Interviews

Romain Haguenauer: “Gabriella and Guillaume want to be different”

There has been no rise more meteoric this season than that of France’s Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron. From 13th place at the World Championships in Japan in March of last year, they made everybody sit up and take notice when they claimed gold at Cup of China in November and defeated World champions Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte in the process. They proved that they are going to be a force to be reckoned over the coming years by subsequently winning the Trophee Eric Bompard and taking bronze in the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona. Romain Haguenauer, the man behind the team, believes that they timed this season to perfection.

“It’s a new Olympic cycle so we knew it was the time to be good. You always have to be good, but if they wanted to aim for a high place at the next Olympics they had to start this season because so many couples stopped competing.”

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Tamara Moskvina: “The main goal is to be healthy and be happy”

By Hiro Yoshida

Tamara Moskvina needs no introduction. The renowned Russian pairs coach is an icon of the sport and one of the most fascinating and energetic people you are ever likely to meet. After last season passed by without the opportunity to see her peering intently over the boards at international competitions, she was back on the circuit at the Nebelhorn Trophy last month with Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov on their comeback from Smirnov’s horrific knee injury that derailed the trio’s Sochi Olympic ambitions.

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Robin Szolkowy: “Everything that’s in my head I want to give the young teams”

To say that Robin Szolkowy was surprised to be offered a position working with the coach of the team who he had battled with on the ice over the course of the four seasons leading up to the Sochi Olympics would be an understatement.

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