Nikolay Kolesnikov is one of the most promising juniors in the Russian figure skating Many remember him from his appearances in the television project “Ice Age. Children,” and he began the current season with bronze at the debut stage of the Russian Junior Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk. In an interview with a Sport correspondent, the young skater spoke about working with famous mentors and communicating with star skaters, and also confessed his love for the Russian language and literature.
“Averbukh seemed to know me since childhood”— Kolya, a stage for you The Junior Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk was the first serious start. Tell us how it went for you?
— Before the start, I was worried, after all, this was my first such serious tournament. In principle, I am pleased with the result. Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done — both on the short program and on the free program. Yes, and there is something to strive for.
— What is the best method for you to deal with anxiety?
— Mom and dad help a lot. If necessary, I can always call them or, if they are nearby, come up to calm me down. And the excitement disappears.
— Do they always go to tournaments with you?
— Usually dad goes. And my mother doesn’t watch my performances live. She is very worried. I used to watch children's competitions, and then I realized that I couldn't do it anymore.
— But when everything ends well, do you call her?
— Yes, definitely. And if it’s not very good, too (laughs).
— Kolya, many remember you from the project “Ice Age. Children”. Do you remember that period yourself?
— Yes, I think it helped me a lot. I grew up there, thank you very much to Ilya Izyaslavovich Averbukh for the fact that throughout the entire project he worked with me there, worked and worked again.
— It wasn’t scary, because there were solid stars all around?
— At first I was worried. But then it was great. Ilya Izyaslavovich immediately felt me, as if he had known me since childhood. It was very easy and cool to work with him.
— Do you review your performances of that time?
— Yes, of course. And in general I watch my performances.
— To remember the sensations?
— So that when something doesn’t work out, to learn lessons. See where the mistake was and correct it.
“I love writing essays”— Do they know at school that you are a figure skater?
— They know (smiles). And the guys come up, and the teachers ask how things are going. It’s very nice, thanks to them.
— At least an A in physical education? And then there are strange cases when athletes are picked on.
— Five (laughs). To be honest, I don’t go to physical education, so I’m probably judged on my performances.
— Is it difficult to combine sports with studies?
— To be honest, no, everything is somehow fun. Lately I have time to read books, and I’m writing something.
— What are you reading now?
— “War and Peace.”
— Wow ! Isn’t it too early to be 14?
— In general, this is a work for the tenth grade, and I’m in the eighth.
— I’ll tell you honestly, in my opinion, it’s not for the tenth grade , but for an adult and experienced person. At school I only mastered the battle scenes.
— Well, maybe it was just a little hard for me at the very beginning.
—Probably because of the mass of footnotes from French phrases.
— Yes, really. But then I read it and imagined the scenes. Now I’m already reading the third volume.
— Have you watched any film adaptations?
— I was thinking about it. But I decided to read it first.
— In general, the question is, what are your favorite subjects at school, rhetorical.
— Russian language and literature. I love writing essays.
— It’s too early to think about it, but if you both read and write, then you have a direct path to journalism after finishing your career.
— We’ll see (laughs).
“There is no goal of gaining a million subscribers”< strong>— During the New Year holidays, you performed in the show “The Wizard of Oz” as Totoshka along with Evgenia Medvedeva, who played Dorothy. Did you like talking to her?
— When I found out that I would participate in this fairy tale, I was worried, I had never had such experience, and also perform with Zhenya… But already at the first rehearsal I calmed down, Zhenya suggested something to me, and taught me the dance. She is very cool to work with.
— Isn't she stellar?
— No-no! We just talked so much with her, Zhenya is very sincere.
— Did you take a photo with her?
— Of course, with Zhenya and Misha Kolyada. Yes, with almost everyone who was there. And he took autographs as souvenirs.
— You yourself, although very young, are already a popular athlete. Do you feel it?
— People write a lot on social networks, they are always very supportive, even if something doesn’t work out. I love all my subscribers, thank you very much. I try to answer.
— How many of them do you have?
— Six thousand, it seems.
— Well, Alexandra Trusova has a lot to strive for up to a million.
— Well, you compared (laughs). And, to be honest, I don’t have such a goal.
— What is it?
— To win the Olympics. And win all the other titles.
— There are athletes who say that titles are secondary, it’s more important to make bright programs, be remembered by the public, share energy with them.
— This is for me too, of course , important. But the Olympic Games are the main goal for me.
— Which of the big champions are your idols?
— Of course, I really like Mark Kondratyuk, with whom I train together, and also Kamila Valieva, Alexandra Trusova, Anna Shcherbakova. On the international stage, I really like Yuzuru Hanyu and Nathan Chen.
— Can you learn something from them for yourself?
— As a child, I turned on their videos every day and tried to spy on something, Yes, I watch it a lot now too. Of course, I adopt something good.
— Some of the stars in your childhood, perhaps, inspired you to become a figure skater?
— As my mother told me, I watched some world championship on TV and said: “I want to go to the ice too!” She took me — and I went almost immediately.
— Without the “penguin”?
— Yes. I was taken to the ballet group of the theater on ice, I skated there for two years, then they told me that I needed to move to the sports group.
— That's where your artistry comes from — from the children's ballet group.
— Probably something left from there.
— Most skaters say that what they like most is jumping.
— I love sliding and spinning, but jumping is probably my favorite element too. I remember how little I came after training and at home I just jumped, jumped, jumped…
— And what did the neighbors downstairs say?
— (laughs) At first, it seems to me that they they were furious with the noise. But then you kind of got used to it.
— Before joining Svetlana Sokolovskaya’s group, you studied with Eteri Tutberidze. Is it possible to somehow compare their work?
— Of course, I am very grateful to Eteri Georgievna and the entire coaching staff for working with me. But it is very difficult to compare, the difference is in almost everything. I really liked working with Svetlana Vladimirovna from the first day and still like it.
— Many skaters who work with her admit: she is like a family member.
— There is such a feeling. She can also suggest something in life’s issues, she even happens to be a doctor, she gives very valuable advice.
— You had a period when you did not perform due to a serious injury. Is he behind?
— The main thing is behind us. There was a very long break, I missed seven or eight months. After such a pause, it was very difficult to come back.
— What was the nature of the injury?
— There were problems with my knees. And very serious, so we were very happy about the very fact of returning, because everything was very unpredictable in terms of recovery.
— How did you try not to lose your presence of mind during this difficult period?
— Both my parents and Svetlana Vladimirovna were very supportive. They said that we will overcome everything. And I believed that everything would be fine.
— Well, you have the first medal of the Russian junior Grand Prix stage. The Olympics are still a long way off. What are the next goals?
— For this season, my goal is to complete the triple axel. I have already jumped on it, but it is still damp. I want to start jumping it in the program. And I really want to learn a new quadruple. I have a toe loop and a salchow — I want to add a loop, lutz or flip. If this works out, I will be happy with the season.