Alexei Yagudin "I am Well on the Personal Front"
Only 6 months ago he was an athlete figure skater and now Alexei Yagudin leaving the ice is a singer, appears in videos, writes books and is involved in a tv series. In general he is a star showman - today Lesha's popularity is greater than it was after his victory in the 2002 Olympic Games! And yet what is to be!
Q. Alexei, this past summer following Evgeny Plushenko's declaration you announced that you would return to eligible competition. The world stood still in the anticipation of your immense duel but now you have said your return will not take place. Lesha - would you admit that your announcement was a PR action?
A. I have sufficient PR. No, it was for real. First, I determined whether I could return at all due to my departure to amateur sports and participation in professional competitions. When I obtained confirmation that it was possible then I sought the operation in July in America (the figure skater underwent a complex hip replacement operation after which he named himself "terminator with a titanium thigh"). Next, all was based on how the restoration would go and how the leg would react to stress.
I really believed that I would be able to return. After the operation the rehabilitation went well but in November in Germany on the the ice I obtained a serious injury (German doctors diagnosed a torn groin muscle but Russian doctors assessed the injury as a pulled groin muscle not a tear). Unfortunately, age is evident and my body is no longer what it was 10 years ago. Tatyana Anatolevna joked that I could receive marks even in a wheelchair. I hope it doesn't come to this. The best doctors in Moscow are in charge of my condition.
For me now the most important thing is to be in good shape for the winter and spring tours - Ilya Averbukh's Ice Symphony. Unfortunately, my return to eligible competition will not occur.
Q. To the happiness of viewers, Ilya Averbukh said recently that the project "Ice Age" will continue. Will you participate in the third series of this popular project?
A. I hope. To me it is still an interesting project because most of my life I have skated alone and now I perform as part of a pair. Never before did I have to talk with someone during a performance of a program or to be responsible for anyone.
Q. How was it that your book "Naprolom" was first published in Japan in 2003 and then 4 years later in Russia?
A. After Worlds in 2002 the Japanese turned to me with a proposal to write a book. I dictated the book in English than it was translated into Japanese. The book sold well in the land of the rising sun. Now on the wave of the book boom I turned to Russian publishers and we decided to take as the basis the Japanese version, write additional chapters covering the last 4 years, change photographs and the cover. Something was removed. For example we removed the chapter about life in the communal flat which represented an exotic interest to the Japanese reader but for Russians it was commonplace so I did not include who was stealing sausages in the communal kitchen.
Q. Today many of your fellow athletes go into "politics" - what is your direction?
A. One is interested in politics, the other dreams of coaching. To me it is more interesting to sing with Vika Dayneko, to perform in videos or to act in a series. I respect the choice of Anton Sikharulidze who has recently become a deputy of the State Duma. He is a thoughtful person who could benefit the country. He deseverdly occupies the parliamentary seat. But many other who walk into positions of authority with Olympic medals appear strange.
Q. Was it offensive to you that at the presentation of the Olympics in Sochi Evgeny Plushenko was invited - not you?
A. What is it to be offended? I am not the last Olympic Champion. I am quite calm about such things. I have an interesting life. In the past summer I was an athlete - a figure skater and now I have made videos, music , a book and I am involved in shooting a soap opera. I enjoy this life!
Q. Your favorite sport besides figure skating?
A. Tennis - recently I even played against Nastya Miskinoy. Nasty did everything to lose to me, but no matter how she tried it did not work.
Q. What are you currently reading?
A. Honestly, I don't like to read. I prefer to learn from the tv news. But recently under a particular mood I read a short work by Pushkin.
Q. With your status and accolades you don't produce the impression of a "star" - you are always calm and quiet.
A. If we behave simpler people will appreciate you.
Q. But they speak of the "Stars On Ice" project where you and Oksana Pushkina argued and even broke decorations at Mosfilm.
A. Yes, and used strong words when we couldn't understand each other. Everything changed with Oksana understood that we were on the ice and not in the tv studio. Oksana is a very intelligent person and when I learned this I realized that I could ask her the most difficult questions. Several times I have called her and said "I have a problem - what would you do?"
Q. What kind of music do you choose?
A. I have always liked Russian popular music. To America I brought Russian CD's and constantly played and sung along when I was driving. For limbering up on the ice I always play our pop music. Interestingly, my friends from the world of popular music, Sasha Savelyeva and Vika Dayneko, on the other hand, listen to western music.
I really enjoy translating these articles - and this one is just about finished. Looks like about 1/3 of the interview left to translate....I'll take a break(I can hear the music from "The Pink Panther" on the tv) and be back soon with the rest of the interview.
Karenna
(Message edited by Karenna On 10/01/2008 18:42:33)
Karenna, I would fix this, but I can't edit them - I'm having trouble with the board today (obviously). Would you mind? 
It was surprising to read Alexei's comments about Plushenko - he has discussed his thoughts about Plushenko in more detail here than he has in the past. I admire Alexei's loyalty to Averbukh's efforts and question the motives behind Plushenko's attempts to compete with Ilya's productions. As for Piseev - I do not understand how this man maintains his position as head of the Russian Federation of Skating in view of the state of Russian figure skating lately. Quite simply I wonder what may be afoot (I love this word! Thank you Sherlock Holmes!)- it may well be that he has developed overwhelming knowledge and hence political manipulation to ensure his position at the top. It certainly isn't because he has successfully developed the Russian figure skating system during the past few years.
