“Zagitova took my hand, and I’m so shy…” Russian figure skater who unexpectedly won everyone at the Grand Prix – Sport24.ru – online sports news in Russia and the world

19 year old Vladislav Dikidzhi – unexpected winner of the fourth stage Russian Grand Prix in Figure Skating in Kazan. A student of Oleg Tataurov, at his first major adult tournament, performed all the jumps in both programs cleanly and scored a respectable 287.40 points, beating his titled opponents.

Sport24 correspondent Konstantin Lesik met with Vlad shortly before the award ceremony and found out what she told him Alina Zagitova during the victory, is a quadruple jump possible, how Dikiji got into figure skating and much more.

Let’s meet the new star of men’s singles!

“I’m still shocked by how I skated. Hasn’t left yet. My main emotion is shock. Well, I’m glad, that’s understandable,” — Vlad evaluates his performance at the Grand Prix in Kazan.

— Was everything a hundred percent successful?
— Regarding the jumping part, yes. It didn’t work out very well in terms of rotations and tracks. In the short program I made the track to the third level – for me this is good, plus or minus. Rotations – on the fourth. In the free program – two rotations on the third and a track on the second, it was one of the last elements, and I no longer had the strength for it. Tired. These are probably the only shortcomings.

— What were your emotions when you saw your grades? You seemed surprised.
– Of course, I was surprised. This is a record for me. I didn’t believe that I could score so many points. If we talk about previous achievements, I remember I competed at the Panin-Kolomenkin Memorial and scored about 260 points (257.56 – Sport24). And here I have 287.40. This is a significant difference. (Smiles). But then I was without a Lutz.

— You found out about your championship while standing next to Alina Zagitova. What did she tell you at that very moment?
– I don’t remember, ha ha! I still haven’t recovered from what happened. She took and lifted me by the hand so that I could wave. At that moment they showed me on the main screen, and I was so shy…

— So you felt modest, despite the victory?
– Of course, I am a simple person myself.

— Nevertheless, you beat many strong skaters, even the current Russian champion Evgeniy Semenenko.
— Everyone who performed in Kazan are strong guys. Zhenya and Gleb Lutfullin are professionals in their field.

– Aren’t you a professional?
– Me too, probably, haha. But the opponents are strong guys. I don’t know how to comment on my victory… One-time event. If I confirm my gold at the next tournaments, then we can talk about something. And so, maybe luck played a more important role. I don’t understand it myself yet…

— Did the guys congratulate you?
— Yes, we shook hands and congratulated each other on the completion of the competition.

— How did you get into figure skating?
“I don’t really remember, but my mother told me that she wanted to send me to figure skating. And at the age of four I went on the ice. There were no other sports in my life.

— Do you have any childhood memories?
– There is only one thing left. I remember performing when I was very young. This was my first program. I rode forward and took the swallow’s leg into the ring. And he took it so poorly, he overdid it with his strength, that he plopped his nose on the ice. I even started bleeding, I think.

— How did you get to your current coach Oleg Tataurov?
— I’ve been studying with Oleg Stanislavovich since I was 9-10 years old. Before him, I had only one coach, Tatyana Gennadievna Petrova. She taught me the double, double axel. Oleg Stanislavovich noticed me at the Zhuk memorial, and then entered me into competitions together with Tatyana Gennadievna. And then the first coach was offered a job, in my opinion, in Switzerland, and I stayed with Tataurov.

I just have a wonderful coach. For so long we have developed a good relationship. He does everything to keep me up and up.

— You are 19 years old now, but this is your first season as an adult. Why didn’t you come out earlier?
— To be honest, I don’t know myself. Oleg Stanislavovich decided for me. Whatever he says, I will do. I’m not arguing in any way. I myself would have entered the seniors earlier, but that was the coach’s decision.

— You will soon have a million subscribers on TikTok. How did you decide to start an account?
— I had Tiktok downloaded, I was just scrolling through it, watching videos. I came across a foreign TikToker there who danced very well. I was inspired by his work, made a similar nickname, bought a similar mask, and copied the style.

And slowly it began to develop. One video took off: 20 thousand views – wow, not bad! Further more. I could stand at home for an hour or two, delve into all these movements.

-You dance really well. Did you work professionally?
– No, these are all years of training. I seem to be pretty good at dancing on the floor. But this is without professional training. I studied on my own and gained experience.

My favorite is Tiktok, where I dance in the street and my dog ​​runs after me.

– What is the dog’s name?
— Her name is Sharky, 4 years old, bull terrier. Good, sweet girl. Obedient.

— A few years ago, you answered me in an interview that your idol is Andrei Mozalev. Has your favorite skater changed now?
– It’s clear that I answered as a joke then. In all seriousness, I recently re-watched Nathan Chen’s talk. I really liked the way he skated. I admire this man. He performs a program with five quadruples, and then some hip-hop dances… And ends the show with a smile on his face! It was as if he wasn’t even tired. Although I jumped so much, I skated so much. I need to strive for that level.

– Do you believe that a quadruple jump is possible?
— We constantly talk about this topic with my father. I tell him: “Well, where next? Quadruples are already difficult.” And he told me: “If you work, work hard, then anything is possible. And five, and six, and seven.”

Lately I’ve been rethinking this point. And I think that, most likely, yes. Fives will do it. I don’t know when, but they will. I will, haha!

— At this stage you had excellent Salchow and Lutz. Do you plan to insert other quads into the program?
– I don’t know yet. These are my most stable quads. It’s probably not worth adding others just yet. Perhaps next season or the season after that I’ll add some kind of loop.

— Does the lack of international competitions affect your preparation?
– Doesn’t have any effect. I try to prepare well for any competition. Especially from this season.

— You said that you would never play for another country. Why?
— I love my coach, Oleg Stanislavovich. I will always be with him, I will do what he says. I don’t want to go anywhere – neither to another country, nor to another coach.

— How do you spend your free time?
— I work with children, I teach them a little bit. I have tackles, plus or minus, every day. I’m getting home a little late. I leave at 8 am and arrive around 10 pm. But I like this lifestyle. I like to move, I’m constantly on my feet. Because of this, my endurance has improved. I work constantly and I really enjoy it.

On Saturday I have one training session, and the remaining free time I spend with my girlfriend. On Sunday I can also give someone a ride.

— Fans and journalists may jokingly call you “Wild G.” Do you often see this?
– Actually, often. They really like to distort my last name. I am neutral about this. There is no such thing as whether I like it or not. They distort and distort. If they want, please. The most unusual distortions occur in the sphere of friends. For example, Izhdikid. The letters are turned upside down in different ways. But this was not the case among the fans.

-What would you like to be called?
– Preferably by name, of course. Vlados, Vladosik. Or just Vlad. In general, call it whatever you want! At least Wild G, at least Izhdikid.

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