The name of Canadian coach Brian Orser has become much less common in Russia since Evgenia Medvedeva left him. Meanwhile, Orser remains one of the world’s most respected scholars and prepares a host of medal contenders for the Beijing Olympics.
In an exclusive interview with the Championship, Brian spoke about the difficulties of working during the coronavirus pandemic, the health problems of Yuzuru Hanyu and Riki Kihira, and also wished Elizaveta Tuktamysheva to qualify for the Olympics.
And Orser is happy for Evgenia Medvedev and is proud of her. He is convinced that it was under his leadership that Zhenya achieved the best skates of his career.
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“It’s good that at the Turin stage we are not in a ‘bubble’
– Brian, how do you like the atmosphere on the Grand Prix stage in Italy? Is the environment very different from tournaments in the USA and Canada?
– Turin is a beautiful city, the weather is superb. Traveling anywhere is a challenge now. But this trip is actually very pleasant because we are not in a bubble here. At Skate Canada, we were under very strict conditions: we couldn’t leave the hotel, we couldn’t leave a certain area of the arena. The mask must always be on the nose, and Rafael Harutyunyan was even deprived of his accreditation because he erroneously went beyond the “bubble”. The Department of Health may have stopped the competition because of this. Next week we’ll be in a bubble again, so now we can say, a sip of freedom.
– Have you been around the city here in Turin?
– Yes, I even took the metro. I had a first training session and there was plenty of time left, with my colleagues we went to see the city, to take a walk. But the next two Grand Prix, we won’t be able to do that. Especially in Japan, everything is very strict.
Photo: RIA Novosti
– Due to the coronavirus, you have lost several students. Have you succeeded in establishing a pandemic training process now? Did you have to radically change your approach in the new conditions?
“We were very lucky in Toronto because the rink was not closed. I have trained strong Canadians. The only one who was allowed to visit us was Jason Brown, the others were not allowed – neither Evgenia Medvedev nor Yuzuru Khania. It was very difficult. For all of us. We tried to work out whatever happened, talking about zooming and sending video.
We did our best. For example, I haven’t seen Jun Hwang Cha since last March, we worked by video link. And you know what? It drives better than ever! And he’s just turned 20, he knows how to train, he works hard and is disciplined. In general, traveling is very difficult now. But we will do whatever is necessary. The Olympics are on their way.
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“If Kihira is to go to the Olympics, he has to get over it completely.”
– Most recently, Yuzuru Hanyu shocked fans with a message about his withdrawal from the stage in Japan. Did you participate in this decision?
– It was his decision, of which he notified me. I don’t know the details and the severity of the injury, but I think it’s pretty serious. He skated beautifully, and what happened, of course, is terrible. We spoke very little with him from the moment he announced that he would not be competing in the Japanese Grand Prix, but from what I read I saw that he was very motivated to come back. as quickly as possible. So I think the Japanese championship could be the first competition for him.
– Another ward of yours, Rika Kihira, also misses tournaments due to health issues. How did you assess his form before the injury?
– I know more about Rika because she’s been in Toronto for five weeks. Unfortunately, she has suffered from this injury for two years now and has already arrived here with an injury. In my opinion, if she wants to compete in the Olympic Games, she must already recover completely so as not to feel pain. You can continue to numb the pain, but as an athlete and a former skater I know what it’s like to perform with an injury, and it’s horrible.
In a situation where you are completely confused and have no hope for anything, you can give it a try. But now there is still time to heal a little. Rika is very patient and does a lot of work off the ice. I think she’s doing a lot more than ever. She is really getting in shape and working on a lot of other aspects. Honestly, I’m sure that very soon she’ll be on the ice again … If the pain goes away then we’ll all see old Rika.
– How does she manage with the quadruple jumps?
– His quadruple salchow with her, as well as a triple axel. Again, we do a lot of work off the ice. Yes, it’s very nervous, it’s a lot of stress, but at the same time, we have no other options. Soon she will be able to train normally, now you need to be careful and not make mistakes.
– Tell us how working with a young athlete and figure skater on Hanyu’s Ladder is different. Is Yuzuru listening to your advice? Who has the last word?
“Yuzuru always has a plan and of course it’s always a good plan. We have worked together for nine years, and each time we are on the same page. Usually he takes responsibility for what he does. I think it’s true, he knows how to train the best. He works so hard, trains so ruthlessly that I stand behind him firmly in all of his decisions and in what he does.
But the situation with Hanyu is special and can only work with him. When I coached Javier Fernandez, it was a whole different story. I had to say everything: where, when, how much… why do we take a break, how long will the cardio workout last, how long we train off the ice. And he had to control everything.
Yuzuru is always on time and always was, sometimes I had to slow him down because he was overdoing it. The difference is that I adapt to Hanyu. But that does not exist with young athletes, I lead them forward, show what the discipline is, there is no alternative. You do as I tell you, and if you don’t listen to me or roll your eyes, you’ll leave the mirror. You can negotiate with them, but only if there is a valid reason for the dispute. Every athlete is different.
“Medvedeva was a real champion. I’m so proud of her. “
– Before last season, Evgenia Medvedeva left your club. Were you surprised that Zhenya never participated in tournaments again?
– No, I wasn’t surprised. Evgenia struggled to train in Canada. But she went to the show in Japan and could only return to Russia. Then she got sick with covid, felt terrible, then decided to stop playing. Eugene wrote me a message about it, so I learned it from her, not from the others. It was very kind and polite of her. But she still continues to give so much to our sport, even now, turning into professionals. She’s great at interacting with fans who adore her, commenting on TV, appearing in shows … She’s awesome. Evgenia can also work as a figure skating analyst.
I remember accompanying her to the Russian Grand Prix in the fall of 2019, during her last full tournament. Then, in my opinion and in the opinion of many experts, she achieved her best performance of her entire career. At a young age, she did so much for figure skating. And he continues to do so. I am so proud of her. I follow her on Instagram, she is very busy, she writes so many messages. I’m glad she’s happy and doing what she loves.
– Do you have the impression that she has not fully revealed her potential? Figure skating misses Medvedeva?
– She was a leader and an inspiring example to all these girls. Zhenya was a champion, a true champion. When she came to us, she wanted to create a new style and continue to skate, she wanted to become stronger. I think our common experience has been very good and that she could not do more.
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“With all my heart I wish Tuktamysheva to go to the Olympics”
– Among the skaters currently in competition, which one impresses you the most?
– All the Eteri girls impress me. Each for their own reason. Kamila Valieva was amazing last week. Last year I also liked Luna Hendrix and the Austrian figure skater (Olga Mikutina. – About. “Championship”). I like their skating, it’s good for our sport.
– Elizaveta Tuktamysheva continues to compete with young figure skaters. Are you surprised by its shape? How lucky are we to see Lisa at the Beijing Olympics?
– Lisa gives hope to all skaters on the planet. Because she continues to improve, despite the fact that she is no longer a young girl, but a young woman. How could I forget it? Write that I love her the most, that she is the best! His work with Alexei Mishin is amazing, I sincerely wish him to go to the Beijing Olympics. She must be part of the Beijing Olympic team. I really hope to see her there, it would be great for world figure skating.
– There is a lot of talk in Russia about a purely Russian Olympic podium. Do you think a similar scenario is possible?
– Yes, it’s real. But I don’t have a crystal ball, I can’t predict anything.
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