Unique in the history of two-time European champion in figure skating junior Elena Radionova - no longer the old fragile girl. The berry, one might say, is ripe, and the 18-year-old figure skater with evident pleasure, demonstrating its newly acquired delights in social networks.
A holiday in the Maldives gave Lena an excellent opportunity to show herself. Special furor photo made from behind.
Hopefully a vacation in a tropical paradise, confidence in their female attractiveness and employment at a new coach - Radionova moved from Ina Elena Goncharenko to Elena Buyanova - help the talented athlete in full combat readiness getting into the Olympic season.
For getting into the team now there is a fierce struggle. In women's figure skating, there are new leaders - Yevgenia Medvedeva and Anna Pogorilaya, but Radionova didn't do well in the last season.
- There was a feeling that Lena has lost her form. But I believe that Radionova is a real fighter, otherwise you'll have to get out of the Russian national team, now it's overtaken by Maria Sotskova - says the Olympic champion 1988 Natalia Bestemyanova.
Radionova has completely adjusted and feels comfortable in her new training group and with her new coaching team.
“The practice has changed a bit, but I can’t say that it has totally changed,” she noted. “I like it a lot, we have a good contact with Elena Germanovna (Buianova), the work is going well and we’ll wait for the test skates.”
Radionova now shares a coach with Maria Sotskova, one of her direct competitors, but they are not training together at the same time. The coaches decided to separate them.
“We have different training times and each of us is focused on herself,” the 2015 World bronze medalist explained. “Elena Germanovna (Buianova) knows what is better and I trust the coach fully. I am not watching anyone else, I am only focused on my own work. I don’t see anyone else on the ice except myself.”
The preparations for the important Olympic season are well underway. In June, the training group went to Courmayeur in the Italian Alps for a three-week training camp.
“We started to prepare for the season there,” said the two-time Grand Prix Final medalist. “Now we are back in CSKA and we are getting into shape.”
After the season ended, Radionova went to Canada to work with choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne. She decided to keep her short program to “Porgy and Bess” by George Gershwin as she felt this program suits her very well. The long program is new, but the skater is not yet ready to reveal the music choice.
“I don’t yet want to open all secrets,” said the 18-year-old. “For the free, I took a style that I never had before. We decided to show me in a new character. It will be interesting for the spectators. It is an emotional program. I like it. When we chose the music and Shae-Lynn choreographed it, it went really well and everyone liked the music—the coaches, the choreographer and I myself.”
Even though Radionova won gold medals last season at the Grand Prix in Beijing and at the Winter Universiade, she is not entirely happy.
“There were some good performances as well, but I am used to always giving the maximum and for me, even one mistake means that it was not a good skate. I always have to skate a 100 percent,” she explained.
Overall, it was a tough year for Radionova, who struggled with injuries and the difficulties that come with growth which affected her skating.
“I had to get used to my new body and to heal injuries,” she pointed out. “I have grown, not so much anymore, but each change affects the technique and you have to get used to it. The feeling on the ice is different – yesterday it is this way and today it is that way. You need to adapt in order to control your body. But the most important thing is to believe in yourself and not to give up and that is in my character.”
Like many athletes, Radionova feels that the obstacles she had to go through eventually make her stronger.
“(Those) who have a strong character can overcome everything,” she commented. “(Those) who don’t have a strong frame of mind will not be a champion. Everybody has injuries, is growing, changing, has to adapt. Who can overcome all that will be on the top. I never give up and I am not desperate. I just need to move forward.”
Obviously, Radionova’s biggest goal is to make the Olympic team, but she knows how tough the competition is.
“The Olympic Games are the biggest competition in an athlete’s career,” the two-time European silver medalist noted. “Everyone wants to perform there. In order to make the team, you have to be consistent, and to improve in everything – skating skills, spins. I know how I can skate and I have to work very hard.”
