The 2024-2025 Russian figure skating season is kicking off, as usual, with test skates. This year, they’re taking place at the Yubileyny Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, where the Russian national team skaters are presenting their new programs to judges and fans alike.
It’s been quite an eventful offseason for the 2021 Russian Championship silver medalist and multiple-time national and international medalist Makar Ignatov. After skating his short program, he talked with journalists about the changes in both his personal and professional life.
Newly married and with a new coaching team – how are these changes impacting you, your skating, and your programs?
Well, yeah, they definitely are. It’d be silly to say everything stayed the same. There have been a lot of changes, and changes always push you forward, take you out of your comfort zone. I believe standing still is the same as going backwards, so I’m always looking to move ahead.
How do you feel about today’s performance?
My jumps were solid, but my skating… (pauses). I liked how I started, but then I faded a bit. It’s just nerves – this was my first public skate of the season. It’s not an official competition, but there’s still a level of responsibility you feel. Overall, I’d rate myself around a 6 or 7 out of 10.
We have to ask about your new hairstyle.
I’ve been wanting to try something different for a while. It just so happened that Sasha was getting her hair done, and I thought, “Why not? I want to do it too.” So I said, “Let’s go together!” And, well, we did (laughs).
Sasha (Ignatova, formerly Trusova) was standing by the boards during your skate. Did that make you more nervous?
Not really. We skate together every day, so it felt pretty normal.
Sasha once said, “The only time I get to see Makar is when we’re training.” How do you balance your personal and professional lives? Or do you try to keep them separate?
It’s hard to separate them, especially when both of us are in the same sport. But she was mostly joking when she said that. At the rink, we’re focused on training, and there’s not much room for romance (smiles). Home is home, and the rink is the rink.
Your coach, Evgeni Plushenko, mentioned that both of your programs this season are more lyrical. How do you feel about that style?
It’s hard to say. Every program becomes part of you as the season goes on. You get into the character and find the emotion. This year’s short program is a little unusual for me – it’s faster-paced… (pauses and turns to a journalist who’s typing furiously on her laptop). I’m amazed at how you type without even looking at the keyboard. Just tap-tap-tap.
Well, how do you skate without looking at your feet? Same idea.
We do look down sometimes, you know. Wait, what was I saying?
Doesn’t matter anymore (everyone laughs).
How are you adjusting to life in Moscow? Do you miss St. Petersburg? Do you get to visit often?
I guess as soon as I moved, the federation decided to hold more competitions in St. Petersburg, so I wouldn’t miss it too much! As soon as I left for Moscow, they finally moved the test skates to St. Petersburg.
But seriously, I come back pretty often for holidays and things like that. For example, the day before our wedding, we were at a friend’s wedding here in St. Petersburg. We got married on August 17, but on the 16th, we were still here attending a wedding.
Since we keep coming back to this topic, what’s it like having two athletes in the same family? Is it challenging, or is it easier because you both “speak the same language”?
Honestly, just having two people in a family is hard (laughs). It really depends on the people. It’s silly to rely on clichés or set criteria. Every relationship is different.
Are you planning to compete in the Panin Memorial?
We’ll see. We’ve talked about it and are considering it. We’ll figure it out as the season goes on.
By Liudmila Orlova, St. Petersburg