By Matteo Morelli | Pictures by Yoriko Suzuki
Maria Kazakova and Georgy Reviya are a Georgian crew that has been catching everybody’s consideration ever since, of their junior years, they began to gather essential outcomes that embody 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 effectively 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 pleased with each programmes contemplating the situation we skated in and what I had, we did effectively.
This season you competed at your first Senior Grand Prix occasions (in France and UK). What did you’re 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 numerous components due to what I may do. For such a short while making ready, we did numerous work. The Grand Prix was so good, we loved it. This season is a lot better than final yr.
Developing 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 give attention to 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 good selection for us, as a result of it’s our type. We didn’t wish to strive one thing new this season as a result of preparation time was quick. I believe the feelings we present within the programme are so near our lives, however they don’t relate to 1 scenario solely. Some folks ask us whether it is in regards to the conflict, however it isn’t about that basically.
MK: In the event you really feel this emotion in regards to 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 folks that every particular person has totally different feelings and that this programme shouldn’t be about one story solely.
Let’s take a step again and take a look at the way you each approached skating. How outdated had been you once you began to skate?
GR: I used to be 4.
MK: And I used to be 5.
Have you ever at all times been ice dancers?
MK: We had been single skaters earlier than. I don’t bounce effectively, I wanted numerous time to just accept that single skating was not for me, and I began to ice dance once I was 13.
GR: I began a bit of bit earlier! I used to be eleven once I approached ice dance.
You could have been skating collectively since 2017. How did you discover one another?
GR: Masha (quick for Maria) wrote to me! [Laughing] First step from the lady, are you able to imagine it?
your junior profession, the outcomes arrived fairly quick, with essential medals gained at totally different competitions.
MK: One of the best second was the final yr as junior, once we mixed some competitions from senior. It was a very optimistic season. We had numerous 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 obtained regular factors, however after that we put the laborious 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 gained the (Junior Grand Prix) Ultimate, it was a historic second.
MK: We wish to develop, it’s our aim. Now we have a very good crew now, we’re actually pleased with Matteo. He can present us the suitable approach for us to develop, he exhibits that to every couple in his crew. Now we will see our alternative, it’s one thing new for us. We take pleasure in our course of: we’re beginning to develop, change our skating abilities, our type and our preparation for competitors. We began to do new issues and once we see that we expect ‘wow, how is it doable’. It’s a good begin for rising as skaters.
Do you prefer to share the ice with the opposite groups you’re employed with on the Younger Goose Academy in Egna?
MK: Matteo has actually good folks in his crew. 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 lots, then go residence after the follow, eat, relaxation, eat once more, sleep, and repeat!
What do you love to do when you find yourself not skating?
MK: I like to check and skim. I learn lots, final yr I learn twenty-nine books!
GR: [laughing] I don’t like studying, however when Masha reads it is without doubt one of the greatest moments of the day as a result of she shouldn’t be speaking an excessive amount of! I often sit with my pc, browsing the web and enjoying video video games with my buddies.
If I requested you to consider your greatest 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 grasp that we will do it, we’re in a good condition. We had this actually cute second once 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 take 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 suitable path and I used to be so completely satisfied. It was due to Matteo, he has given us numerous energy, we really feel his power and his feelings.
MK: We modified lots, not simply with our skating but additionally 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 laborious work in, beginning to change our type. 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 at all times assist us. And to Matteo, he’s so essential for us.