The charming Elena Sokolova who, despite her second place, is one of the discoveries at the Grand Prix event in St. Petersburg. After switching coaches, from  Victor Kudriavtsev to Alexei Mishin, who brought up such athletes as Alexei Urmanov, Alexei Yagudin and Evgeny Plushenko, she has become a sensation and not only in Russian figure skating.

-Why have you decided to take such a step? 
-I realized that I wanted to work with Alexei Mishin in 1994, when Alexei Urmanov stepped on the top of the Olympic podium. I can not tell you how happy I am now! I am among the people who respect me and are able to give me a lot.

-Was it uncomfortable for you at Kudriavtsev's?
-We've kept our good relations. Sometimes in life, not only in sports, people are not meant to work together. Things didn't work out for us but I'm glad that we have parted nicely.

-Have you felt a lack of attention while training in Kudriavtsev's group?
- It never actually offended me: Victor Nikolaevich has been training Vika since she was four years old. I'm the one who joined later.

-How did you got into Mishin's school?
- It was not Alexei Nikolaevich, I asked myself. I was not shy, I just came up to him and asked if he would be interested in working with me. I'm not a timid kind of girl.

-How long have you been waiting for an answer?
- I asked him in the middle of the last season, right after the National's but it became final in May. Alexei Nikolaevich didn't want me to change my style because I've come to it after 16 years of skating but training with him gave me a lot: now I've got a better technique overall and in jumps in particular. It improved my presentation and consistency.

-Last season when you were not even able to make National team to skate at Euro's and World's, did you think that time is running out for you and you have to make some major changes?
-Everybody reaches the peak of a career at different age: an American, Tara Lipinski, won the Olympics at 16, Masha Butyrskaya on the other hand, was 26 when she became the World Champion. I'm sure, right now my time is coming.

-While you were with Kudriavtsev you've been competing with others girls in his group, do you try to compete with Evgeny Plushenko now?
- It's hard - he is too good! But I've learned a lot from him.

-Do you argue sometimes?
-Couple of times, during practice. We forgave each other right after that. Alexei Nikolaevich is a remarkable psychologist, he knows how to "smooth the corners." 

-Have you lost some weight since the last season?
-I am not going to tell you.

-Why?
- Do you like the way I look now?

-Very much!
- I believe that your fans and spectators should like you, however, how you got into such shape is not really important to know.

-What goals did you set for yourself?
- I just want skate well, make the National team. It's already a lot to accomplish, I mean the plans that we made with Alexei Nikolaevich. It's for judges to decide.

-You need, at least, the third place at National's in December in Moscow to get into the Russian team.
-I don't settle on minimums anymore. I want to establish myself. If you liked me, I hope that everybody will too.