“The easiest thing is to take it, quit and go nowhere. All the opponents are waiting for that.”

On February 12, our figure skaters Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitry Solovyev helped the team win silver in the free skating program at the PyeongChang Olympics. Each medal of this Olympics is worth its weight in gold for us, each of these medals is the result of a lot of hard work, it is not only physical, but also moral confrontation with opponents. Katya Bobrova is supported by her mother at the 2018 Olympic Games.

Natalia Nikolevna was invited to PyeongChang by P&G, a global partner of the IOC, as part of the “Thank you, Mom!” campaign, so that she could be by her daughter, a renowned figure skater and Olympic champion, during her performances. Of course, for Ekaterina it was not her first fight for Olympic medals, but for Natalia it was no less exciting than the very first appearance of her daughter on the ice. After all, it is the mother who goes through all the stages of her career together with the athlete and is next to her, experiencing all the ups and downs. Right after the awarding we had a chance to talk to Natalya Bobrova to find out for sure how to bring up a real champion.

– Natalya Nikolayevna, tell us why you decided to give Ekaterina figure skating? Was it more your choice or hers?
– It was entirely her choice. She wanted to do it herself, because her older sister practiced figure skating. Katya really wanted to be like Sveta, so she was always striving to follow her.

– Were there plans for professional sport from the beginning or did it all start with a simple hobby?
– Katya just skated. Like all children start: they skate, then somewhere something works out, somewhere it doesn’t. When she was 10 years old, she was invited to a screening for ice dancing. We auditioned, and we were accepted. Then Dimochka came(Dmitry Solovyov – Russian figure skater, Ekaterina’s partner in ice dancing.–Note: “Championship”). Since then, they have been growing up together.

– Did you motivate her in any way, or was her main motivation always solely victories?
– Of course. Both of my daughters are highly motivated to play sports, to work, to study, to learn. I think all mothers motivate their children in some way, so that they can achieve success in life, not necessarily in sports. We found different motivations, I would say.

– Like what kind of motivation?
–(Laughs.) A well-known children’s story. When Katya started skating, she was in Natalia Nikolaevna Titova’s group (our very first coach). And if she couldn’t do something, she would say: “Well, at least give me some candy.” So she practiced for a candy bar. And then Katya got involved, became conscious and began to realize that she was doing well. The guys, Katya and Dima, were motivated, and there was a desire to go to the Russian Championships and achieve results there, then – to the Grand Prix and the World Junior Championships. By the way, it was very interesting at the World Championships. After all, it was the first time we had been there. Katya was 16 and Dima was 17, and they won it. And then we went straight to the adult competitions.

I can say from these Olympic Games that the moral aspect, in my opinion, is now more decisive than physical data. You can be seven inches tall and they won’t let you in. That’s the scary part.

– Katya must have had a very busy schedule: early rises, long training sessions. How did you manage?
– We did our lessons in the car, on the trolleybus, because we left for training on the first trolleybus. You know the movie “The First Trolleybus”? It’s just like in the movie. They opened the first door because it was impossible to get on the trolleybus. We got on the first seat and rode to the “Young Pioneer” stadium.

– It’s not easy. What was your schedule? After all, there is another daughter Sveta, who is also involved in sports.
– Sveta practiced, yes, but by that time she was already independent. She was already about 11-12 years old. Dad was also involved. In the evening, he or I would pick up the older daughter from training, so we were always changing. Svetochka was already more independent, so she often traveled by herself.

– You also worked as a teacher at that time. In general, is it difficult to support your family, do yourself and your home in such a mode?
– When young people say that they are tired, I don’t know what to say. We were tired too, but somehow we managed to do everything. Two children: one went to the skating rink, the other to the garden; I went to and from work. Somehow we made a schedule so that I had time to come and pick them up. My husband also helped. Mostly we(parents. – Note: “Championship”), of course, did it. Grandmothers were a little distant.

– And what kind of rest did you usually have between training and competitions? How did you used to spend your free time with your family? Maybe you have some traditions?
– Yes! There are a lot of traditions in our family. Moreover, we involve a lot of people in them. For example, our dacha is in a village in the Istrinsky district, and we have a tradition there: we go to carols. The whole family dresses up in some funny outfits and goes to all the friends’ houses. That’s how we go caroling. We also celebrate Shrovetide every year. I sew a doll, which is then burned. A huge number of people gather. The whole village comes together. Katya usually participates, but she can’t this year, I’m sorry. And we are also such hikers, you could say we go hiking, skiing and kayaking.

– Even your family’s vacations are active!
– Very active. Dad is worried that he can not now run “Ski Track of Russia”(All-Russian mass ski race. It took place on February 11.–Note “Championship”). Every year both Sveta and Katya and their father participate in the “Ski Track of Russia” and in the “Moscow Ski Track” (traditional cross-country skiing competitions. – Editor’s note). And I’m waiting for them at home with tea.

Then the boys won the world championship, and Svetlana Lvovna said: “Katya, Dima, you don’t belong to yourselves. You belong to the country!”

– With such a heavy schedule, it’s hard for kids to practice. Did little Katya have a desire to quit training? How did you feel about it? What did you say to her?
– You know, there were some wonderful words that maybe sounded high-minded, lofty, but it was very hard for the kids. That was when they were juniors. And later they became world champions, and that made things even more difficult. Svetlana Lvovna Alexeeva(Ekaterina Bobrova’s coach. Former Soviet figure skater, two-time USSR Cup winner. Master of Sports of the USSR International Class, Honored Coach of Russia.–Note: “Championship”) said: “Next year will be easier” – and it was getting harder and harder. But, you know, there was no obvious period when Katya wanted to quit. You see, if a child says like this: “I won’t go, I won’t go!”, no one will tie his hands and carry him to practice. Then the guys won the world championship, and Svetlana Lvovna said: “Katya, Dima, you don’t belong to yourselves. You belong to the country!” And when she said that, they looked at her like: “What do you mean? This is us?” That was a real argument. After that, every year a lot more effort was spent – both moral and physical. The easiest thing to do is to take it, quit and go nowhere. All the opponents are waiting for it, but you have to say: “You won’t wait! We will still skate and show results”. That’s what happened for us this morning (February 12). At the third Olympic Games, silver for me is even higher than gold and higher than Sochi gold. It’s very much worth it.

– Could you have ever thought that your daughter could achieve such high results? That is, when little Katya went to her first training, did you have any expectations?
– Of course not. There are 15 of them in the group. I can name such a pleiad of talented children who are now skating in shows and elsewhere. Some of them may have quit a long time ago. There were a lot of kids in the section, and you don’t know who has what kind of sports path. It’s different for everyone. It was obvious, of course, that Katya was an extraordinary girl. In terms of being such a dancer. But then again, every mom has a talented child. Someone reaches the top, someone does not – that’s how it works. This is the sports life, sports luck, colossal labor. Maybe someone gave himself a slack and did not go to training, and someone overcame everything. There are plenty of examples nowadays.

– Yes, professional sport is hard work.
– Naturally. I can say from these Olympic Games that the moral aspect, in my opinion, is now more decisive than physical data. You can be seven inches tall and they won’t let you in. That’s the scary part.

– Not everyone who devotes practically their whole life to a cause can achieve those kinds of results. Again, there’s the possibility of all sorts of injuries or other factors that affect physical fitness. Have you had any thoughts that your kids’ training might go to waste?
– It never goes to waste. That’s not the right approach at all. Nothing goes to waste. For example, a person studies music, he will never be Chopin, but music will lead him through life. He doesn’t sit on the couch, he makes music. And it will definitely be of use to him. Yes, you can sit on the couch, play computer games and just breeze through this life. Everything else is necessary. All the more sport is health, it is trips around the world, if they are successful, and so on. That’s great.

– It really is. Do you talk to Katya before every performance? What words of encouragement do you say?
– The coaching staff monitors the mood. The only words I always say are that I love her very much. That’s my daughter. I have the most beautiful both of them. Now she called me, and I said to her: “Katusha, you are my most favorite, my most golden.” And as Lyosha Yagudin(Russian figure skater, Honored Master of Sports of Russia. – “Championship” note) said on TV today: “This silver medal is worth its weight in gold!”. I totally agree with him, because in such a situation, the guys are just great. The whole team is just good.

– Do you watch the competitions at all? Do you attend them?
– In my time I attended all competitions, but I didn’t watch them live. I was always leaving the stands, because it’s very exciting. And when we came to Sasha Zhulin(figure skating coach, Soviet and Russian figure skater.–Note “Championship”) in the group, he saw that I was leaving at the competition. He said to me: “Mother, where are you going? You have such energy! You have to sit and watch and hold your child.” There’s an expression among parents, “hold on.” We all have a very strong connection with our children. After that, I watch all the competitions. I, for example, make sure to watch live, if there is one, and not some recordings.

– And in conclusion, do you maybe have some advice for all moms of champions?
– I keep saying that you have to be able to give the carrot in time and give the stick in time. I think every mom knows that. At what moment to pity, at what moment to support, at what moment, maybe, to act more harshly. But, you know, there are no characterless people in big sports. I don’t know any. They are strong personalities, strong characters. So all they need is support. They all need to know that we love them very much, that they are the best, no matter what place they take.