Alexander Uspenski - "I just try to do my best on the ice."
By Helga
Dobor and Daphne
Heij
Photos by K.
"Bird" N.
Interviewed by the "O&A Sisters"
Sasha Uspenski
is a very promising skater from the "home"
of figure skating, Russia. He is very young but is already
popular among fans and his place on the podium is guaranteed
at every Junior competition he competes in. Sasha wants
to portray himself as a skater who tries to skate beautiful
programs. |
![]() |
My mother didn't participate in any sport herself.
During his schooldays my father was a sprinter. But there
is another skater in our family - my brother, Vladimir who
is 2 years younger than me.
Do you remember your first time on the ice?
Oh, I remember that very well! - laughs. I walked out to the
ice, and there I tripped over my toes and fell down. That
was very painful.
Did you ever think about skating in a different
discipline?
Well, there were just abstract thoughts about ice-dancing,
but it was never a serious matter. Although I used to work
with coaches, who are pair skating specialists, but the idea
of not being a single skater never came to my mind.
Which is your favorite program and why?
I like every program; otherwise I couldn’t skate and
perform them at competitions. But I try to skate better from
season to season, and I think I succeed. So now I can say
that both of this season's programs are my favorites.
What do you want to improve in your skating?
My spins - definitely.
![]() |
How do you prepare
for a new program? How much input do you have in choreography? What is your dream/goal in skating? |
What is your favorite competition and why?
The Junior Grand Prix event of this season in Gdansk was my
favorite, the best competition for me. I skated very well,
my scores were good and I won it!
And what about your best skating memories?
I would mention also the competition in Gdansk.
Where did you skate this year, or where will you
or want to skate?
At the end of November I skated at the Junior Grand Prix Final,
and I will be at Russian Nationals and Russian Junior Nationals.
Most likely, I’ll also go to the Junior Worlds. I wish
I could skate at the Olympics, but it’s very unlikely.
What do you expect from this season?
Nothing special... Time goes on, and we’ll see what
it'll bring.
All your personal bests in the last season were from
the Junior GP in Budapest. What do you think of that competition?
Yes, your words about Budapest are true for the last
season, so I have the warmest memories about that event. My
best personal results of this season are from the Junior GP
in Gdansk.
Who do you think will get the second spot for Russia
at Olympics and Worlds?
I think, it’ll probably be Klimkin or Griazev. I would
love to go to the Olympics, but that’s impossible so
far (laughs).
What do you think of Russian skating overall? Are
you optimistic?
I think Russian figure skating is on an average (mediocre)
level, and it tends neither to improve, nor to get worse.
Could you say something about your coach, Natalia
Dubinskaia and your work with her?
I don’t know what to say - it’s just our joint
work and we try to do our best. We have a very good relationship
so there are no problems..
What
is a typical day look like for you? It’s not an easy day. Where do you study? What is your relationship like with other Russian
skaters?
|
![]() |
Is it the same with skaters from other countries?
Can you be friends in skating at all?
Of course there can be friendships in skating! Talking about
foreign skaters, I would mention, that I have a good relationship
with the Italian junior skaters.
Where do you keep your medals? And which is the most
important for you?
I keep them at home. Some of them - the most important - I
hung up on the wall. They are: my first gold medal from the
National Novice Championships, 3 medals from Poland (gold
medal from Gdansk 2005 and I also have the silver and bronze
medals from there) and the gold medal from Budapest 2004.
Although you're a very young skater you already have
lots of fans. How do you handle the success?
Sasha smiles - I don’t do anything special for that,
I just try to do my best on the ice - I’m happy that
there are people who like my skating.
What is your your relationship with the fans like?
I can’t say that I communicate too much with them -
only if they catch me somewhere at a competition.
![]() |
Do you have any
favorite skaters, who are they? You have a great website. Do you also use the
internet? What is the biggest treasure in your life? |
How could you live without your skates?
It’s more or less possible to live almost without
everything. I could live normally without skates - I would
be a ballet dancer for example.
Without sport?
That also would be ok, but I definitely would keep
myself fit.
Without music?
That would be hard, I love music.
Without credit cards?
It’s not possible to live if you have nothing to support
yourself with.
Without computers?
That would be ok.
Without friends?
That would be extremely hard.
Without dreams?
My dreams are my goals and I’m on my way to reach them.
I don’t know if it’s possible to live without
goals at all.
Which of the above would be the worst?
I think, the worst would be to live without family and friends
and without money for a living
Please associate with one or two words:
Figure skating is ...art
Family is ...very close people to you, who
give love and support to each other.
Friends are ...people close to you, who can
give support and a piece of advice and with whom you can share
things you can’t share with parents.
Money
is ....means subsistence and means help to
achieve your goals. |
![]() |