When you interview skaters, what language do you use? Do you need translators on hand? I'm assuming you're multilingual, and some skaters will be more comfortable expressing themselves in their native tongue, especially if they're just learning and still improving their English (assuming that's a default common language).
I do speak German, English and some Russian. My Russian however isn't perfect so that I usually ask in Russian if its ok to speak either German or English
I learned some Finnish too back when Susanna and Laura were still skating but its really poor.
If its a press conference with many journalists then I use English as other journalists want to understand the questions too and we usually have a person translating anyways so that I tend to just say a few words in Russian or German to introduce myself and break the ice and then continue in English.
English is my main language that I use, I always feel that talking in a language that most understand is a form of respect. Its funny because by doing so you also speak English to the Germans
But as you mentioned many Russian skaters especially the young ones only speak a tiny bit of English / prefer to answer in Russian which is cool and understandable.
Its important to say however, that you cant approach skaters in the same way at every event. Nebelhorn works great there because we are all together and can chat, have press conferences, see each other in town etc.
Other events are different, so that you don't always have the chance to get in touch, plus it depends who the skater is. Its always easier to get in touch if you know each other, someone you never met before and honestly I am still new at the FS circuit is always more difficult as a lot depends on trust too. And skaters also have a right for privacy and I respect that.
I am still learning a lot in regards of FS, every day at an event is a learning process and that process will continue for a long time.
If you then consider that I dont have the funds to visit more than 5-6 FS events a year + not always get a press ID - its a difficult and long process.