Post by Admin on Jan 7, 2014 8:20:30 GMT -6
From Kocomolskaya Pravda (Russia):
March 1986
THE HIGHEST MARK - THE HIGHEST PLACEMENT
by D. Osinin
translated by Maureen Diffley
Just one year ago they won world juniors, now Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov are the strongest of the adult pairs too, with their victory at the 1986 world championships.
On this particular day Sergei Grinkov looked upset. As this happened rarely, his skating friends asked, "what happened, Serega?" He sighed heavily saying, "They're giving me a partner." Oh, how 7th-grader Grinkov didn't want to do pairs. And with whom!? A girl he'd met often - a tiny 3rd-grader. What did she understand in sport? Besides, pair skating would require lifting her!
"What do you think we have weights for in the gym?" first coach Vladislav Zaharov asked Sergei. "Just lift a bit and everything will be ok-dokey."
On the other hand, Katya was very nervous. What if it doesn't work? What will she tell papa then? After all, her father was a dancer in the Army ensemble and had wanted his daughter to become a ballerina. He was so pleased when she was taking the tests to get into the program at the Bolshoi. But then suddenly, the always obedient Katya, said, "no. I'm going to be a skater." Her parents didn't know what to think, but eventually made peace with it. She didn't remember, but it had been they who first took her to the rink anyway.
Grinkov is four years older. That's why he's the leader of the pair. I couldn't find any other explanations because Katya fits this role more than he. At 14 she's so disciplined and serious that coaches S. Zhuk and S. Leonovich often use her to show the absent-minded Sergei an example of how to be. Really, how could one go to the honor ceremony for medalists of the world championship and only remember in the dressing room that your suit was in the hotel room!?! Katya isn't capable of doing something like that. It's never happened that she forgot something or other or arrived late for something. A strength of will to envy - she has. After a tough practice, when one only wants to sleep, she sits down and does her lessons. After competitions she goes back to class like there had been no interruption - answers at the blackboard, does quizzes and makes no excuses about an overload of duties or tiredness.
With Grinkov it was different. It wasn't just once that coach and choreographer M. Zueva had to listen to teachers's complaints and force Sergei to buckle down and work. In his diary (all Soviet students had a homework pad, in which they listed their homework, teachers listed test and quiz scores and made comments. Parents were required to sign it every day.) there were always lots of red scribbles complaining that he: didn't do homework, laughed during lessons, and when teachers scolded him smiled without stop at them. No one could say that Sergei was lazy, or worse, that he just didn't want to study. The opposite, teachers admit that the boy is very curious and talented, just very flighty.
"It's just flightiness," says Zueva. "Sergei has an excellent head. Unbelievable memory. Irony, sarcasm/mockery just busting out of him. He's the top joker and jester at the rink."
Yes, Grinkov loves to joke. He can be quite sharp-tongued. But not with his partner. With her he is all concern and consideration. His relationship to Katya is like one between an older brother and younger sister. He strictly follows the young boy commandment, "don't offend younger kids," and thoroughly hides his annoyance with girlish ignorance and stinginess like it was some kind of hushed sweetness.
That's the kind of kids they are. Completely different. But maybe that's why there are 2 new stars in figure skating. Or more accurately, one super bright star. After all a true pair of two is one whole.
March 1986
THE HIGHEST MARK - THE HIGHEST PLACEMENT
by D. Osinin
translated by Maureen Diffley
Just one year ago they won world juniors, now Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov are the strongest of the adult pairs too, with their victory at the 1986 world championships.
On this particular day Sergei Grinkov looked upset. As this happened rarely, his skating friends asked, "what happened, Serega?" He sighed heavily saying, "They're giving me a partner." Oh, how 7th-grader Grinkov didn't want to do pairs. And with whom!? A girl he'd met often - a tiny 3rd-grader. What did she understand in sport? Besides, pair skating would require lifting her!
"What do you think we have weights for in the gym?" first coach Vladislav Zaharov asked Sergei. "Just lift a bit and everything will be ok-dokey."
On the other hand, Katya was very nervous. What if it doesn't work? What will she tell papa then? After all, her father was a dancer in the Army ensemble and had wanted his daughter to become a ballerina. He was so pleased when she was taking the tests to get into the program at the Bolshoi. But then suddenly, the always obedient Katya, said, "no. I'm going to be a skater." Her parents didn't know what to think, but eventually made peace with it. She didn't remember, but it had been they who first took her to the rink anyway.
Grinkov is four years older. That's why he's the leader of the pair. I couldn't find any other explanations because Katya fits this role more than he. At 14 she's so disciplined and serious that coaches S. Zhuk and S. Leonovich often use her to show the absent-minded Sergei an example of how to be. Really, how could one go to the honor ceremony for medalists of the world championship and only remember in the dressing room that your suit was in the hotel room!?! Katya isn't capable of doing something like that. It's never happened that she forgot something or other or arrived late for something. A strength of will to envy - she has. After a tough practice, when one only wants to sleep, she sits down and does her lessons. After competitions she goes back to class like there had been no interruption - answers at the blackboard, does quizzes and makes no excuses about an overload of duties or tiredness.
With Grinkov it was different. It wasn't just once that coach and choreographer M. Zueva had to listen to teachers's complaints and force Sergei to buckle down and work. In his diary (all Soviet students had a homework pad, in which they listed their homework, teachers listed test and quiz scores and made comments. Parents were required to sign it every day.) there were always lots of red scribbles complaining that he: didn't do homework, laughed during lessons, and when teachers scolded him smiled without stop at them. No one could say that Sergei was lazy, or worse, that he just didn't want to study. The opposite, teachers admit that the boy is very curious and talented, just very flighty.
"It's just flightiness," says Zueva. "Sergei has an excellent head. Unbelievable memory. Irony, sarcasm/mockery just busting out of him. He's the top joker and jester at the rink."
Yes, Grinkov loves to joke. He can be quite sharp-tongued. But not with his partner. With her he is all concern and consideration. His relationship to Katya is like one between an older brother and younger sister. He strictly follows the young boy commandment, "don't offend younger kids," and thoroughly hides his annoyance with girlish ignorance and stinginess like it was some kind of hushed sweetness.
That's the kind of kids they are. Completely different. But maybe that's why there are 2 new stars in figure skating. Or more accurately, one super bright star. After all a true pair of two is one whole.