, hitting him on the shoulder, "Yeah, he takes care of her. Why are you shy, old man?"
Do you fight often?
"It happens," adding here, "but only at practices. But how else? They say that in an argument truth is born. In life we try to understand each other, unite our interests. For example, Katya really loves to embroider, practically tries to buy one album of embroidery from each of our trips. I give all my spare time to books, I love Hemingway, Ilf, Petrov. I brought "White Guards" by Bulgakov to the last competition. At first, I thought it's too serious a book for such a competition. But I read it nonstop, it just sucked me up."
Not long ago, they were in Albertville, the mayor invited them to his residence. He asked for their photo, hanging it on the wall promptly and telling the Soviet delegation, "More skaters like Gordeeva and Grinkov, they make sport necessary for people."
March 30, 1989
KATYA PLUS SERGEI ARE EQUALIZING
translated by Maureen Diffley
The following are excerpts from a Russian article published in 1989.
During Katya's absence (due to a serious leg injury - remember Rodnina saying that our pair skaters were starting too young. But what to do with young talent?), Sergei skated with a 30 kilo weight.
Also European champions Larisa Selezneva and Oleg Makharov missed the world event as he came down with hepatitis.
A reporter asked Leonovich how G&G could win the 1989 World championships - the biggest event in the year - in their first start of the whole season.
Leonovich: "Everything has to do with responsibility before the team. They always fight to the end. Maybe it's true that the competition here was weak - Selezneva and Makharov, Woetzel and Rauschenbach [E. Germany] weren't here. That's all true. But for Katya and Serezha, in their position, any competition is serious. Moreover, the marks of 5.9 speak to their high class."
Rodnina agreed, "Absolutely. The kids showed that they're real champions. I was very worried for them. What if there's a new trauma?... By the way, did you notice how much Katya's changed?"
Yes, this year when we didn't see her on the ice, she really grew up and became a true beauty... Before G&G had speed, excellent technique and throws to make your head spin. Now we see a duet skating and feel the unification of sport, art and music. They now have emotion, deep feeling - harmony. On the ice they show a lyrical expressive dialogue...
Interviewer: Katya, you've become popular. Do you have an idol?
Ekaterina: "Rodnina. We came to TSKA in 1972 and 1976 when Irina Konstantinova became Olympic champion. After many years, we, too, became Olympic champions. Who would have thought it?"
Their victories in 1986-87 created envy for some. Before Calgary, Grinkov's parents received letters saying that their son had committed a crime (trans. his parents were police officers!). Katya got threatening letters. They were upset by this. Especially Katya. But to their credit, they didn't break down...
Interviewer: Who is the leader in the pair? It seems to me that it is Katya.
"A good calvaryman should be able to carry his lady into a favorable light," jokes Grinkov in response. But Gordeeva, Leonovich, Zueva and Rizhkin disagree with me and say that on the ice, Katya and Sergei are equal and compete only during vacations when playing tennis or fishing.
Sergei was recently asked, "Katya has noticeably matured. Has your relationship changed at all?"
He became flustered, saying nothing. But Leonovich laughed and said, hitting him on the shoulder, "Yeah, he takes care of her. Why are you shy, old man?"
Do you fight often?
"It happens," adding here, "but only at practices. But how else? They say that in an argument truth is born. In life we try to understand each other, unite our interests. For example, Katya really loves to embroider, practically tries to buy one album of embroidery from each of our trips. I give all my spare time to books, I love Hemingway, Ilf, Petrov. I brought "White Guards" by Bulgakov to the last competition. At first, I thought it's too serious a book for such a competition. But I read it nonstop, it just sucked me up."
Not long ago, they were in Albertville, the mayor invited them to his residence. He asked for their photo, hanging it on the wall promptly and telling the Soviet delegation, "More skaters like Gordeeva and Grinkov, they make sport necessary for people."