Post by Admin on Jan 12, 2014 8:40:07 GMT -6
From Physical Culture and Sport (Russia):
November 1993
EKATERINA GORDEEVA AND SERGEI GRINKOV ARE RETURNING TO THE OLYMPIC ICE
translated by Olya Smolyanova
Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov, the recent winners of all possible titles in pairs skating, are returning to the Olympic ice. As professionals, they still managed to keep the ideals of their athletic youth, and when the International Olympic Committee allowed professional skaters to reinstate as amateurs, they joyously dived into familiar atmosphere of intensive training, searching for new music and constructing complex elements which would open the doors to the gold medal.
Return to amateur sport can be very difficult. Past achievements won't guarantee new wins, although such reunion of professional and amateur athletes drastically raises already high public interest to figure skating. Famous Canadian champions Barbara Wagner and Robert Cowl mentioned in one of their interviews after joining a skating show: 'Amateur level of skating is definitely much higher' That's obvious - simply because professional skaters don't have to face a continuing strive to win, win and win again despite all the difficulties and challenges which are inevitable during amateur competitions.
Of course, such experienced athletes as Gordeeva and Grinkov and their coach Vladimir Zakharov fully understand the complexity of the situation. That's what makes their work not only extremely intensive (it's incredibly hard to get back into competitive shape in such a short time)but truly sincere, artistically rich. Young competitors didn't stand still all these years. The Moskvins' school of St. Petersburg has raised beautiful duets, the most recent Olympic Champions Natalia Mischkutyonok and Artur Dmitriev are also back on the ice, there are serious contenders in USA, Canada and other countries. In other words, the pairs competition promises to be very interesting, and nobody will dare predict the winners.
By returning to the ice, Katia and Sergei have become not only more interesting to the public, but more respected among the experts. As it often happens in this close community, the partners have become husband and wife, and their little son (REPORTER'S MISTAKE. OS) is growing up - and Katia hasn't lost her lightness on the ice. Of course, family life has added more pressure, but at least there is somebody to win the gold for. That is, if the Olympic Nika favors them over others...
November 1993
EKATERINA GORDEEVA AND SERGEI GRINKOV ARE RETURNING TO THE OLYMPIC ICE
translated by Olya Smolyanova
Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov, the recent winners of all possible titles in pairs skating, are returning to the Olympic ice. As professionals, they still managed to keep the ideals of their athletic youth, and when the International Olympic Committee allowed professional skaters to reinstate as amateurs, they joyously dived into familiar atmosphere of intensive training, searching for new music and constructing complex elements which would open the doors to the gold medal.
Return to amateur sport can be very difficult. Past achievements won't guarantee new wins, although such reunion of professional and amateur athletes drastically raises already high public interest to figure skating. Famous Canadian champions Barbara Wagner and Robert Cowl mentioned in one of their interviews after joining a skating show: 'Amateur level of skating is definitely much higher' That's obvious - simply because professional skaters don't have to face a continuing strive to win, win and win again despite all the difficulties and challenges which are inevitable during amateur competitions.
Of course, such experienced athletes as Gordeeva and Grinkov and their coach Vladimir Zakharov fully understand the complexity of the situation. That's what makes their work not only extremely intensive (it's incredibly hard to get back into competitive shape in such a short time)but truly sincere, artistically rich. Young competitors didn't stand still all these years. The Moskvins' school of St. Petersburg has raised beautiful duets, the most recent Olympic Champions Natalia Mischkutyonok and Artur Dmitriev are also back on the ice, there are serious contenders in USA, Canada and other countries. In other words, the pairs competition promises to be very interesting, and nobody will dare predict the winners.
By returning to the ice, Katia and Sergei have become not only more interesting to the public, but more respected among the experts. As it often happens in this close community, the partners have become husband and wife, and their little son (REPORTER'S MISTAKE. OS) is growing up - and Katia hasn't lost her lightness on the ice. Of course, family life has added more pressure, but at least there is somebody to win the gold for. That is, if the Olympic Nika favors them over others...