By Matteo Morelli | Images by Yoriko Suzuki
Maria Kazakova and Georgy Reviya are a Georgian workforce that has been catching everybody’s consideration ever since, of their junior years, they began to gather vital outcomes that embrace successful the Junior Grand Prix Ultimate in 2019 and a second place end on the Junior World Championships the identical yr. This season, they’ve relocated to Italy to be coached by Matteo Zanni they usually can already see the enhancements as skaters and people. We met with them on the European Championships in Espoo, Finland, and we wish to thank them each for locating time to do that when Reviya was not feeling significantly properly that week.
Maria Kazakova (MK): Sure, it was our second one, however the final one was three years in the past.
Georgy Reviya (GR): We’re feeling good about it. We’re so proud of each programmes contemplating the situation we skated in and what I had, we did properly.
This season you competed at your first Senior Grand Prix occasions (in France and UK). What did you are taking away from these experiences?
GR: Earlier than the Grand Prix, we solely had two months on the ice as a result of I broke my hand. We needed to skip loads of parts due to what I may do. For such a short while making ready, we did loads of work. The Grand Prix was so good, we loved it. This season is a lot better than final yr.
Arising subsequent is the World Championships in Saitama, Japan. What do you wish to obtain there?
GR: As with different competitions, we wish to present our greatest and enhance from our final competitors. We will’t be upset if we get low factors or if one thing occurs, we solely concentrate on our skate now. The factors will come, we have to wait and skate.
Are you able to inform us one thing about your free programme this season? What does it imply for you?
GR: It’s a sensible choice for us, as a result of it’s our model. We didn’t wish to attempt one thing new this season as a result of preparation time was quick. I feel the feelings we present within the programme are so near our lives, however they don’t relate to 1 scenario solely. Some individuals ask us whether it is concerning the conflict, however it isn’t about that actually.
MK: When you really feel this emotion concerning the conflict, or some other emotion, you may take it. Watch our programme and say ‘sure, I really feel the identical emotion on this second in my life’. We wish to present individuals that every particular person has totally different feelings and that this programme will not be about one story solely.
Let’s take a step again and have a look at the way you each approached skating. How previous had been you while you began to skate?
GR: I used to be 4.
MK: And I used to be 5.
Have you ever all the time been ice dancers?
MK: We had been single skaters earlier than. I don’t leap properly, I wanted loads of time to simply accept that single skating was not for me, and I began to ice dance once I was 13.
GR: I began slightly bit earlier! I used to be eleven once I approached ice dance.
You have got been skating collectively since 2017. How did you discover one another?
GR: Masha (quick for Maria) wrote to me! [Laughing] First step from the girl, are you able to imagine it?
Taking a look at your junior profession, the outcomes arrived fairly quick, with vital medals received at totally different competitions.
MK: The most effective second was the final yr as junior, after we mixed some competitions from senior. It was a extremely constructive season. We had loads of competitions, we had been in a good condition and skating situation and we confirmed it. That season was excellent for us.
GR: We got here up very quick throughout that season. We didn’t imagine we may try this within the first competitors of the season the place we bought regular factors, however after that we put the onerous work in and it resulted in an excellent form for us and good programmes to observe. We had been so completely satisfied, we couldn’t imagine we received the (Junior Grand Prix) Ultimate, it was a historic second.
MK: We wish to develop, it’s our objective. Now we have a extremely good workforce now, we’re actually proud of Matteo. He can present us the precise manner for us to develop, he exhibits that to every couple in his workforce. Now we are able to see our alternative, it’s one thing new for us. We get pleasure from our course of: we’re beginning to develop, change our skating abilities, our model and our preparation for competitors. We began to do new issues and after we see that we predict ‘wow, how is it potential’. It’s a good begin for rising as skaters.
Do you wish to share the ice with the opposite groups you’re employed with on the Younger Goose Academy in Egna?
MK: Matteo has actually good individuals in his workforce. He has a pleasant relationship with everybody and all of us take to each other within the group, we assist one another and it’s good.
You relocated to Italy to work with Zanni. Are you having fun with dwelling there?
GR: We work loads, then go house after the apply, eat, relaxation, eat once more, sleep, and repeat!
What do you love to do if you end up not skating?
MK: I like to review and browse. I learn loads, final yr I learn twenty-nine books!
GR: [laughing] I don’t like studying, however when Masha reads it is likely one of the finest moments of the day as a result of she will not be speaking an excessive amount of! I often sit with my laptop, browsing the web and taking part in video video games with my buddies.
If I requested you to consider your finest reminiscence as ice dancers, what would you say that’s?
GR: For me, it was the primary Grand Prix this season.
MK: We began to know that we are able to do it, we’re in a good condition. We had this actually cute second after we had been on the ice ready for the factors of the couple that skated earlier than us: we had been skating collectively, we simply have a look at one another within the eyes and understood that we may do it, that we had been in a greater form than final yr, and we took a step ahead.
GR: Earlier than beginning the rhythm dance, I solely thought that we had been on the precise path and I used to be so completely satisfied. It was due to Matteo, he has given us loads of energy, we really feel his vitality and his feelings.
MK: We modified loads, not simply with our skating but in addition with our mindsets.
GR: With our work with Matteo we really feel able to get to the highest. We have to wait and put the onerous work in, beginning to change our model. We don’t wish to do the identical programme each season.
Is there something you want to conclude this interview with?
GR: Due to everybody. Thank to our federation, to our dad and mom that all the time assist us. And to Matteo, he’s so vital for us.