Post by Admin on Jan 12, 2014 8:42:38 GMT -6
From a Russian Magazine:
1994
INTERVIEW WITH SERGEI GRINKOV
You and Ekaterina made an amateur comeback for the '94 Olympics and won gold again in Lillehammer. Then you turned pro again immediately--is your feeling good about this?
Sergei: Yes, I feel good that we were able to win another gold medal, but I do like pro and show skating much better at this point in our career, so I do feel good about the way things happened.
Do you feel sorry for the younger skaters who either weren't able to make teams because pro teams reinstated or didn't medal because of your return?
Sergei: No, because Katya and I won our first gold medal in Calgary when we were very young. The young teams at Lillehammer weren't good enough to win and weren't ready for the competition of the pros who returned. The best wins, young or old.
What did you and Ekaterina have to do differently in training to prepare for a return to amateur and Olympics?
Sergei: We just had to start practicing the hard moves more than before when just skating for pro competitions and shows--that's all.
Who pushed you into skating?
Sergei: My parents.
You and Katya started skating together when you were 15 and she was 11. How did the love happen?
Sergei: We had a serious relationship; it wasn't love before, but we respected each other and liked each other as people. If we did not feel this way, the love would have never been able to come and grow. The love just happened slowly, starting around the time of the '88 Olympics and we feel like spending much time together and, by the end of the year, we were ready to start a different type of relationship. And without our love for each other, we couldn't have reached the level of sport we are presently at.
What makes your relationship work?
Sergei: There is no leader in the family--we each know what we need to do, our responsibilities, and do them. And respect, there is a great respect between us and, of course, great love for each other.
What are Katya's responsibilities?
Sergei: Katya is good at keeping the house and cooking, which she loves to do. Katya organizes everything. I do some cooking and do help her around the house and fix things. The most important responsibilities are the emotional needs, and we both know what the other one needs, whatever situation it is.
Do you see Katya as an ideal woman?
Sergei: Ideal for me--yes, definitely! But I don't want people to think we are perfect. Both Katya and I understand that we each have faults, but we take each other as we are. I would not change one thing about her--take her just as she is.
Do you ever regret or complain about your choice of Katya?
Sergei: Absolutely not, such a stupid question. I love my wife very much and couldn't be happier with my choice. In fact, we never argue because nothing is so important and everything is wonderful. And when we have free time away from training and performing, I don't want to do things with anyone but Katya and Dasha. Katya and I are always, always together and that's how I like it--how we like it.
1994
INTERVIEW WITH SERGEI GRINKOV
You and Ekaterina made an amateur comeback for the '94 Olympics and won gold again in Lillehammer. Then you turned pro again immediately--is your feeling good about this?
Sergei: Yes, I feel good that we were able to win another gold medal, but I do like pro and show skating much better at this point in our career, so I do feel good about the way things happened.
Do you feel sorry for the younger skaters who either weren't able to make teams because pro teams reinstated or didn't medal because of your return?
Sergei: No, because Katya and I won our first gold medal in Calgary when we were very young. The young teams at Lillehammer weren't good enough to win and weren't ready for the competition of the pros who returned. The best wins, young or old.
What did you and Ekaterina have to do differently in training to prepare for a return to amateur and Olympics?
Sergei: We just had to start practicing the hard moves more than before when just skating for pro competitions and shows--that's all.
Who pushed you into skating?
Sergei: My parents.
You and Katya started skating together when you were 15 and she was 11. How did the love happen?
Sergei: We had a serious relationship; it wasn't love before, but we respected each other and liked each other as people. If we did not feel this way, the love would have never been able to come and grow. The love just happened slowly, starting around the time of the '88 Olympics and we feel like spending much time together and, by the end of the year, we were ready to start a different type of relationship. And without our love for each other, we couldn't have reached the level of sport we are presently at.
What makes your relationship work?
Sergei: There is no leader in the family--we each know what we need to do, our responsibilities, and do them. And respect, there is a great respect between us and, of course, great love for each other.
What are Katya's responsibilities?
Sergei: Katya is good at keeping the house and cooking, which she loves to do. Katya organizes everything. I do some cooking and do help her around the house and fix things. The most important responsibilities are the emotional needs, and we both know what the other one needs, whatever situation it is.
Do you see Katya as an ideal woman?
Sergei: Ideal for me--yes, definitely! But I don't want people to think we are perfect. Both Katya and I understand that we each have faults, but we take each other as we are. I would not change one thing about her--take her just as she is.
Do you ever regret or complain about your choice of Katya?
Sergei: Absolutely not, such a stupid question. I love my wife very much and couldn't be happier with my choice. In fact, we never argue because nothing is so important and everything is wonderful. And when we have free time away from training and performing, I don't want to do things with anyone but Katya and Dasha. Katya and I are always, always together and that's how I like it--how we like it.
