Maxim Kovtun

- In September last year, you told me that you have never reached such a high shape that your age allows you to ride for many more years, and suddenly such a sharp turn. How long have you been going to decide to end your career?
- This is a difficult question for me. In the sense that there was no long way, long thoughts. I just suddenly understood very clearly what my sporting life is like, what it goes to. I couldn't finish figure skating a year ago. I did not even think about it, because I knew that if I could not return to my previous level, the feeling of being unfulfilled in this case would simply have me. Now I have a clear feeling that as a skater I did everything I could, everything I was capable of. Every minute of my life this season was aimed only at the result. All this year, including the championship of Russia and the European championship, I lived like a monk in a cage. Plowed in training, did not make any concessions. Generally no. All this was for the sake of result, in order to be the best, to constantly be at the very top, in the elite.
At the same time, I, of course, was aware that health is a very serious constraint. That my back, all these hernias and protrusions are for life, and the only thing I can do to keep my back in working condition is to pump it with regular exercises and watch it very carefully. But the more I worked on the muscles, the more clearly I understood that the resources of my body are simply not enough to consistently occupy places in the world top. Not to mention getting into the top three.

- At what point did this awareness come to you?
After the European Championship - when I began to prepare for the performance at the Universiade. Then just the back very strongly manifested itself. We with the coach (Elena Buyanova - ed) decently lightened the content of the program, but I didn’t get any better. So I began to think: the Olympic cycle had just begun, three years ahead of the next Games, and this is too long a period. Yes, I could probably continue to train, but for what? To hang out somewhere in the middle of the table? I guess I'm not the person who can afford it.

- After your unsuccessful performance at the European Championships, I honestly thought that your main problem lies not so much in physical condition as in the fact that the nervous system does not withstand too high voltage. You are a creative person, which is a great help in figure skating, but creative people, as a rule, are very psychologically vulnerable.
- But I have had good performances. There were skates when it was possible to quite successfully take themselves in a fist. It was not always easy, I will not hide. Besides the European Championship, I was ready very well, much better than the Russian Championship. But on the day of launch there was only one feeling - that my whole body was filled with cement. And I can't do anything about it.

- Hands did not fall after that championship?
- At some point - yes, it was. But I was pretty quickly pulled out of this state. For a short time I went home to Yekaterinburg, then returned to Moscow, and we continued to prepare for the World Cup. The Universiade was supposed to be just a stage of this preparation. Just then really started a serious problem. What trainings can we talk about when you can not tie your own shoelaces?

- World Cup you watched?
- Yes of course.

- And what was the strongest impression?
- Yuzuru Hanyu. I didn’t care that he lost to Chen. Nathan, of course, is incredibly cool, but in the aggregate, he did not impress me so much. And at the same time it was a little sad to understand that Hanyu, in fact, has nowhere to grow. If he tries to complicate the programs, the risk of injury and the risk of mistakes will be too great.

- How, by the way, do you feel about the fact that one of the singles is about to start jumping the quad axel?
- Sometimes I think that it was not so long ago considered unrealistic to do all four jumps except for an axel in one program, but did Chen do this? If guys start jumping axel, it's almost the same thing as a five-toe loops or a salchow. And that means these jumps are just around the corner. On the other hand, our sport should not become a gladiatorial battle, where the defeated is killed to the death. After all, be that as it may, the organizers of any competition will prefer to see Hanyu riding, and not how he is killed about the quad Axel.

- Why, having refused to go to Saitama, you did not give any comments on this topic?
- Because at that moment it was too hard for me to discuss all this. In the life of an athlete constantly present some problems. Here - a little health is not enough, there are nerves, a trauma has happened or some kind of misunderstanding. I somehow had it all come together at one point. Now it has become much simpler: I set certain priorities for myself, there is an understanding of what I want to do.

- Buyanova tried to dissuade you from leaving the sport?
- Of course she tried. But Elena Germanovna understood, it seems to me that the reason for my decision is not at all in the fact that I lost the European Championship. That it is not spontaneous. In fact, I was greatly relieved when I made this decision. You can say otherwise: I just stopped deceiving myself. Many athletes, when they begin to realize that a career is going nowhere, are very afraid to make a step into another life. I would call it the fear of adult decisions. I am not afraid of this. On the contrary, the thirst for new opportunities that I’m likely to have.

- And what are you going to do now?
- The priority is now studying. I am a third year student at the Institute of Physical Education at the faculty of "Theory and Methods of Figure Skating", and really want to develop myself in the coaching direction.

- I probably would have been less surprised to hear the word rap from you now.
- All this is a long time ago in the past. Once I perceived music as a hobby, but I had been ill. I want something completely different: to be a serious, self-sufficient and independent person who builds his life around a big and interesting business.

- I still can not imagine you a coach.
- It is possible that in vain. I have ambitions, and they are very serious. After all, until recently I had no idea what a huge practical encyclopedia had accumulated in my head: I trained with Nikolai Morozov, Elena Germanovna (Buyanova), and (Tatiana) Tarasova, and Inna Germanovna Goncharenko, and even Alexey Nikolaevich Mishin. It’s just that I never had the task to teach someone something. Only recently has he been helping someone with jumps, with steps. I got myself a special diary, in which I paint some coaching methodological ideas, I am preparing a thesis.

- Which of the listed specialists was the toughest coach of those with whom you happened to work?
- Probably, Kolya Morozov. He did not find the key to me, although now I can confess: it was much easier than he thought. But it turned out how it happened: Morozov simply didn’t have time, desire, or energy for me.

- Have you already made plans for the summer?
- In July-August, I was invited to work with the children for training camps in Krasnodar and Kislovodsk, I will gain practical experience. But I would not want to reduce my coaching career to engaging in tackles with everyone. I want to work for the result, go to competitions, go to the world level. For this I am studying very seriously now. In the meantime, there is no master’s degree diploma that would allow me to officially work as a coach, I will hold training camps, master classes, and individual lessons. The main thing is that I constantly intuitively feel now that I am on the right track. And intuition almost never fails me.

- Do you see yourself as a despotic coach?
- I can be tough. I can shout so little that no one seems. But yelling at the student is not the main thing. The main thing is to be able to pick up a key to it. There are athletes who cannot even raise their voices at all - in this case they simply stop “hearing” you. I can say about one more idea: I really want to try myself as a producer. I never did it, but it's interesting to try. I deliberately strive to be very busy. I want to develop in all possible directions. I do not know to what level I will be able to grow, but I will try very hard.

- I know that you were going to write a farewell text for your fans on Instagram and subscribe: "The boy who did not get to the Olympics".
- It has long been just a joke. After I didn’t get to the Games in Sochi, I was somehow stopped by a traffic cop, I opened the rights and said: “Oh! Kovtun! Is it you - the same boy who didn’t get to the Olympics?” Then, in the same way, Ivan Urgant presented me on his program, and that was stuck.

- And if no joke, that story is still sitting in the soul of a splinter?
- No longer. Yes, I understand that my time in figure skating is gone, but it was, and, you see, it was not bad. Not every sportsman in general has such a fate. It happens, after all, that a person wins the Olympic Games, and then nobody needs them at all. This, in my opinion, is really painful to experience. I can’t complain. I am still in demand in the profession, I have a goal, I have an understanding of how to go to it. And most importantly - there is a feeling that I did everything I could. Therefore, leaving the sport with a light heart.

- To what extent did the completion of your career hit your financial situation?
- My financial position throughout the season was zero. I earned nothing, and the scholarship that I continued to receive was enough for food. For the first six months, I only did what I paid off with debts. A figure skater who performs in competitions earns only when he shows a top result. All my earnings start only now.

- How ordered is your life now?
- I would say this: it is orderly enough not to think about it. There is, where to live, there is, on what to move. But without boasting. Ponty in my last three or four years, the order is subtracted. My dream is to build a house for parents, to transport them from Ekaterinburg to the city.

- Promised?
- Not. I just want to do it myself.

- Serious plans. And what was the most insane and stupid waste of money?
- On clothes. There was a period - I bought some expensive things exclusively from leading brands. Some crazy clothes, some just released sneakers ...

- And the iconic LV bag was there?
- And how! Ask me now why I needed all this - I will not answer. Then he sold all of this when he was completely without money. So now I'm a boy who doesn't have a Louis Vuitton bag. But I definitely do not suffer from this!

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I wrote, erased and wrote again, again erased ... The most difficult letter in my Life ... This day was to come. The time has come to say goodbye ... I will not pick the archives of my memory about the time when it all began, or what I went through here ... I wrote this letter and deleted it.
To begin with, there is no drama, my time was, it was gone, but it was ... And soon it will be again! But in another chapter of my beautiful, wonderful, interesting life. I thank the gentlemen for giving me the opportunity to go among great athletes, compete with them and see the whole world, thank God for the people who gave me this sport, for my character, for unforgettable victories, moments of happiness, thanks I have such a wonderful family ... Grateful for Elena Germanovna, who forgave me my childish nonsense. I thank you fans, without you there would be no us. Grateful to my friends, real friends, for being myself, I did not lose my, thank you.
It was a wonderful time ... I have already lived my whole life, and now I am starting a new one, and this is a pancake, exciting ... But so interesting ... I am a happy person, and I have no regrets, this is life, and that’s why it's not so simple And thank God! There is always a way out! The main thing to look at everything from the right angle! At the expense of the future, I will not blame, who knows what's next for us. But so far I have set some priorities for myself, and I will live, develop, move in this direction. One thing for sure, I'll see you ... Your Palych.
(The same boy who never got to the Olympics) �� I love, hugged, lifted ... The end.

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Rina RUS said:

alexei.yagudin: Dear @maksim_pavlovich, it is not easy to decide to finish something what was your life and your air to breathe, but you have decided to start a new chapter of your life, so I wish you to continue dreaming, working and winning. Thank you for your bright career, for your falls and highs, for the medals for our country #kovtun #newlife #newchapter #figureskating
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwmuFqpBH0A/

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RemyRose said:

At least Yagudin was cordial. Cannot say the same for Goncharenko, Urmanov rolleye and other "experts"

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anonymoose_au said:

I'm curious, what did Urmanov say?

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Olympic champion Alexey Urmanov believes that it is not necessary to discuss the decision of the four-time Russian figure skating championship Maxim Kovtun to complete his career.

- For me, this news was not unexpected.

- Do you think that all this went?
- I think that Maxim Kovtun should not be discussed at all. The athlete did not show anything in his sports career.
And the statements that he made, he never justified. So what is there to discuss. Well completed and completed.

- At the beginning of a career there were prospects. Do you agree?
- Probably they were. But the prospects must be realized. And he did not.
In the last season, it seems like the boy has returned, but, as it turned out, he did not return, ”Urmanov said.

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RemyRose said:

Alexey Urmanov: “Kovtun should not be discussed at all. In sport, he showed nothing"
https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating/1073946145.html


Seriously, he could have just said "no comment'' if he didn't want to be bothered or had nothing nice to say. Max just announced his retirement and he kicks the guy and tells him that his 4 national titles, 3 euro medals, and countless other medals he has earned throughout his career equates to him "showing nothing." The h*ll? How hard is it to say "good luck" or "no comment"

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anonymoose_au said:

Wow...that's harsher than harsh!

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Rina RUS said:

Tarasova almost agreed with Urmanov...

t.a.tarasova: Maxim Kovtun has retired. I guess everyone has already read these news. I can't be indifferent about that, because Kovtun is also our names. Names of the coaches who worked with him. It appears that we haven't managed to do anything. This is an old photo - this is the beginning, our hopes. Good luck, Maxim.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwmVxW_H6LP/

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Maxim Kovtun officially ended his sports career by submitting a corresponding application to the Russian Federation Figure Skating Federation (Figure Skating Federation of Russia). It is reported by the press service of the federation.

"Today, I met with the President of the Russian Federation Figure Skating Federation of Russia, Alexander Georgievich Gorshkov, we talked. I explained why I made this decision. I want to say thanks to everyone who supported and supports me. I have many plans, but we'll see. I need to understand where to start." - said 23-year-old Kovtun.

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This season, Max rebelled, like a phoenix from the ashes, after a year's break: he began with the stages of the Russian Cup, then triumphantly won the national championship . Next - a failure at the European Championship, but the Universiade showed that he is ready to continue the fight. Then he was removed from the World Cup (due to two hernias and protrusions in the spine) ... But Maxim Kovtun again went out on the ice - just the other day he performed well at the Eteri Tutberidze show in Krasnodar. And ... Put an end.

Of course, Maxim wrote his name in the history of figure skating. He won the national championship four times. He fell in love with fans of his artistic programs. This year, he forced to talk about himself as the best figure skater in the men's team. Kovtun leaves on a bright note, on takeoff. Leaves at the moment when people say about him: “This guy will show more!”

In an interview with the Oblast newspaper, Maxim Kovutn told why ...

- Max, to be honest - surprised. Spent so bright season. And here is such an unexpected ending ...

- The totality of many things played a role. It was not a spontaneous click, but a deliberate, balanced decision. Let's start with the fact that I am a realist and understand where everything is going. Tatyana Anatolyevna Tarasova said: "He just started to work as it should." I have always tried so hard - as best I could, with all my might. And now I just did not even give out the maximum, but more ... And, having understood how to work to be the best in the world, it came to the realization that my health would not be enough for another three years before the next Olympiad.

- But at the same time in Russia there is no clear leader in the men's single skating, he most likely will not appear in the next few years.

- Our guys skate about the same level. Look: I did not speak for about a year and a half, I returned, and in six months of the training process I win the Russian championship. The Russian Championship was for me an incredible happiness, after which I got the opportunity to go to the level where I was interested: I wanted to take Europe, I wanted to fight in the world for the highest places ... Every day I plowed like insane, doing my best, showing initiative ... that even this was not enough, it was necessary to work even more. And health did not allow. And then, of course, he soberly thought, turned on realism and took off his rose-colored glasses.

- You did not go to the World Cup. And there turned up incredible battles Nathan Chen and Yuzuru Hanyu. They were out of reach for competitors ... Was it the last straw?

- I always, starting from the junior level, looked at the most top athletes. I used to be aware that I can fight. Now I can be in the top five, but with good hands. Yes, I don't want to hang out somewhere in the middle of the standings. And if theoretically I can not become the best in the world, then I do not see the point. I decided to be honest with myself and with everyone around me, so I took this step. Injuries make themselves felt. And I want to win. So now I will win in my life. And I do not think it is less valuable. Maybe it is even more than sport. This also applies to career and some personal moments.

Of course, it is always sad when you give yourself up to some business, and then you have to part with it. But I do not think that this is the end of life. Thank God, there are a lot of interesting things ahead. And thank God that I am leaving like this - very many people love and support me.

“Among them is Tatiana Tarasova, already mentioned by you, who after the news about the end of your career wrote in her Instagram:“ I cannot be indifferent to this, because Kovtun is our names. Names of trainers. And it turns out that we could not do anything ... ". Did you consult with her before making a decision?

- Of course, I consulted. All were aware of all the events before the official announcement of this news. Naturally, Tatiana Anatolyevna was aware of everything and always, just like Elena Germanovna (Buyanova, Maxim Kovtun's trainer). This was by no means a spontaneous decision. I did not come and did not say: “Everything, I’m finishing my career.” This idea matured gradually, the understanding that this was necessary was growing, so my coaches did not have some kind of incredible shock.

- You have already said that there will not be enough resources for another three years, that is, we had to finally say goodbye to the possibility of getting to the Olympics. With what feeling do you let go of this dream - sediment remained?

- Whole life ahead. I can still go to the Olympics, but not as an athlete, but in some other role. I try to relate to this more simply: if this is the case, then this is for the best.

- A lot of your colleagues, including Yevgeny Plushenko, spoke about your departure from the sport as a figure skater. He spoke well of you, but at the same time he said the following phrase: “The moment will come, and Kovtun will tell you how it all happened in Sochi in 2014.” Have something to tell?
- Not. Honestly, the fact that people know about that situation for my part is all. I have nothing more to add. We, our team, are honest to ourselves and to everyone. True, we sat on the suitcases and waited for a trip to the Olympics. We trained, prepared ... But it was said: "Do not go." What is there, what could we do? When they said that we would not go to the Games, first of all I went to my brother through the whole of Moscow, and then immediately took a ticket to Ekaterinburg and went to where they were waiting for me, where I was supported. Everything, as it was, and telling, nothing to add. Maybe I don’t know anything myself, of course ...

- Have you talked to Evgeni himself about this?

- We are now quite well with him, and with Yana (Rudkovskaya, wife of Evgeni). And ... Honestly, they didn’t even touch upon this topic. And do not want to. I do not live in the past, not vindictive. I forget all the bad things pretty quickly, but the good just remains in memory for a long time.

- Let's talk a little about your plans for the future. In one of the interviews Ilya Averbukh said that you are thinking about your own school of figure skating. It's true?

- Now there are a lot of offers and opportunities. But for now, I plan to concentrate all my strength on studying: in a year I will graduate from the institute and I want to continue my studies at the magistracy in order to engage in coaching activities professionally. But nobody forbids me to try to train in parallel: for example, now at the request of Elena Germanovna, I already help one boy in CSKA. But the next year I can not work officially. After graduation I can, but I have to do everything according to my mind, so I plan to gain knowledge, in parallel gain experience, try something new. Understand your place in this life. I need time to prioritize. Fortunately, now this time I have. I would also very much like to organize master classes in Yekaterinburg, to hold training camps with our excellent athletes. We are slowly trying to organize it all. In general, I would often like to come to my hometown.

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RemyRose said:

Kovtun applied for withdrawal from the Russian national figure skating team


https://tass.ru/sport/6378699



“Now I will win in my life”: Maxim Kovtun explained the reasons for completing his career
Fans of figure skating stunned by the news: Maxim KOVTUN ends his sports career. More recently, we were firmly convinced that withdrawal from the World Championship for medical reasons is the end of the season, but not the end of Kovtun’s story. This is only a pause: the skater spent a bright and successful season, and it seemed - here it is, the long-awaited return. Now relax, gain strength, and ... But it was the final chord of his bright and dramatic career. “Your Palych. The same boy who never got to the Olympics ”- this is how Max signed his appeal to the fans on Instagram.

https://www.oblgazeta.ru/sport/figure-skating/42314/

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tempo said:

Interview with Max:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZsJbpGBafo

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The news that three-time European Championship medalist Maxim Kovtun ends his sports career has led many fans into shock. Maxim is only 23 years old, he is the current champion of Russia, never once took part in the Olympic Games. The next day after the announcement of his decision, Maxim became a guest of the “Figurine” program with Emma Gadzhiyeva at Sport24, where after the ice competitions he spoke about the rivalry with Yevgeny Plushenko, Eteri Tutbreridze show, his salary and future plans. Introducing the text version of the conversation.

- What did you do a day after the announcement of the end of his career?
- Washed the car, went to the gym and in the hammam (Hammam - Turkish bath - Sport24).
- You used to play hockey before figure skating, but then ...
- It didn't grow together.
- Don't you think to do hockey now?
- It's late. Although you can play in the amateur league, I find it interesting, I always liked it. I will learn something new, try something.
And when I was playing, my dad got a call from one local club in Yekaterinburg and they said that I was “a very talented child”. After all, I had been skating for a long time with my figure skating skill, I was the fastest, I quickly grasped everything, because I was very interested. But then it turned out that we could not afford it, after all, figure skating and hockey are very expensive sports. That was it.

- At some time, rap has a certain place in your life. Do you listen to him now?
- I am a music lover. Everything that I like, I listen, regardless of the genre. Even more rock'n'roll appeared.
- Would you be able to ride a bit and read something?
- These are incompatible things. But I can play around. It's just that it's the highest skill, some professional rappers can't freeze during a concert, and I have to freestyle while skating.
- But you can.
- Then immediately get me to "Gazgolder".
By the way, Max turned out very cool. Watch the video!

- You finished your career. What's next?
- Life goes on. Now it will be necessary to make the beauty that conceived. Naturally, it will take many years. Naturally, in a year and a half they will forget me, the hype will pass.
“Why will they forget you in a year and a half?”
- Because I am not an Olympic champion.
- But you like the attention of the press.
- I just feel calm in any attention, like a fish in water. Even with a huge amount of attention, I feel calm without being lost in it. Maybe because of this, everything held out. I was an active athlete - this is one thing, a constant information channel. What will happen now is another life.

- You leave the sport, although you never took part in the Olympic Games, despite the fact that you are a four-time champion of Russia. Is it karma?- It's me, Maxim Kovtun. There is no logic. As it happened, it happened. There could be nothing at all. I appreciate what I have, I am very grateful to the Almighty for what I have: opportunities, ambitions, prospects, time, a lot of acquaintances, connections, friends, experience. This is due to how everything went. Maybe these things are even more valuable than the Olympic Games.
- Do you sincerely think so?
- Yes. Even if you choose: to become the champion of the Olympics and not be realized in the future of life, or vice versa - the first is worse. And so, generally amazing story turns out. If I had finished a year ago, before returning, then I would have been more difficult internally, because the feeling of un-realization would be significant. Returning and trying to work like an abnormal psycho and realizing that I could not stand it, that my resources would not be enough, I realized that I had done everything I could. Then the idea that “I should have tried again” would have visited me often. Now it will not be. And this is my main calm. I think that now it is the most important.

- Looking back, what would you change in your career?
- Who knows what would be next. Maybe I would have become the 2014 Olympic champion in the team and would have finished and, as an option, would have gone on a spree. What's better? In principle, I have a sense of realization, because I did everything I could. Of course, if you rewind time, I would start doing everything a little earlier. When we started working with Elena Germanovna (Buyanova) and Tatyana Anatolyevna (Tarasova), there was a constant moment of delay (to become the best in the world). I was a little short of everything all the time - the fourth in the world, in the Grand Prix final I almost fell short, somewhere else. Probably, I would correct these moments. I would rather choose the people I trusted at the time. This is also very important.

- There were people who sent the wrong way?
- You know, I even loved people who did not deserve it at all.
- During the period when they talked about you as the most promising, they regretted that they didn’t send you, but Yevgeny Plushenko, you reminded me of our players, who show no special results, but at the same time the Instagram is full of all kinds of wheelbarrows and other glamorous things. How many cars did you change then?
- For the year changed 10 cars, I guess. It happened that I bought a car, I drove a week on it, I did not like it, I just handed it over and bought a new one. I just tried to find something of my own. Now it is clear that this is some kind of childish arrogance, stupidity, but even at that time I would not change anything. Because it was a cool time in its own way that also needed to pass in order to understand a lot.
- Then there were rumors that you get 500 thousand rubles a month.
- More.
- This is the sponsors?
- This is prize money, and various shows, salaries from different sources, etc. It was a pre-Olympic time, they invested very well in the Sochi Olympics. And then I showed stable results, all the time I was in the top 3.
- In one of your recent interviews you said that you were paying your debts for a long time. Where are the debts with such a salary?
- I then bought an apartment in Moscow, almost in the center. Can you imagine these amounts? Wild simply. All the money that I once earned, it was spent on it. And then it turned out that I got into debt a little bit.

- The other day, Plushenko said that "everything that happened at the Olympics in Sochi, let Maxim Kovtun tell." What should Maxim Kovtun tell us about the Olympics in Sochi?
“No idea what he meant.” Maybe I do not know something, but he thinks that I am aware of some events. As I know: I was sitting on the suitcases, not going - that's all.
- So you have not been to Sochi?
- I was in Moscow. We sat on the suitcases, were ready to break at any time. I have already received the official equipment of the Olympiad. But then it became clear that we were not going anywhere. That evening I went to my brother, he lived on the outskirts of Moscow. And after some time left for Yekaterinburg. This is the place where my soul is calm. The first thing I wanted to go to family and friends. That's the whole story. As for that very story, I know some moments, but I’ll never tell them exactly. Yes, Zhenya? (smiles)

- And I want to know so much!
- Everything is already in the past. Plushenko and I communicate well. Everything is already forgotten. Go ahead.
- You are unique in that it is impossible to be angry with you. You communicate well with everyone ...
- I'll tell you more. I have a good relationship with all the coaches I broke up with. For example, I skated with Alexei Mishin. I just looked through, and I did not fit. Why? I was only 12 years old and the equipment was a bit lame. I'm still from Yekaterinburg. Then they decided not to waste time on me.
Nevertheless, we have a wonderful relationship with Alexey Nikolaevich. Then Nikolay Morozov kicked me out of my group, and six months later I won the junior grand prix final. Already with Buyanova and Tarasova. Mishin approached me and quietly said: “Maxim, well, you remember? I also worked with you ”(laughs). It was such a joke. With Morozov we also communicate well.
- But you broke up not very beautiful. You were kicked out for unsporting behavior ...
- It was unclear why they kicked me out. But now it does not matter. I am not trying to forget the bad moments, I just can not remember them. Only the good remains in my head. And this is great. I also communicate well with Inna Goncharenko. She can call me to the cottage, I can come to drink tea and talk with her husband. I communicate perfectly with Buyanova, with Tarasova.

- As far as I understand, you communicate well with Eteri Tutberidze. She invited you to her show as a guest. Tell me what kind of person she is outside the training process.
- First of all, Eteri Georgievna is very cool in the city. Awesome coach. The result here speaks for itself. I do not do it, and from the side it may seem that she can sometimes be very despotic in training. But she is a gentle man out of ice. It is very easy for me to communicate with her.
The show went great. Energy is awesome. Another feature is a bunch of children and young people. After all, mainly adult people go to figure shows. For them, it's like going to the theater. And here were young boys and girls - sincere fans of the Tutberidze team. The support was just incredible. The hall for three and a half thousand places was filled so that people even stood.
- Elena Buyanova in one interview compared you with the character from “Real Kids”. She said that if she had watched the show before, it would be easier for her to understand you. Would you compare yourself with any of the characters?
- If you take "Real boys". That is me, Kolya Naumov. He constantly wants to do something from the heart, but mows.
- Let's talk about the future. Do you want to be a coach?
- First, I have to finish college. Now I'm in my third year. That is, next year I finish. But I will go to the magistracy. That is, it will take three years. Now education is a priority. In general, I have a lot of interesting suggestions. From June to September is busy almost every day. Everything is painted.
The first thing I want to do is learn, gain experience. Also Elena Germanovna asked me to help her with one boy, I work a little with him at CSKA. He is 15 years old. We study with him a quadruple salchow and a triple axel. It is necessary to restore the jumps after injury. In general, there is a lot of work there. And there is also commentary, shooting, workshops, fees, shows.
- And you can become a director.
- I am not eager to set up programs and do not say that I will be the greatest director of all time. Just once I set myself a number. When I showed it to friends, they said that it was the best that I rolled. Perhaps this view is biased. But I know my boys, if it was “*****”, they would have said that. But they really got into it.

- One of the most difficult moments at the end of a career is to report this to the coach, who is investing in you, living the schedule of your workouts. How did it happen in your case?
- To this, everything went gradually. In your question, it looks like you are riding a motorcycle and you are plummeting into the abyss. In fact, we just gently descended from the hill. It was not such that they sat down and talked. It all came to a logical conclusion.
- What about Tatiana Tarasova?
- With her a little bit cooler was a hill. But also not the abyss. In general, I am very grateful to her. She pulled me out of the emotional pit after the European Championship. With Elena Germanovna they reanimated me in front of the Universiade.
- You received a lot of warm words after the announcement of the completion of a career, it turned out a flashmob in support of Maxim Kovtun. How many messages have you received for this day?
- Probably, 5-10 thousand.
- Olympic champion Alexey Urmanov said the following: “I think that Maxim Kovtun should not be discussed at all. The athlete did not show anything in his sports career. And the statements that he made, he never justified. So what is there to discuss. Well completed and completed. Do you have an answer?
- Yes. First, I respect him very much as an athlete. Secondly, if he says that one should not discuss a person, then why do it?
Here everyone has the right to their opinion, Alexey has it. I may have my own opinion about him, I also have this right. Only I would say it in person, if I wanted to say something.

- What is the most funny thing you wrote in social networks?
- There was a moment that some girl sent me an audio message, like “I have a sister, she wants to live with you, come, she cooks a tasty, cool figure”, fully advertised, threw off the address how to go. I decided to set this in history as a joke.
- What is the most fun you gave the fans?
- There were many different and strange gifts. I remember, on the European Championship they threw me a bra, everyone was laughing in the locker room.
- Finally, you can contact all your fans.
- I want to thank them for such attention, support, I really appreciate it, I am very pleased, very inspiring and gives faith to go further. And also: since I finished, and I can look at the situation from the outside, I want to ask all Russian fans to truly love our athletes. There are no perfect people, for some people something is not working, someone behaves differently than you would like. But love them for what they do right. And the fact that they do not succeed, try to pay less attention to it, because no matter what anyone says, all the guys read about themselves on the Internet, they worry. You can not imagine how much you give the athlete strength, when all together to support him. All love, hugged, lifted.

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