Great stubbornness. How Alena Savchenko defeated the Olympic gods

In any sport there is a special person who does everything better than others. In figure skating, an athlete from Ukraine, performing under the German flag, Alena Savchenko, became special. The girl’s sports biography includes more than 10 gold medals at international competitions, and after her performance at the Olympics in 2018, she also won a world record.

Childhood and youth

Alena Valentinovna Savchenko was born on January 19, 1984 in the town of Obukhov near Kyiv, Ukraine. Valentin and Nina Savchenko have four children: three sons and daughter Alena. Although the parents of the future figure skater worked as teachers, the girl inherited the sports genes and will to win from them.

Valentin Savchenko taught physical education classes at school, and at some point in his life he taught athletics in Germany. Valentin himself holds the title of Master of Sports of the Soviet Union in weightlifting. Nina Savchenko also attended sports training, although she did not achieve any serious achievements.

Alena was barely 3 years old when the girl asked her father for skates as a holiday gift. Valentin Savchenko took his little daughter to a lake not far from home and taught her to stand and move on the ice. At first, the girl was terrified of falling, but quickly overcame her fears. After 2 years, 5-year-old Alena was sent to the figure skating section located in Kyiv. It was there that the coach first noticed the girl’s talent.

Considering that the salaries of Ukrainian teachers are low, Alena’s parents found it impossible to rent an apartment in Kyiv, and their daughter traveled 50 km in each direction for training for almost 10 years. Parents had to wake up at 4.30 in the morning to take their daughter to training in Kyiv at 7.00. After several months of training, the girl was transferred to the pairs category - the most difficult in figure skating.

Even in her youth, the girl competed in competitions, invariably taking prizes, but the entire burden of financial support for training and performances lay on the shoulders of her parents, Valentin and Nina Savchenko. At some point, they really wanted their daughter to play the piano instead of grueling training at the skating rink.

Figure skating

Alena Savchenko began her career in the Dynamo Kyiv sports society. The girl’s first partner was the aspiring figure skater Dmitry Boyenko. Despite a busy training schedule, the boys performed poorly at the World Youth Championships, finishing only in 13th place.

After that, Alena changed both her coach and her partner. Having paired up with Stanislav Aleksandrovich Morozov under the leadership of the champion of the Soviet Union Galina Vladislavovna Kukhar, the girl achieved brilliant results. Having performed at the Youth World Championships in 2000, the guys brought home gold medals.

Then there were victories at the national championship, and in 2002 the athletes represented Ukraine at the Olympics held in Salt Lake City, where they took 15th place. After the performance, Morozov was seriously injured and even thought about ending his career in sports, as a result of which Alena began to look for a new partner.

Alena's next partner was invited from St. Petersburg. Russian Anton Nemenko was already preparing to move to Kyiv, but the couple did not receive funding and soon broke up - Anton returned to Russia. The girl did not want to leave Ukraine and even complained to her parents that she could not imagine living in Germany and performing under the German flag.

But soon Alena became a German citizen, and the athlete was coached by Ingo Steuer. Robin Szolkowy, who was free at that time, became an excellent partner for Alena. Together, the guys took gold at the national championship, came fourth at the European championship, and only got sixth place at the world championship.

In 2006, Savchenko and Szolkowy represented Germany at the Olympics, which took place in February in Turin, Italy. The couple took 6th place. But a year later the athletes took third place at the World Championships and first in Europe. The following season, the couple confirmed the title of European champions and received gold at the World Championships. By 2011, athletes had 3 gold medals at the World Championships and 4 gold medals at the European Championships.

On the eve of the continental championship, the guys refused to participate due to Alena’s injury. But already in March 2012, the skaters took first place at the World Championships. At the same time, the couple successfully performed at the Figure Skating Grand Prix in Windsor, Canada.

However, she refused to participate in the next stage of the tournament because Alena fell ill. At the World and European Championships this season, Savchenko and Szolkowy lost to the Russians and.

Alena’s parents in an interview say that the Ukrainian athlete has remained a stranger in Germany - the Germans do not worry about the athlete’s success and do not accept her as one of their own, although the girl invariably achieves victories at international competitions under the German flag.

In 2014, the skaters went to the Sochi Olympics for gold, so finishing third was a serious disappointment for them. The reason for the failure was gross errors in the execution of the free program.

In the same year, Robin Szolkowy announced that he was ending his sports career and planned to become a coach, and the Frenchman Bruno Massot became Savchenko’s new partner. The coach of the Savchenko-Masso duo was the German Alexander König.

Personal life

Alena devoted her entire youth to hard training and sporting achievements, so there was no time or energy left for the guys. But in the German city of Oberheim, Alena and Bruno were invited to a party where the skater met the artist from Great Britain Liam Cross.

Despite the age difference of 8 years, sympathy flared up between the young people, and soon Liam became the official husband of the Ukrainian athlete. The wedding took place in Germany in an ancient castle. Alena and Liam invited only family members and close friends to the celebration. Alena posted several romantic photos from the wedding on her Instagram page.

The athlete has so far refused to take her husband’s last name because of her upcoming performance at the 2018 Olympic Games, but in the future she plans to become Alena Cross.

Alena Savchenko now

Competing at the World Championships in March 2017, Ukrainian Alena and Frenchman Bruno took second place for Germany, losing to the duo from China. Immediately after the competition, the athletes began intense preparation for the 2018 Olympics.

On the eve of the performance, it became known that Alena’s health had worsened - the skater had caught a cold and was bothered by pain in her leg. But even this did not stop - Savchenko and Massot at the 2018 Olympic Games.

Alena and Bruno not only skated their free program successfully, but set a world record of 159.31 points, breaking their own record last season in the Grand Prix final.

Achievements

• 2006 – bronze medal at the European Championships
• 2007 – gold medal at the European Championships
• 2008 – gold medal at the European Championships
• 2008 – gold medal at the World Championships
• 2009 – gold medal at the European Championships
• 2009 – gold medal at the World Championships
• 2010 – silver medal at the European Championships
• 2010 – bronze medal at the Olympic Games
• 2011 – gold medal at the European Championships
• 2011 – gold medal at the World Championships
• 2012 – gold medal at the World Championships
• 2013 – silver medal at the European Championships
• 2014 – bronze medal at the Olympic Games
• 2014 – gold medal at the World Championships
• 2016 – silver medal at the European Championships
• 2017 – silver medal at the European Championships
• 2017 – silver medal at the World Championships
• 2018 – gold medal at the Olympic Games

In Milan, at the World Figure Skating Championships, sports pairs performed free programs. The final victory was won by representatives of Germany Alena Savchenko and Bruno Massot, Russians Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov – 2nd.

Alena Savchenko/Bruno Massot (Germany) completed 100% of their free program at the World Championships. Triple twist of the fourth level, triple flip throw, triple Salchow cascade - double toe loop - double toe loop, parallel triple toe loop, triple Salchow throw (hard). With a score of 162.86 points for the free program and 245.84 points for the total, the athletes become 2018 world champions.

Savchenko/Masso set a new world record in the free program - 162.86 points, and also broke the record of the Volosozhar/Trankov pair for the sum of two programs - 245.84 points. The German champions collected a collection of 21 highest scores of 10 points for program components. Alena Savchenko is now one of the most decorated figure skaters in the history of figure skating: six-time world champion, Olympic champion and two-time Olympic bronze medalist, four-time European champion. Bruno Massot won his first world title.

“It was hard, but we were focused and did everything we planned. We tried to enjoy the moment even more than at the Olympic Games, but everything was different. I really focused on the elements. At the end, I kissed the ice and thanked this arena,” Savchenko said.

“Physically it was hard. We were tired, we had no planned preparation for the World Cup, and so we really did it a lot through willpower because we really wanted to perform well for our families who are sitting there in the stands. It was hard, but it was a magical moment,” added Masso.

Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov (Russia) could not avoid mistakes in the free program. Quadruple twist of the second level of difficulty, partner's double salchow, triple salchow throw, triple toe loop cascade - double toe loop - partner's single toe loop, triple loop throw. For the free program the couple receives 144.24 points; the sum of the two programs totals 225.53 points and they become silver medalists at the World Championships.

We are glad that we were able to cope with stress and fatigue. Not everything was at the highest level, but we tried and gave it 100 percent. We were able to take revenge after an unsuccessful performance in Korea,” Tarasova said.

There was a feeling that even simple things were difficult. So we just went along the lines, trying to avoid any unpleasant accidents. At the end of the season, it’s quite easy to follow the established rules: the program is already rolled out, all the elements are in place, you skate them and skate them. I don’t even remember what kind of start it was – ninth or tenth. We didn’t miss a single one: we competed in the European Championship, and in the Grand Prix final, and at the Russian Championship,” said Morozov

Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres (France) almost completed their free program. Triple twist of the fourth level of difficulty, triple toe loop cascade - double toe loop - double toe loop, fall on a triple Salchow. Parallel triple salchow, triple flip throw. The French pair receives 143.04 points for the free program, gaining 218.36 points in total, thereby guaranteeing themselves a place on the prize podium.

“Finally, a dream has come true. We're just happy. We did not expect a medal at the World Championships this season, at the European Championships we had such ambitions, but not here. Today it's like a gift. France hasn’t won a medal in pair skating at the world championships for 18 years, Cipres told the press

Natalya Zabiyako/Alexander Enbert (Russia) looked extremely convincing in the first half of the program, but in the second, unfortunately, they made a lot of mistakes. Triple twist of the third level of complexity, triple toe loop cascade - double toe loop - single loop, triple parallel Salchow (landing on two legs and touching the partner’s hand), triple flip throw, triple loop throw (hand touching the ice). The couple received 133.50 points for the free program. This result was only 6 in the free program.

Free program results

Final position

The parents of the famous champion's chosen one serve at a military base in Germany

She never ceases to amaze and delight the audience. The famous figure skater Alena SAVCHENKO changed her country, citizenship, three partners and, when everyone thought that she would hang up her skates, she threw down a new challenge to fate. The five-time world champion is preparing for her third Olympics - now paired with Frenchman Bruno MASSAU.

At the Grand Prix stage in Moscow Alena Savchenko I was surprised by the fact that I decided to perform a quadruple jump at the very end of the free program. When your strength is running out. She turned up all the speed, but the landing was unsuccessful. Figure skater and her partner Bruno Massot, who competed for Germany, as expected, took first place. But Savchenko, a maximalist by nature, was unhappy.

- Alena, why did you take such a risk? Usually at the end of the program no one decides to do this.

And the quadruple salchow is even easier for me than the triple axel. I am not kidding. Bruno throws me so high that I have time to turn all the revolutions. I feel comfortable doing the quadruple jump at the very end. And you will soon see: I will do it!

To be honest, I didn’t think that I would ever perform in Moscow at the Cup of Russia again. The first time I appeared at this tournament was back in 1999, when I skated with Stas Morozov for Ukraine. It's nice that I am still very well received in Russia.

But I can’t forget how Bruno and I both fell so stupidly on the Salchow in the short program. This has never happened before. Maybe it's all about the skirt? I’m not used to it - they sewed it on me only a week before the start of the tournament.

When you first teamed up with Bruno Massot, did he have any reverence for you? After all, you are a five-time world champion, he doesn’t have such regalia.

Yes, I felt it in the first training sessions. It's like there's a heavy weight on his shoulders. And she told her partner: “Bruno, forget about all my titles, otherwise we won’t achieve anything. We are equal now."

-Have you considered the option of playing for France?

Oh, such a thought arose. I didn’t think that Bruno would be easily released to Germany. Yes and my coach Ingo Steuer(we worked with him for many years) added fuel to the fire. In Germany he was refused funding, so Steuer wanted us to compete for France. But he asked for too much money - to be honest, it shocked me. If money is above all else for a person, what can you do? He himself did not want to work with us.

After Steuer refused, we turned to the German Figure Skating Federation. We were recommended Alexandra Koenig. Previously, he performed in tandem with Peggy Schwartz, and then was a technical specialist. Koenig just radiates calm. Lately I have been so tired of all this stress, volcanoes of emotions... After four weeks of working together, Bruno and I decided that we were finally moving to live with him in Oberstdorf.

In general, I would love to compete for Ukraine, but there are no conditions for training there. So thanks to Germany. She provided us with the conditions.

- Have you already taught your partner some Ukrainian words?

No. He doesn’t know what vodka is yet ( laughs). We speak to Bruno in English - it’s easier for him to understand. But he is studying German intensively. One of our two coaches speaks French to him, and the other speaks German.

Your former partner Robin Shelkovy now helps Nina Moser coach Russian sports couples. Do you and Robin communicate somehow?

Greetings at the competition. And nothing more. He chose a different path for himself.

- At the Olympics in Sochi, did you already know that you would part with Shelkov and skate with another partner?

I remember in December 2013, a Canadian figure skater Eric Redford during the Grand Prix final he asked me over lunch: “Alena, what will you do after the Olympics?” This question was asked to me by everyone and everything, and it bothered me. I went up to my room and began to think about what I wanted. And I honestly answered to myself that I don’t want to leave the sport. I love ice, I love competitions - it’s such a thrill, such a drive! I love the audience that cheers for me. In short, I realized that I can go to the ice show later. But Robin did not want to continue his career. He said he was tired. That's why I ride with another partner.

Dad knows more

Last summer, 32-year-old Alena Savchenko gave her fans another surprise - she married an English artist Liam Cross.

- How did you meet your husband?

This happened in Oberstdorf. Just when I started skating with Bruno Massot. I couldn’t even imagine that I would meet an Englishman there and marry him! But that's exactly what happened. We met in a company of friends. Liam had no idea who I was, he is far from figure skating. But his dad, when Liam showed him my photo, immediately told his son that he had seen me on TV. And that I am a world champion.

- What was the reaction of your future husband?

According to Liam, he was a little embarrassed. Then he started torturing me: why didn’t I tell him about my successes in figure skating? I joked in response that then maybe he wouldn’t date me. ( Laughs.) Liam constantly draws something, makes engravings, sketches. He already drew me too. So far, just sketches. I think he will paint a big portrait of me later.

- How did his parents accept you?

Amazing! They adore me. Every Sunday Tracy (that's my mother-in-law's name) cooks a purely English dinner for me. This is so I don't lose too much weight. ( Laughs.). Tracy and her husband Steve are military men, they serve in the British Army. One of the NATO military bases is located in Oberstdorf.

- Alena, you became related to a very sweet family! How was the wedding?

We played it in an ancient castle, 70 kilometers from Oberstdorf. This castle stands on the shore of the lake, everything was beautiful and romantic. Of course, my parents came from Kyiv. Bruno was also at the wedding with his girlfriend. By the way, he quickly found a common language with my husband, they became friends.

- Do you often visit Ukraine?

Unfortunately, rarely. Mom and Dad visit me more often in Germany.

- In Moscow, you were given a large bar of Alenka chocolate. Will you eat it yourself?

No. I'll give it to my husband - he loves sweets. But I can’t get better.

- How many more years do you plan to compete in big sports?

I’ll definitely hold out until the 2018 Olympics in Korea. ( Smiles.) And then we’ll see. I don't want to guess anything.

By the way

For all the time he played for the Ukrainian national team Alena Savchenko At the expense of the local federation, we sewed only one dress and bought one pair of skates. All other tracksuits were paid for by the figure skater’s parents.

Think about it!

Together with Robin Shelkowy, Alena won four European Championships, five World Championships and two Olympic bronze medals for Germany (2010, 2014).