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Post by leana on Apr 20, 2009 16:00:48 GMT 1
Thanks for the translations, girls. It's quite informative and easy to read-)))
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audrey
ASified
we miss you and love you so much..
Posts: 148
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Post by audrey on May 5, 2009 17:25:37 GMT 1
As Reut asked to me, here is one translation "copie-and-paste" of the interview on the radio.Here is the link : sport.rhonefm.ch/fr/interview/stephane-lambiel_369-20416 It's not ended yet, but soon :)Enjoy ! "* Stéphane Lambiel, Hello !-S : - Hello * You're coming back from Los Angeles, a few days ago now, you attented worldchampionships ; which feeling to be not on the ice, but in the stands ?S : - well, I was pleased to be back with my skating's family in LA, and to see the feats of Anaïs Morant and Antoine Dorsat (sorry for the spelling..), it was their first WSC that they succeeded because they ended 12th ; and Sarah Meyer, who fought well and who was able to end in the 10 first ones ; so I was proud of swiss delegation and as the same time happy to be among mondial skating's family again. I missed that and I miss competition a lot, then I wanted to see again this "world" and.. follow the competition in a different way.. * You wanted to put back skates for the competition or not at all ?S :- Well, I have the possibility to skate everyday, and I have a lot of pleasure in the training : make the programs, work the new choreographies for the exhibitions and to prepare me.... ..for all the tours I have to do now.. So, it's clear that i miss competition, this is another thing, competition's adrenalin is not the same that exhibition's one...but, I think I made a fresh start, and, finally in exhibitions, I can also express me like I want to, and I have a lot of pleasure. "* there was many speculations, headlines in newspapers : the comeback of stephane Lambiel in Los Angeles ! : was it true? was it wrong? What was these stories about comeback ?S : - I heard some rumours, but unfortunately....you're out of luck .. ;D * Those who believed in it are out of luck... S: - yes, those who believed in it are out of luck ;D, it was not me who start these rumours, so...there has never been real plan of return in the competition. For the momentt there are only exhibitions planned in my schedule, and physically I have no means to return to the compet'. I can train one hour a day, but no more, and for compet' you have really to work 3 -4 hours a day to be on the top of world hierarchy.. * In the same registern we heard, in a sure way, as you are always followed by controllers of Swiss Olympic for the doping, to avoid waiting one year if you come back : so..it's possible that one day, we see you on an ice rink for competition ? maybe Vancouver ?S: -Sincerely, the answer today is NO ; physically I 've not "the keys" to train as I should to be a Olympic champion in Vancouver, so..it's not in my plans...today..but physically..., why not? in some month I can think about it IF physically, I feel better, I would like do it again, but today I can't.. I can't guarantee that I'll come back seeing that physically, I can't train, I feel not better..that's all. * But, you don't work with doctors in this sense, this is not your objective :return to the competition ?S : -No No, not at all. Well, I have treatments to feel better, physically, but we're not working to prepare me for JO, no.. * So, what is Stéphane Lambiel doing actually ? S: - a whole series of exhibitions all around the world : Japan, South Korea, Canada..are following..and...I'll meet again my supporters all around the world.. * What do you present in exhibitions? What is the Stephane Lambiel's program?S : - well, actually, I have 3 programs for exhibition. The first is the one which I had to do this year in competition : the tango with a lot of punch and character, also very depressive ( ) with a lot of emotions, tragedy.. It's an emotional program.. then, I always have my Romeo's program which I love, I love show it to the public, because that's really ME, and I can express me..yes, it's a lot of romanticism, this is very close to me, and then I have a program which is more "jazzy" with a Paul Young's music : "tainted love", and it's much more the "piano-bar spirit" : end of evening, with a drink, you want to relax.. It's perfect for the show.. * When you speak about these programs, we feel..your eyes which shine, passion is here.. This is what we miss in competition, where all is very technical actually..S : - It's true, actually the competition is very technical : we can see a lot of jumps, a lot of complicated elements..I think that it must be hard to understand for the public: what represent concretely this total of points which we receive at the end of our program ? But I think that skating is above all a show sport, an artistic sport, and we have to advance the creation, the choreography, try to give a message, and I think that some still skaters manage to do this. During the week in LA I was able to feel emotions with some of them., and I hope we 'll continue, well.. people who want to give a message on the ice will continue to do this and will continue to work in this sense. And part 4 is coming soon
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Post by pia on May 5, 2009 20:36:53 GMT 1
Thank you very much Audrey! He speaks so nicely.....
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Post by ageha on May 6, 2009 17:51:57 GMT 1
Here is a translation of an interview article from Figure Skate Days Vol. 9 published in April in Japan. All the stuff in parenthesis are interviewer's notes.
Special Interview - Jeffrey Buttle & Stephane Lambiel
--- On the first day of Stars on Ice in Tokyo, Stephane and Jeff arrive at the interview room after practice, smiling. Stephane sees a copy of Figure Skate Days Menfs Single on the table, picks it up and starts flipping through the pages.
Jeff (J): (Pointing at a photo) Is this Yamato Tamura?
--- Yes.
J: What is he doing now?
--- He coaches, and sometimes skates in some shows in Japan.
J: Oh, he is a coach.
--- Do you remember him?
J: Of course. We were in the same competitions a couple of times.
--- (Both are looking through the book) The book is in Japanese. Can you read it?
J: Itfs fine, because Ifm looking at the pictures (laughs). There are so many young skaters.
Stephane (S): (Looking at the junior skaters pages) Are these all junior skaters?
--- Yes.
S: There are sooo many of them.
J: Oh, thatfs Kensuke Nakaniwa.
--- Do you know him, too? He is probably older than you.
J: Hmm, I thought we were the same agec (Nakaniwa is a year older than Jeff)
S: Is he still skating?
--- Yes.
S: Wow, thatfs great.
--- Letfs start the interview. Do you both remember when you first met?
(Jeff and Stephane look at each other and ponder)
J: The first timec
S: I do remember that Jeff was at the Junior Worlds, in Sofia.
J: Yes, Sofia. (00-01 season)
S: But we may have met before that, maybe at the Junior Grand Prix?
J: Junior Grand Prix? Which ones did you compete in?
S: I think I was in the Cup of China, andc
J: Which year?
S: Hmmm, Beijing, in ninetyc ummm, seven, no, eight? It was the second Jr. GP for me, and the first one was in Saint Gervais in France.
J: Oh yeahc Saint Gervaisc
S: Saint Gervais, then it was Beijing. (Actually it was the 98-99 season)
J: I wasnft in that one. I was in the one in Harbin (00-01 season). The Jr. Worlds for that year was in Sofia, so we didnft compete together in the Jr. GP. So I canft figure out where we first met (laughs).
S: I canft remember either (laughs). The oldest memory I can remember is the Worlds in Sofia. But I canft remember Jefffs performance from that competition (grins). Was it a good performance? For me, my short was good but the free was not good.
J: My free was good, but short was bad (grins).
S: So we donft remember about each other.
J: Yeah, I donft know when we first met, but we have competed in the same competitions many many times, so now we are friends.
--- In this Stars on Ice production, you skate together to g240 Million Eyes.h
J: Okusenman, thatfs right. This number makes me so nervous, because I donft really know the melody or the words to the song.
S: I was very shocked. I had never imagined myself skating to this song (since I donft know the song), right? But after the choreography was set, Jeff and I skated with just the two of us, and I thought, gI think this will work.h Although, at first, we didnftf know how or in which direction to skate.
J: Yeah, itfs a lot of fun skating. The choreographer made us look like we are fighting, which is funny, too.
S: Itfs also fun to dance while seeing the reactions from the audience. We can see that they are enjoying it very much, so itfs become a very special program for us, too.
--- It is a very famous song in Japan.
S: I thought so, because when we first skated this program in Osaka, there were standing ovations.
J: Yeah, that was surprising.
S: The best one was the second day, wasnft it?
J: Yeah.
S: The best one was when the TV camera was in. I think we were in very good sync.
Decision for Retirement from Competitive Skating
--- When you first heard of each otherfs retirement, what were your first thoughts?
J: It was after Stephane and I had finished a show in Italy together.
--- In Milan?
S: Yes, in Milan. (Golden Skate Award 2008 on October 11)
J: We were in the same show, and then I learned of Stephanefs retirement. Stephane had been fighting for a long time with very good performances. I had been fighting with him too, so I know how hard he worked and devoted himself to skating. So I felt that I wanted to honor his decision.
S: I think that Jeff finished his career up to retirement in a very good way. (Jeff smiles) He made it to the top, then retired. If it was possible, I too wanted to retire like that, like a happy ending. But, all the skaters do not necessarily have the same life (and therefore do not have the same ending). We both achieved wonderful careers. So I can understand his retirement very well, and feel proud of Jeff and myself. I am 23, and Jeff is twentyc (looks at Jeff)
J: 26.
S: 26, and we have competed together for a long time since we were young. To continue fighting is difficult unless you have some really really fresh feelings. Also, figure skating is very much a sport for young people. So, for both his retirement and my retirement, (says the French equivalent of grespecth to Jeff, and Jeff teaches him grespecth in English) I respect them.
--- Did people around you disagree and say you should not stop?
J: I think that everyone respected my decision and everyone agreed with me. They understood how hard it is to continue this sport (as a competitive skater). Once the season starts, itfs competitions after competitions, and a repetition of travelling and nervousness.
--- But didnft your mom disagree?
J: Oh (grins), she did not disagree, but it was more like --- and I think any mom would think this way --- gIs this truly the right decision for me, and what I want?h (Stephane makes a big nod)
S: When I retired, everyone around me supported my decision too. Retirement was not an easy decision. But everyone knew that it took me 7 months to come to this decision, and that it was not easy. The conditions with my injury had not been good. But everyone knew that I was trying hard to treat my injury. So once I made my decision, they supported me very much.
New Perspectives as Professional Skaters
--- What do you think is the best thing of becoming a professional skater?
J: Hmmc thatfs difficultc maybe two thingsc First, itfs very free.
S: Yeah, thatfs right.
J: For instance, for choreography, we can listen to the music and then express how we feel directly to skating.
S: Yes, itfs very free.
J: When we were competing, there is a required time duration, and there are so many elements that need to be done within the time limit, so there was very little room for doing things freely. Of course, I had felt it when I was competing, but now that I am not competing, I feel it much stronger than before.
S: Thatfs right. To put it more easily, if I thought, gI want to do a 10-minute program,h then I can do it. If I wanted to slowly raise my arm and then lower it, I can do it, because there is sooooooooooo muuuuuuch time. (Stephane slowly raises his right arm, and lowers it slowly while drawing an arc. Then, Jeff also moves his right arm slowly in sync with Stephane) If I wanted to do something very crazy, I can do that too.
J: Yeah, we can do anything.
S: We can open our heart, and express the way we feel. I think we are probably feeling the same thing. I think we feel now more than before, that we can feel the atmosphere of skating for the audience and express it in that dayfs program. Thatfs how I felt, from skating with Jeff here.
J: Can I continue with my earlier thoughts? Since I just said my first point (grins).
S: OK.
J: The second good thing about becoming a professional skater... When we were skating at a competitive level, we were aiming toward our own individual goals. I was aiming at my own goal, aiming to win. But in shows, especially in shows on a tour, everyone feels that they want to make it a good show.
S: And every time, you have contacts with many skaters, and talk about what kind of show you are going to make. In competitions, you meet many skaters too, but you are concentrating only on yourselfc
J: Like, if your program is going to be clean, and how your jumps are going to be, and so on.
--- Then, you are more comfortable in shows?
J: Yes, maybe. Shows might be better.
S: For me, I felt comfortable in competitions too. Shows and competitions are in very different worlds, and I like them both. In competitions I am in the mood to become a fighter and fight, and in shows I am in the mood to show a good performance.
J: If you put it that way, I can say I felt comfortable in competitions too.
--- Do you ever miss those comfortable feelings from competitions?
J: (Laughing) No. I feel from the bottom of my heart that I have already fought as much as I could. Honestly, I got a world title as a competitor, and I can skate in shows. That is a very happy thing. Competitive period is already in my past. When competitions are coming up, there is a lot of stress and I get nervous, and I would think, gSo what am I skating for?h (grin)
S: Yes, yes.
J: But then Ifd go to the competition and give a good performance, then Ifd remember, gOh yeah, this is the reason why I skate, to give a performance like this.h (laughs) But since I felt that way in competitions, now I think I am skating to give good performances. I no longer need competitions.
S: Me too, I never feel like I miss the competitions, since I know that we have spent very good time (as competitive skaters). There are so many skaters in the world, and many of them are aiming to become what we have achieved, like world champions and Olympic medalists. But not everyone can have that. But we were able to achieve those things. As competitive skaters, we were able to spend good times. That is why I donft miss the competitive years.
Purpose is in the Process, Not in the Medals
--- Looking back, what do you think were the most important requirements in becoming world champions and Olympic medalists?
J: Those who are considered good skaters, I think most of them have talent in skating. But they donft take their talent for granted. They set their goals and work towards that goalc by practicing, and focusingc I think.
S: You need not only talent, continuous practice, and people that surround you like your coach, but also you canft do it without your supportive parents and other people who support you. Figure skating is a very expensive sport, so I could not have come this far without them. But the most important thing is to have passion in skating.
J: Yes, thatfs right.
S: If you like skating, itfs easy to have passion for it.
--- Where do you keep the many medals you have won?
J: There is a wooden box that a fan made for me, so keep them in there.
--- Is the box large enough to contain all of your medals?
J: No. I lost my medals from when I was a child (grins). When I was young, even if I won a medal in a competition, I would lose it on my way home. As a child I used to lose a lot of things (laughs).
S: Hahaha. I can understand (how you can lose a medal). I just remembered now, that one year, after the Swiss Nationals, I put my gold medal securely in my suitcase pocket and took it home. Then, a year later, I took out that suitcase to go to Swiss Nationals, and it was like, gWhoa, there is a medal in here from last year!h (laughs)
--- Why do you forget about medals? Do medals have no value?
S: They do have value. But, ummmc
J: They have a meaning, more than a value.
S: Right.
J: That you practiced hard to get that medal, and that you did well in a competition as a result.
S: More than the medals themselves, I think what is more important is the memory of things like your practice and passions and happiness.
--- Did you do anything in Japan during the 4 days in between the shows in Osaka and Tokyo?
S: We did many things.
J: Yes. We went golfing, um, to Tsukuba. All the skaters went to Tsukuba, then we climbed Mt. Tsukuba. There was a cable car, so we used that. We could see Mt. Fuji from there. We did other things too, like shopping. It was fun.
S: I went shopping too. I bought this nice jacket (holds his collar with both hands).
J: Oh, you bought this in Japan! (Touches the jacket)
S: Yes, 2 days ago. I had never been to Roppongi Hills, so I went there, and bought this jacket. Tokyo Midtown was also very cute and a nice place. I went to Omotesando too.
J: Oh yeah, Omotesando.
--- Jeff, what were you doing while Stephane was in Roppongi?
J: Hmmmc Ifm not surec Maybe I was hanging out in the hotel (grins).
--- After the interview, we asked for a photo shoot. Jeff and Stephane made the first and last poses from the g240 Million Eyesh program. The whole interview was held with many smiles, with each of them nodding to each otherfs comments. Both skaters left a strong impression of having their eyes set on their new goals.
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Post by reut on May 6, 2009 18:06:02 GMT 1
ageha, thank you very much! Few very interesting points there (though Stephane should decide once if he misses competitions or not ) and indeed interviewers took it to the interesting direction that Steph and Jeff have a lot in common and these were like questions to both of them.
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Post by estephania on May 6, 2009 18:31:12 GMT 1
Here is a translation of an interview article from Figure Skate Days Vol. 9 published in April in Japan. Special Interview - Jeffrey Buttle & Stephane Lambiel--- On the first day of Stars on Ice in Tokyo, Stephane and Jeff arrive at the interview room after practice, smiling. Stephane sees a copy of Figure Skate Days Menfs Single on the table, picks it up and starts flipping through the pages. Thanks a lot for making the effort and investing so much time to translate this very long and interesting interview from Japanese into English, dear ageha ! This episode made my really laugh too . - so nice to see them having had such a good time together. Hope they will have more of those during Stars on Ice in Canada in the next few days!
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Post by elanor on May 6, 2009 18:58:07 GMT 1
ageha, thank you for this interview. It was so interesting for me to read. I love, love Jeffrey and Stephane, they are amazing people and skaters. And very thoughtful. They forgot about their medals . I had a chance to see Jeff live last month and it was fantastic. I wish they collaborated on some more projects, they seem to be in the same zone and have a lot to say.
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Post by reut on May 6, 2009 20:13:13 GMT 1
This part was a bit sad for me. Because I thought about it a lot too. Maybe one of the most sad things about Stephane's retirement was that he retired then, after not successful Worlds...
But I really love how Stephane deals with this. He is not ignoring, he knows, understands and accepts this. This is great.
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Post by pia on May 6, 2009 21:08:14 GMT 1
I am glad that you translated this interview ageha! It's so charming and cute how they speak! I enjoyed it a lot!
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Post by meli on May 6, 2009 21:44:51 GMT 1
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Post by schnaddel on May 6, 2009 22:13:03 GMT 1
Thank you, thank you, thank you ageha!!! Great!
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Post by lamur muse on May 7, 2009 6:23:24 GMT 1
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Post by leonie on May 7, 2009 8:20:17 GMT 1
Thank you very very much, ageha
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Post by Mel on May 7, 2009 14:20:16 GMT 1
Thank you so much, ageha! interesting interview
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Post by wicked on May 8, 2009 2:16:13 GMT 1
Sometimes I wish that some of Stéphane's fans were as at peace with his retirement as he is. I'm glad for him.
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