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Post by reut on Oct 20, 2009 7:14:04 GMT 1
Just to keep all the translations together. Interview with Brian Orser on championat.ru: www.championat.ru/other/_skating/article-41511.htmlTranslated by kate: Brian, let’s continue our conversation. You already told us how great a responsibility it is to train an athlete like Yu Na Kim. However, last season you took another pupil – and it was not a random skater but Adam Rippon who at the time was the reigning junior world champion. He is now participating in Trophee Eric Bompard and is third after the short programme. How did you divide your attention between them – not only here, but also at practice in Toronto?Everything is simple at the competition. There is the schedule – first the men, then the pairs and after that the ladies. So there is no problem but, certainly, I get tired. And about practice – you know, they can work together. They have wonderful relationship. When Yu Na is pushing herself, Adam gets tired of keeping up with her so he starts dragging. When Yu Na is not feeling so good, Adam starts pushing himself even harder and that motivates her. Naturally, when both get tired, I give them a break. At first Adam turned to David Wilson, the choreographer, who works with us. He wanted to work on his programmes. He really liked the atmosphere at our rink and he asked to join my group. He has a passion for skating and needed direction, more attention. I asked Yu Na and her mom if they had any objections and they said “There is no problem”. That’s how we started working. However, I already had other students. One junior lady from the Canadian team. The American Kristine Gao, who won the bronze at the JGP in Istambul. She had a bad short programme, but was first in the long. That’s why yesterday was a really good day for me. Let’s hope this day won’t be worse. It turns out, you work both with men and ladies skaters. Do you fell a difference?Every athlete is unique. Each one needs individual approach. Yu Na knows precisely what she wants to show, where she will move. So I hardly direct her. Adam needs more pushing. We have to work on his self confidence – make him believe in himself – who doesn’t need that, though? It’s good that we have David Wilson, who is always there when needed. It’s funny – at times I’m wondering what else to do on that practice and here comes David with his own ideas. Then we stop practicing technique and start doing choreography. We also work with Tracy Wilson (a Canadian ice dancer, who won the bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics) – with her we work on transition, quality of skating and edges. We have a very well balanced team. While you were competing you were called Mister Triple Axel. Under your coaching Adam Rippon won his second world junior title doing this jump perfectly. Did you work on this element with him?Oh, God! (Orser sighs heavily and rubs his forehead). We literally had it broken down to pieces. We learned it again. That’s hard. And Adam is 19 and it is really hard for an adult figure skater to get rid of his old techniques and learn new ones. That’s why after the Junior World Championships we had to make more analysis. In the end of the summer Adam had a minor injury… But now he is doing that jump better and that gives him more confidence. I think that now Adam is a diamond which simply needs work. We will work on that in the next 4 years. We already did it with Yu Na. And now we are excited for all the things that are ahead of us. Another famous figure skater is training with you? Stephane Lambiel said he would take some lessons from you.Yes, he is coming in Toronto this week. And what are you going to work on?The axel, the axel… Who would have thought! Seriously – that’s what we wanted to hear. This jump is Stephane’s main problem.I know. This summer we broke this element down to its parts. I watched on YouTube Stephane’s latest performances- at Nebelhorn Trophy and Japan Open. There he did the double axel but he did it beautifully and with ease. It was obvious that he is comfortable with the jump and he showed more confidence with it. I think he will be able to do the triple soon. We need only patience. How did you start working with Lambiel?He came to the physiotherapist Marle Pishler, who works with the skaters in my group. You already know that Stephane left the amateur sport because of his health problems. While skating with Stars on Ice in Canada, Stephane met Marle for the first time and she helped him a lot. That’s why he came in Toronto and he asked for a permission to skate with us. But we talked about the axel too. In my opinion, training with Adam and Yu Na gave Stephane additional inspiration. At our rink we have a great atmosphere. And I think he liked that there was someone at his level. When he trains alone in Switzerland he skates with many other pupils on a completely different level. And they all look at their beloved champion. In my rink he can just train. That’s good for us too – it’s always great when someone new comes in the group – ‘fresh blood’. That makes the practices interesting. Do you remember how you started skating? In Canada most boys would take on hockey, not fissure skating. How did you choose this type of sport?I started in hockey. I couldn’t skate well and I decided to take on figure skating in order to build some confidence in myself. But I became interested in it. My idols at the time were Toller Cranston, Robin Cousins, John Carry. And what can you say about male figure skating today?I like the direction it has taken. I like the new system. But the athlete has to be unusual in order to fulfill all the requirements. The jumps are not enough. There is no discipline like the ‘figures’ before and the second mark has to reflect all of that. You have to be able to skate on edges, do transitions. Do you think that the figures are needed also for the jumps?They are the basis for everything. Including jumps, because figures teach you body control, they help the development of coordination and physical strength. When you stay 3 hours a day on one foot, and then 3 hours on the other, it’s just necessary. And what about the quad? Two seasons in a row the world champion doesn’t have that jump in his programmes. Not that many tried one in the short or free at TEB.Adam is now working on the quad, he wants to do that jump. That’s why he had a foot the foot injury I already mentioned. But after he recovered we started working on it again. I think you must try to master it. In my opinion, it should be given more points. This season the competition in men’s field is greater than ever. In your opinion, who has a better chance for the Olympic gold?There are a lot of competitors. I think the winner will be one of Joubert, Lysacek, Chan, Lambiel, Takahashi, Plushenko. Weir can get a medal. If they all skate short programmes at the same level, we will see a huge fught in the long programme.
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Post by leana on Oct 23, 2009 23:58:04 GMT 1
Below is a translation of the TV interview dated 21 October that Stephane gave for the Pardonne-moi channel at TSR.
-Stephane Lambiel, Good afternoon
-Good afternoon
-You are the one who comes back. It’s been some time now that this label is on you
-Yes, already (smiles)
-You stopped competing in October 2008, that is, exactly one year ago. And now you are already attacking the season, ahead there are the Swiss Nationals, and then the Olympics. What are your spirits?
-At the moment, everything is OK, the season started very well. In September I passed the qualification for the Games, and now it’s physical conditioning and trainings on ice, and all of it - just for one ultimate goal - Vancouver in February.
-You are awaited over there. No doubt, in Oberstdorf and Saitama you had to make your proofs. Have you managed to do it?
-Yes. I was ready. I was ready by the beginning of the season, which started too early, of course. If compared with the previous seasons, I had never competed that early, but my preparation before the competition was really good this year. Given that, I did a very good performance in Oberstdorf. The objective was to perform well, to get qualified, but to obtain good results too. Psychologically, this first successful competition added to my confidence.
-Wasn’t it frightening? In fact, you had no right to an error. When you come back and fail, this is awful
-Well, I view it differently. First, I come back because this sport is my passion, second, because this is a challenge. I face an enormous challenge, it’s obvious. There is a fear, but whether I will succeed or not – I do it for myself, above all. This is a way to build myself, to fight with myself, and I think it is awesome. You may fail, but you are doing it, you are making an effort, running a risk. I have always enjoyed taking a risk. I am a two time world champion, but it doesn’t mean that I need to be satisfied with it. Now that I am healthy, it’s time to dash forward!
-Now that we are over with this subject, let’s speak about what you have been doing during the year since after you retired. Occasionally, you were disappearing from radars. There was a mystery around you, specifically, in what you were doing. You had an amazing experience, for example, you worked as a stock-keeper for some time. Your rivals, your friends with whom you compete, have you read what they said about you?
-Frankly, I haven’t read anything and have no idea what they said
-Mean words. Do you want me to read a few statements? Brian Joubert: «I doubt he is capable of coming back. He has always had huge difficulties with 3A.” This is kind of your friend. Plushenko was even more spiteful. In his opinion, you wanted to take a one year’s break and just pretended to retire. Did you hear about that?
-No, I didn’t. It makes me smile, though. Everyone has his own weapons.
- Obviously, it’s a psychological attack
-I believe hard work pays off. In any case, this is what I was always taught. My parents taught me to work hard, and this is my way of fighting, through work, making a proof of what you are capable of. I believe hard work is the best way to win the Olympics.
-Philippe Candeloro was the most spiteful of all. He said: “I’m being skeptical. With Lambiel, everything is a question of motivation. One day he gets up in the morning and he wants to continue, the next day he gets fed up with everything and quits. When you quit and then come back, it affects your performance».
-I see
-Are you somewhat freaky?
-Yes, I think I am somewhat freaky. I have many facets, and I am freaky, for sure. Life is not just roses. We want things to move on, to function. When it’s functioning, we want the results. It’s clear. I think I am more mature now which makes it that my wishes are now stronger. I may have to look for another solution, though.
-You are now more mature, how do you mean? Have you changed?
-I have learnt a lot of new things. Due to my injury, I had to learn to listen to my body. In fact, this health problem is functional. It’s my position of pelvis that constantly encourages irritation at the level of adductors. This is something internal. I had to work hard at the position of my pelvis, at the position of my torso muscles. I had to control it and eventually it appears that you are trying to ...
-to take command of your body
-yes, take command of my body
-show it to us. The left adductors, are they there? Is it the inside of your thigh?
-In real fact, it’s the place where muscles get attached to pelvis, pubic area. I think this injury affected my spirits too. There’s a need to control yourself, control your pain, learn to put up with it, clenching the teeth
-Is it very painful when it’s painful?
-Yes, when it’s painful, it’s very painful
-When you are on scene, on ice, do you feel pain?
-I feel it. At competitions, when the nerves are at edge, I feel less of it, but it’s there
-There’s a phenomenon that is known and spoken by actors, for example, who say that when you go out onto the scene, adrenalin subdues pain
-I believe it’s the same with me when I am on ice. It does not so much affect the trainings, as my trainings are long, and when you spend an hour and a half on the ice, you just can’t but feel pain, it’s clear. However, during your performance that lasts 4 minutes, and when you are in fear, you just don’t have time to listen to your body and say to yourself: It’s painful, it’s painful, it’s painful! You must show what you can do.
-You took a decision to stop competing. Apparently, there was a time when you could no longer bear it. When was it? What was the moment when you knew your body reached the limit?
-I knew it when…when after two days of trainings I could not walk, and at the end of the week I had to…every day I had to do physio therapy, massage, sooth my pain. Every day, across numerous months, I took anti-flammatories, and one day I said to myself: What’s the point of continuing if it’s so much painful? And then I took a decision to put an end to that period which was a waste of time, in real fact.
-How did you take that decision? Was there a specific moment?
-In fact, I went to see a doctor in Munich. I often went there, sometimes from the USA, sometimes from Switzerland. Frankly, last time when I was in Munich and received infiltrations, I was encouraged. I was told that everything would eventually be OK. However, when I returned to the ice and saw that there were no changes for the better – and that was after 5 or 6 trips to Munich – I lost heart and finally said to myself: I take all these efforts and there’s no result, the pain is the same.
-And then you disappeared for the whole year. We, no longer saw you that much, the public no longer saw you that much. What were you doing?
-Above all, I dropped the burden and took a two months’ pause. I never put on my skates. I did physio therapy and took care of my health
-This is incredible. When you are in figure skating since…since when?
-Since 7.
-So to say, a convict in sequins. And suddenly, you are freed, what were the emotions?
-There was a freedom. How to explain…I took a break and said to myself: Take care of yourself, of your health. I took a pause so that later, without any pressure, I could decide on what to do in the future. In December, little by little, I started to skate again. Physically, I was already feeling better, I no longer had that much of pain, and I began to perform in shows, especially so that I had always enjoyed performing in shows, before the audience that wanted to see me.
-You travelled a lot, you were in Japan, and must have been in Asia a number of times
-I travelled a lot, I was lucky to go to Japan, South Korea. I had a tour in Canada, and performances here in Europe. I travelled extensively and those trips gave me a lot – more on a personal plan, though.
- You are young, you have some money, and you had plenty of freedom. Did you take the better of that period?
-During the year, I was profiting from my passion, that is, I was lucky to make some money while doing my favorite sport, I was lucky to travel, and the money - I use it now in the Olympic season.
-How do you relax, take profit of your spare time? For example, you used to like good food. What has always surprised me was the way you speak about food, outside of an interview. It’s curious. It’s clear you do not overdo with it, but you like it.
-I like good food, like to make dishes, I am curious to know what they consist of. In my family, since I am of a Portuguese origin, we enjoy cooking, and like good food. So I took it over from my family. As for my Swiss origin, I owe it my love for produce from the land
-When Stephane Lambiel is at home, what dishes does he make? -He makes everything, really! What do I like in particular? If I need to make something very quickly, then it’s the Mexican food. You can never spoil it. Everyone puts in it what he has and the result is good. By the way, my friends find it amusing, because cooking this dish takes minimal time, and even under stress, you never spoil it. Apart from that, there is a plenty of recipes from my mother. I have a little note-book where I put them down. Sometimes I call her to ask what else needs to be added to a dish.
-What did you lack across this year? There were no competitions, no cries “Bravo”, In any case, they were not that intensive. What were you lacking?
-Honestly, I lacked nothing.
-Come on, this is terrible what you are saying. How do you mean?
-Yes, I spent a wonderful year. There were no competitions, it’s true, but firstly, I recovered, and this is the most important thing to note, and secondly, I learned a lot and made some money.
-So, no downer mood or something? You have the spirit of a fighter. I remember one of your extraordinary formulations. You once said to me that you liked to “screw off heads”
-Really? Did I say it?
-Yes, you said it
-Well, OK. Sometimes, I say lots of rubbish
-When you find yourself outside of the battle, isn’t it demobilizing?
-In any case, you are alone on the ice. When I got out onto the ice in Oberstdorf, I said to myself: At the end of the day, it’s not important who your rivals are. You are alone on the ice. You are confronting yourself. If you want to prove anything, it’s time to do it now, and not later, in a locker-room.
-We have spoken about your health, about how you made some money. You told me a little bit about your character. And in what way have you changed as regards your morals? You are 24 now. When does the life in figure skating come to an end, approximately?
-I don’t know. I think it depends on the health condition of an individual.
- In what way have you changed, to put it shortly?
- I haven’t changed.
-Many people are curious to know more about your relationship with the others. Will you stick to the line adopted in the past? Has nothing changed?
- Nothing has changed. Every day I learn something new, I work hard, this is the key
- As I said already, occasionally, there’s a mystery around you. Out of a sudden you disappear. Thus, there was an astounding piece of news referring to your work experience as a stock-keeper for a few months, right? At least, for a few weeks you had worked as a menial worker
-It was a long time ago
-Still, it’s bizarre, being in the public eye and keeping secrets to yourself.
- It does you good. We all have secrets, and after all, it was a great experience, I worked with wonderful people. That environment differs a lot from that of a skating rink, and that experience was very useful for me
-What did you do there, exactly?
-Well, I was in charge of the shelves
- Was it the sorting, arranging pullovers, this sort of stuff?
- Yes. I was arranging it, and it was great, I enjoyed it. I wasn’t doing it for long, so I didn’t … I don’t like routine, but I wasn’t there long enough, so it didn’t feel routine to me. I don’t know if I could stand it for long, but I enjoyed what I was doing
-You are also reticent as regards your private life, and, as you know, many people are being curious. Is there still a block?
- Yes.
-Do you believe you can keep it a secret for long?
-Sure. My name is not Paris Hilton. I hope to be on the first page of sports editions, and to perform for the public.
-There are German-speaking people who are not that far away, you know, paparazzi, pictures, night clubs, etc. Don’t you think you that at some stage you would need to uncover some part of your private life? In general terms but people are curious to know family situation of their colleagues, of public people. You well know that! Do you think it’s possible to continue saying for a long time: “No, this subject is closed”?
-Of course, I do.
-I feel you are intransigent. No compromise?
- No! There’s no question of it. It has nothing to do with… My name was already used once in the pages of the «People». I don’t like, I don’t follow yellow press, so what far? I don’t adhere to it.
-At the same time, you must have seen the women who are in love with you. It’s amazing. You must have opened Google and typed « Stephane Lambiel», in quotes. This is very impressive, really, the sites of girls who write love letters to you. I guess you receive this kind of mail, don’t you?
-I receive lots of letters, and I appreciate it that I can share with others my love for the people, for the public that comes to my performances, to the competitions. I love these moments. When I am on the ice, I give myself away to the public. I am not anxious for the points, but I am anxious to give myself away to the people who come to see me and who are interested in figure skating and want a distraction. I think today people are more and more in need of entertainments, of changing their environment. They want to relax, to switch off, and here I am –just to give them the maximum of what they wish for.
- There were extreme cases, for example, when the Japanese girls arrived by plane to see you, it wasn’t long ago
-There were many of them
- Yes. Is there something that deeply penetrates you? You must keep the letters that come out of the lot?
-There is a plenty of small things that are made with love. Even now in my kitchen there’s a garland made of a thousand of origami. It’s incredible. Someone was making that garland for several hours, thinking about me. There was also a letter from that person saying that at the moment he had finished making the garland, he knew he had fulfilled his resolution. I received it, and there was so much energy in it! This is really touching.
-Do you know of any of your fans who get older along with you? You’ve been a celebrity for many years, you are 24 now, and you’ve been in sport for a long time. An average female fan of Stephane Lambiel, how old is she?
-All ages, really. For example, today I was very much surprised, because in Vernets [name of the skating rink] where we skate, there’s a girl who skates too along with me, she must be 14-15, and it’s been years already since I skate there, and it’s been years since she is there too. She can see me every day. I remember, during the first year of our skating on this ice, she asked for a photo. And today she came up to me again and asked if she could have a picture with me, although we well know and see each other every day. “May I take a picture with you?”, and added: «Your quad is awesome». I was very much pleased. I love it.
-What is rather striking about you is that you are a great artist as compared to many other skaters who are more technicians. Everyone knows it; you have a genuine talent of an artist. How do you nourish it? Because, life it’s not just sport.
-As for the sporting side of it, this is just a desire to win, be stronger which necessitates lots of physical conditioning, be in shape. As for the artistic side, it’s to be anxious for all sorts of inspirations. I listen to lots of music, I love to go to ballets; when I travel, I normally show interest in performances that are on in town, and I like everything - be it a piece of classics or something much lighter – I take interest in it all, I want to see it; even if there’s something I dislike, its aftertaste may be used later.
-How do you do the selection? Do you take notice of something you may like and decide to take it or..? How does it happen that while watching a performance or listening to the music you say to yourself: “Yes, it’s interesting for me”?
-I don’t use things I like directly. For example, when I listen to the music, I don’t say to myself: Oh! I want this music. But there may be a certain speech, a certain instrument that I find appealing. And I think: This instrument may well be of interest. Also, as much as I can, I listen to lots of different things. For example, if it’s violoncello that I take interest in, then I listen to many different concertos for violoncello. If, for instance, you are watching a performance of a choreographer or a dancer, you say to yourself: I want to see his other things, his previous performances staged earlier –it’s like this.
-The forthcoming competitions are the Swiss Nationals in Lugano in December and then the Olympics. Do you say to yourself: “And what if I fail?” Do you leave a room for such a possibility?
-I do not think about this possibility
- You’ve started well, of course
-But no doubt, this may happen to anyone
-The sportsmen who returned in the past had a poor comeback – Martina Higgins, Biern Borg. Do you hope it’ll be different for you?
-I hope I will do well, but honestly, the very route that you make while getting ready for the Olympics, it’s something incredible. Of course, it’s great to mount the podium, but the very route, the preparation itself is as magnificent an experience. You fight with your own self, you get up early in the mornings – it is not easy –you go to the skating rink, do 3As and quads; you fall, it hurts, and despite this, the next day you go there again. You go there again and make efforts, and this is great; and on top of it, you feel happy as you are surrounded by the people who are out there for you, who support you. I can only say them Thank you for it, for them being patient, for their support. And in the end, if everything turns out well, I will be happy and merit reward, if not – the same, the same.
-Is there something that excites you? The Americans, for example, use a manual with columns where you can make notes. For example, on that day at 7:15 I was really excited because I was doing that particular thing. And how is it with you? When do you say to yourself: I love it?
-One day it may be at 7:15, another day – at midday.
-What is it comparable with? Is it smth similar to winning a championship? What is it that excites, agitates you?
-Plenty of things. When something goes wrong, you must laugh, because ultimately, later on, you understand that it’s just a moment, a moment that is left. Even if there’s something negative happening, you will be laughing later.
-I see you still have this wrist lace, what is it? Has it anything to do with one of your resolutions?
-This is just a razor. In case, If (kidding)
- If the worst comes to the worst (kidding)
-Yes, if the worst comes to the worst
-You used to be very superstitious. You had quite a few medallions around your neck
-Just this one now -Ah! a believer, excuse me. Has it always been with you? Do you always wear it?
-Yes.
-What’s the extent to which you use it, thinking about it before a competition?
-I never think about it. It’s just my belief, an opportunity to charge batteries with God. And it is marvelous
-And self-belief too. You were said to have megalomania. That was when you spoke about yourself in the 3rd person. You said amazing things: «Before getting out onto the ice, I take a breath, I get out there and say to myself: I am Stephane Lambiel”. Beautiful!
-(laughs). As I already said, in the past I said lots of things. When you are interviewed, occasionally you are beside yourself and say rubbish.
-Is it still stressful for you to give an interview?
-Yes, it’s a stress, of course, for me
-After so many years!
-I’d prefer to perform for you. If next time there were a small skating rink here, I’d rather perform.
-What can I wish you?
-Health. And I wish you lots of happiness and health too
-Thank you. Good luck
-Thank you
-A lucky season
-Superb! Thank you.
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