Q: Are the "student- coach" relationships in figure skating are based on contracts now?

A.N. Mishin: These are more like agreements then contracts whether made public or not. As for me, I believe in relationships that are built on human relations and I have to say it works. Maybe, I was lucky to have decent students or maybe, the system based on human relations is more valuable then any signed papers.

Q: Figure skaters are rich now, aren't they?

A.N. Mishin: I'd rather not discuss that. In two words, though, - the elite skaters are better off financially then they used to be.

Q: How about coaches?

A.N. Mishin: The same applies to them as well.

Q:  Is everything all right relations-wise in this particular sport?

A.N. Mishin: There are two kinds of relationships.  Men usually behave as gentlemen to each other. There is, sometimes, an element of dislike among girls.  The most dirt, though, that exists now in figure skating, is related to ice dancing. Probably, the reason for that is our coaches who have shown an example of digging up dirt and squabble. Their names are well-known.  As for ice dancing itself, in my opinion, it's not a real sport because  lack of objective criteria for judging. That only stimulates the negative processes.

Q: Some people say that after Urmanov turned pro the harmonic era in figure skating has ended.

A: Harmony is a relative thing. After all, how does figure skating develop? At first, a technical side of skating rapidly improves. It keeps improving for a while but then it starts to slow down and the artistic side begins to catch up. Finally, it catches up and even gets ahead of the technical skills. Here's a classical example: at some point Belousova/Protapopov became ideal technically. Later their technical growth stopped while they've continued to perfect themselves artistically. Then Rodnina made a leap ahead and at the beginning, the technical aspect of her skating had dominated over the presentation. So, at some point when the technical skills and artistry become equal parts, such masters, as Urmanov, might appear.

Q: What would you say about yourself as a coach?

A.N. Mishin: My training system doesn't involve many hours of working on ice. I believe the education and the knowledge that I've gotten, help me a lot. I am grateful for those years that I've spent working on my Ph.D,
studying jump technique, biomechanics. A will to learn from others also means a lot. At the beginning of my carrier I had a chance to take special courses with Karlo Fassi in America, Frau Muller in Germany and, of course, our home school of Zhuk and Moskvin became the third corner-stone. Don't be surprised but I still remember the years that I've spent co-editing a sport section of "Smena" where you, yourself, used to work with your assistant Yura Koveshnikov. Over there I could watch the reporters' work from the inside. It was an interesting experience that taught me a lot. Those lessons of journalism were useful to me as well. 

Q: Thank you for such an unexpected compliment. Could you then give a prognosis in reporter's style for Salt Lake City?

A.N. Mishin: What is  usually going on during those four years between the Olympics? If the strongest athletes leave sport during the first year after the Olympic Games, their places will be taken by "in-between leaders", who, as a rule, don't last for all those four years.  The new leaders, who are the real contenders for winning, should appear this year. So, there is not much time left to wait.