Новости и информация|News&Media Information

This thread is created for exchanging all sorts of information. i.e articles, news or interviews in English.
Here we can also put our reports of any events connected with Kevin Reynolds or some other informative issues.

Anastasiya Bochkareva’s report of the fan meeting with Kevin Reynolds 29.04.11 in Moscow
Translated into English by Elena Shatrova (Shallena) – sorry for all my mistakes!
Link to the original: https://kevinreynolds.forumisrael.net/t26p60-topic

Kevin Reynolds showed his firm and persistent character and the will for victory at the World Championships 2011 in Moscow, he fought for each element. Russian supporters really appreciated it and greeted him very heartily.

Men’s competitions were over and became the history of Figure Skating
Taking hard the results of the competitions, we really wanted to tell Kevin the most suitable words in the world, support him, encourage and say how we love him. We had the aim – to come to an agreement about the meeting – to know for sure when and at what time it would happen. We rushed to ‘Aerostar’. (the name of the hotel where the figure skaters lived - Shallena) We together with Lena went at the head, and my mum had almost to run after us. While hurrying we were discussing how we would be searching Kevin in such a considerable hotel and were really scared that we would fail.

We entered the hotel at full speed. There were lots of people – figure skaters, fans totally equipped with cameras, coaches, security, the stuff– a really big crowd, excited voices, applauses, laughter, greetings. And – in the foreground - half-turned to us, tall and slender as a birch, with finely straightened shoulders, light eyes, with a huge shock of sandy ( not red !) hair there were Kevin and his coach – delicate Joanne MacLeod. All three of us rushed to him – ‘Kevin!!!’ I got scared that he would suddenly disappear just at that moment and we would never find him any more. He turned to us and was looking in surprise. We almost ran up to him, greeted and then… a great pause. We clean forgot almost all words. Then, after the shock had vanished, Lena became able to speak.













While we were talking to handsome Kevin, his coach Joanne McLeod stood modestly aside and was attentively watching her pupil from there. My mum asked her to sigh our Canadian flag. Joanne got really surprised to be recognized and gave her autograph with an ordinary ball pen, but it was almost transparent and very little for such a big flag, so we asked Joanne to sign it later once more with a marker, she did so and also drew a funny smiley.
Meanwhile Lena and Kevin came to the agreement about the meeting at 11 a.m. the next day. A load had been taken off our mind. Thank God! We did it!!!
And of course we asked for photos as a remembrance of this meeting.



And then Kevin himself signed our flag.



At night we together with Lena were feverishly devising questions for Kevin via Skype. Surely they should have been discussed in conference on the forum as soon as we had learnt about the meeting. But it couldn’t be helped, so we had to do our best - made a rough calculation of the time needed and how many questions we would be able to ask. So it was agreed to have several questions as a reserve. What a happiness that we did so! The meeting turned out to last much longer that we had suggested.

The rest of the night I was tortured by nightmares: I was trying to catch somebody, was hurrying and rushing somewhere. In the morning, as agreed, my mum and I bought a bouquet of Gerberas and, carrying the flowers and the presents, we headed for ‘Aerostar’. God knows why but we hired the taxi to get to the hotel from the underground (it’s a 10-minute walk) – we wanted to come quicker but it turned out the opposite: we got into a terrible traffic jam and the taxi brought us to God-knows-where, so we had to run to the hotel. Having entered, we found Lena and Natasha entertaining Kevin with a conversation. Thank you so much, girls!

We feverishly installed the tripod for video recording, prepared the camera. I gave the short speech I had prepared for Kevin. I really wanted to speak English but all in vain. As being very nervous I almost wasn’t able to speak my Mother tongue. So I said something like: ‘Kevin, we are very happy to see you in Moscow. We all were really worried for the Japanese people and awfully sorry for them, and we supported Japan heartily. When on the tribunes the Japanese supporters lifted the posters which said ‘Russia, thank you for your kindness’, many Russians were crying. And we are really glad that ISU chose Russia as a place for the World Championships-2011.’
That was my speech. And Lena translated it into English.

Then we started giving presents. Kevin was really embarrassed but it was clear that our attention was pleasant to him.

Kevie was smiling very sweetly. And it was really hard to take pictures of him – he got really embarrassed of the girls’ attention and put down his eyes, that’s why he came out with closed eyes on the majority of the photos.
There’s one stereotype about him – he’s a redhead. But he isn’t red-haired. His hair was fair - sandy-brown, somewhat of platinum shade, but not really red. The face is gentle as a girl’s, so amazingly clean that every girl can envy.
It’s a real metamorphosis – when you look at him, he’s as delicate as a girl. It really seems that he has high voice, but he’s got a nice baritone and manlike manners. Though he embarrasses so much, such a honey-bunny – and yet he neither gets confused, nor obviously nervous (in comparison with us who were all nerves and shaking with excitement) I was observing his hands – they were placed on the knees very calmly though a little bit clenched. Kevin answered all questions at once and quickly.
His eyes are sky blue, very attentive.
We offered him a seat on the sofa – and he was sitting there obediently for an hour and a half, answering our questions. He didn’t fidget, didn’t jump up, all his movements were measured and restful.
But we deserve no praise! He was talking for almost an hour and a half, but we didn’t even think of offering him a sip of water! And to Lena either. It was clear how nervous she was, as she was given such a responsibility! When she got too much perplexed, she was scratching her head nervously. Natasha was sitting steadily but was obviously anxious. She helped Lena ask Kevin questions. In some time, when we got a little more relaxed, we all started asking questions.



I liked the question- Kevin, have you got a girl-friend? He said that there was none, but he was hoping there would one be in the future.



I like his sportive mood for the future Olympics in Sochi.



And I’d like to thank Marina Kosova for these photos.





Then the time for the autograph-session came. Kevin’s got a very beautiful signature. He gave the autographs for everyone and even signed pictures and papers for those, who hadn’t come.









And we gave him our autographs too.



And then went to take pictures against the stand with the emblem of the Championships.









We helped Kevie to collect all the presents into the big beautiful bag with the print of St. Basil’s Cathedral, and I made several pictures, unfortunately their quality isn’t very good but they can reveal the atmosphere. Then we saw our Solnyshko off.





And fell almost unconscious on the sofa.



The Sports legends were passing by - the Olympic champions, the World champions and just good sportsmen, but we paid no attention to them.

During our meeting there were a lot of sportsmen in the hotel lobby. Patrick Chan was passing us rapidly and, seeing the Canadian flag, stopped in three steps from us. He saw Kevie with flowers in his hands and in a group of girls, and got surprised – he himself hadn’t been given any flowers. Some girls came up to him to ask for an autograph, and my mum came up to him too and said something like: ‘Patrick, you’re really great, but we love Kevin the most!!!’ I don’t know how they translated these words to him, but Patrick seemed to understand everything even without the translation and waved his hand to us.



For those who were not present at the Championships I’d like to tell and show what happened around us during the fan meeting with Kevin, in order to give you the panoramic view of the event. I took these pictures after we had said goodbye to our bunny. By the way, while I was taking the pictures, Kevin returned to the lobby, and different people started coming up to him for a photo or an autograph, asked him questions. He wasn’t already that embarrassed. I wanted to listen to him again, but now it was our turn to get embarrassed, and so we hurried to leave ‘Aerostar’.
I should say that the atmosphere in ‘Aerostar’ was amazing! I had neither taken a part in such events before, nor even been present at them. But I realized that it’s a kind of a ‘ritual’ for sportsmen – to come out to their fans and mix with them. Everything was calm and peaceful there in spite of the a great number of people - the security in black suits were on the alert. And the sportsmen were reveling in their fans’ love and affection. They were leaving for their rooms and then coming back again. It was the moment of the truth. The guys saw that all their extremely hard work hadn’t been in vain. Some of them, for example Brian Joubert, came to the Championships with their mums. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and their mums as well were eagerly being photographed with the fans.













The World Champion, the millionaire and my colleague flutist Charlie White.



I’m writing about this and show you these pictures so that you could see who were near Kevin at this great sports occasion.

Kevin, I thank you so much for the joy you gave us!
And I thank God for the new friends!

(And then comes the song – the official hymn of the Olympics in 1980 in Moscow – I could have translated it as well but it won’t be the song… So is it Ok to leave it in Russian?
It says that now we get apart but no doubt we’ll meet again one day!!! Maybe in Sochi – Shallena)

« До свиданья,Москва!» ('Goodbye, Moscow')
Композитор: Александра Пахмутова Автор текста: Николай Добронравов

Не грусти,улыбнись на прощанье,
Вспоминай эти дни, вспоминай.
Пожелай исполненья желаний,
Новой встречи нам всем пожелай.

Расстаются друзья,
Остается в сердце нежность,
Будем счастье беречь,
До свиданья, до новых встреч!

This is an article from a Japanese magazine "World Figure Skating No.36"
Sorry for the quality of the photos, and my poor translation.
My scanner is broken but I don't really plan to buy a new one right now. I'll post the better photos when I go to my parents' and use their's, or when I buy a new one, but I can't say when exactly I can do it. Really sorry!


interview with rising young skaters
Kevin Reynolds
***A miracle jumper from Canada***
Interviewed 30th Nov. 2008 at NHK Trophy

Kevin Reynolds finished 4th at NHK, he is getting really close to the podium.
Last season, an 18-year-old from Vancouver landed a 4+3+2 combination at Cup of Russia, and also landed a 4+3+3 combination at Canadian national. We had an interview with him and his coach Joanne McLeod who trained Emanuel Sandhu.

---Tell us how you felt about this competition(NHK Trophy).

Kevin: I think I skated both of my programs (short and free) pretty well. I landed 3 quadruple jumps very well, and I was able to put 3 triple axels in my programs.

---When did you start skating?

Kevin: I started with hockey when I was 4 years old, but I was very small as a hockey player, so I went into figure skating at age of 7.

---Have you been coached by Joanne since then?

Kevin: Yes.

McLeod: I moved to Vancouver, and Kevin was there at the very first seminar I held in Vancouver. And I thought he was a cute and talented boy. When all the other pupils got off the rink, only Kevin kept skating around me, and that was the moment I felt something special on him. I was also pleased that he liked jumping. So, Kevin and I continued practice on that day, and he did his first axel jump(smile)

---How do you think about him as your pupil?

McLeod: He has a wonderful agility that enables him to rotate quikcly when he jumps, and to do quick footworks. And I think that's the biggest reason why he is good at quadruple jumps. Plus, he is smart and has a very nice personality. I think he has everything needed to be a champion.

---When did you start to practice the quadruple jumps? and when dod you land your first quad?

Kevin: Since when I was a novice. My first quad was a salchow, when I was 15.

---Who is your skating idol?

Kevin: Evgeni Plushenko.

---How about your senior training mate Emanuel Sandhu?

Kevin: I respect him. He gave me a big motivation as I saw him landing quads and triple axels.

---What, do you think, is your weak spot?

Kevin: Expression. I want to be able to express more to the audience. This year, Tatiana Tarasova helps me in this aspect.

McLeod: His programs this year are choreographed by Tatiana. Fortunately, she recognizes Kevin's ability.

---What do you think about Jeffrey Buttle's retirement?

Kevin: I think it must have been a difficult decision, but I guess he would have liked to quit in the prime of his career. And it makes the opportunity widely opened to younger skaters.

---What would you like to achieve at Canadian Nationals in January?

Kevin: I'd like to finish in the top3 and to make the world team. I know it's an important event because we'll have to compete for the olympic berths, but I think I can do my best to bring 3 spots to Canada.

---It's your dream to participate 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, isn't it?

Kevin: Yes, it will be a great experience if I can skate at the Olympic games in my hometown.

McLeod: Vancouver city looks forward to seeing Kevin competing at the Olympics.



Below the photo says: He has just finished highschool. He says he would like to study "city planning" at the university in his future.


Below the photo says: "Kevin is a skater who always keeps "never-give-up-spirit" until the end of his performance." said Joanne McLeod.

nana-tantan, thank you so much for your work! your English is great, and it's much better than mine! please, don't worry about the pictures - we can be very patient!))

Shallena and nana-tantan, thank you very much!

One more report (part I) of the fan meeting with Kevin Reynolds 29.04.11 in Moscow
Written and translated into English by Shallena (Elena Shatrova) – sorry for all my mistakes! I write in Russian too artistically, so it's really hard for me to translate all that structures in proper English!!!((
Link to the original: https://kevinreynolds.forumisrael.net/t26p30-topic

How we met Kevin – Day 1!)))

Everybody knows that if you want something really passionately, you will get it in the end. But nobody knows how far it will stretch your poor nerves…

That’s why I really would like to thank with all my heart and soul Aline for asking Kevin for the meeting, Nastya and her mum for all their help and support in the banner-and-presents- matters, and especially for that we were keeping together in all extremely nervousness of the two first days of the Championships, and Natasha and the other girls for coming to the meeting. I can say for sure – we wouldn’t do without you, and nothing would come out as it did!

So, we knew that the meeting with Kevin was to happen! We even knew where it was to happen! But we didn’t have a clue when it was to happed – and, as for me, it was gradually driving me mad. That’s why, after having taken counsel on the tribunes via sms, we made our minds to go to ‘Aerostar’ as soon as the pairs finish competing, search for Mr. Reynolds there and ask him personally when we were to meet each other. (And, frankly speaking, somewhere inside of me there was a holy terror swirling – which, happily, didn’t turn into an infernal dread – of the thought that Kevin had got very upset because of bad results of his Free skating, and therefore he would be ashamed to meet with us. And, if we didn’t arrange the time with him ourselves, he wouldn’t come out neither at 10 nor at 11 a.m. …so I was ready to go anywhere at all and do whatever was necessary to make the meeting take place!)

While hurrying to ‘Aerostar’ the three of us were elaborating the strategy, how to look for Kevin or call him out of the room, and I, on the one hand, was thinking how not to fall into a happy faint of seeing him, and, on the other hand, panicking what to do if we wouldn’t be able to find him. In the end I forbade myself to think at all.

That’s why, when we entered ‘Aerostar’ and immediately saw the dearest and the sunniest, my brain didn’t have the opportunity to get activated at once. Then it started working not to allow me to squeak loudly: “Good gracious, how handsome he is!!!”. And only after that I realized that I would have to talk to him. As a possessor of a higher education diploma in English Philology and the experience of 11-year-English-language teaching, I seldom have difficulties in talking with English-speaking foreigners. As a good mixer I almost never have difficulties in socializing at all, maybe even on the contrary. But at that moment I got so marvelously stuck, that could only mumble, hem and haw, and had almost an overwhelming desire to say only the phrase, well-remembered since the primary school: “London is a capital of Great Britain…” I guess I might have not come to myself till the following morning but for Nastya and Galina Alexandrovna. I looked at them, recalled the aim of our visit, took a deep breath and started…

I don’t even know for how long we were talking, as it’s very hard, or almost impossible to notice time while together with Kevin – no matter if it’s a minute or an hour and a half – but I can say for sure that when he said that the meeting would be held at 11 a.m the following day, as they had agreed with Aline, a load measuring the Himalayas was taken off my mind. To tell the truth, I still couldn’t realize the reality and believe in it, that’s why I asked again and again for at least five times: “So, tomorrow at 11?”, “That’s for sure, is it?”, “We are meeting here, are we?”, “So we’ll wait for you here, will we?”, “OK, see you tomorrow then?”, and to my every question Kevin nodded and said: “Yes”, “OK” and “Sure”.

Then we were taking pictures and Kevin and Joanne MacLeod were signing Nastya’s Canadian flag – Joanne, contrary to my expectations, turned out to be a very nice and friendly lady (before that, watching her only while Kevin’s skating at the competitions, I thought Joanne to be very strict and stern). It’s funny but while arranging with Kevin about the meeting I was able to turn my eyes for a minute to Joanne (and it’s extremely hard to shift the gaze from Kevin, as his sunny face is really captivating) I saw her standing with the radiant smile watching me and her pupil talking in a manner: “Yeah?” – “Sure!”, “Sure?!” – “Yeah!”, “So, agreed then?” – “Yes, certainly!”

After Kevin left, I was still thoughtlessly standing in the lobby, being very deep inside myself. Some skaters were passing by, some girls were running past, and I was just standing within the impression of complete unreality, like in a dream. It was only the question by Nastya that made me come to myself: “What did Kevin tell you?” And for at least 30 seconds I couldn’t remember what was so important that he had been to tell me, and, if he had, what it was…

Then, as if half in coma I talked to Tomas Verner, who happened to pass by, even thanked him for his skating. But my thoughts were somewhere else but not there and then… so I left the hotel. On my way home I could tell my friends (whom I met near the underground station) nothing but “You can’t even imagine how amazing he is!”, could think, actually, of nothing else either. Only of his kind eyes, and of the trouble that while I’d been talking to him I’d got a cramp in my neck, and then it was terribly aching.

At night there was Skype-counselling with Nastya and devising questions for the meeting, and I could tear myself of this activity only because at some moment I almost fell asleep dropping my head on the keyboard. But I could hardly sleep or eat because of complete nervousness…so, the next day as soon as possible I got up, took presents and left for the meeting with my dream.

Shallena
Thank u very much for the translation!))

nana-tantan
Thank you! your translation is very good :)
Very interesting article! and the fhotos is sooo nice!

Shallena,
I think it would be interesting for you if I give a few feedbacks on your report from us, maybe?

One said: even though it is translated into English, then again into Japanese, she can still see full of your artistic expression. It can not be hidden.

Another said: It carried her how you were nervous and excited. When she was reading your report, her heart fluttered as yours did during meeting with Kevin. A very well-written-dcoumentary!

The other said: Both you and Nastya wrote really great to convey how you felt. Is it tipical of Russian people to describe your feeling such an artistic way?
She guesses that your great sense of writing is based on Russia's majestically wide land, maybe?

The other one: She always thinks Kevin is the most cutest one in the world, but wanted to know how people in the other countries think about him. So, It was a happy surprise for her to find that Russian-fans have the same view as hers.

And one more: She loved the way you call Kevin "the dearest sun". It sounds wonderful, and she feels Russian fans closer to her.

Again, thank you soooo much!

nana-tantan yeah, it's very interesting for me, so I'm very grateful to you for posting!!!

One said: even though it is translated into English, then again into Japanese, she can still see full of your artistic expression. It can not be hidden.

Another said: It carried her how you were nervous and excited. When she was reading your report, her heart fluttered as yours did during meeting with Kevin. A very well-written-dcoumentary!

It's very pleasant for me that the Japanese people find the language of my report beautiful and expressive, because I always try to write so that the words could convey the emotions and atmosphere. And when I manage to do so, I'm so happy. But I think that the translator's work is very important as well, that's why I'm very grateful to nana-tantan for translating my report in the way that my feelings and emotions can be shared!!!

The other said: Both you and Nastya wrote really great to convey how you felt. Is it tipical of Russian people to describe your feeling such an artistic way?
She guesses that your great sense of writing is based on Russia's majestically wide land, maybe?

Actually, I read that typical Russian traits of character came out a great amount of vast land of our country... I really don't know if it's so of not... But I can say about myself: my writing manner comes out of my love for the language. I like using it not only for conveying information, but also for showing the event as a whole through my own perception. And I think of the people who can be interested in this description so that they receive not only some facts but also the pleasure, while reading...

The other one: She always thinks Kevin is the most cutest one in the world, but wanted to know how people in the other countries think about him. So, It was a happy surprise for her to find that Russian-fans have the same view as hers.

I'm really glad to read this, because it proves that love is a world-wide notion and it doesn't depend upon the country or nationality)))

She loved the way you call Kevin "the dearest sun". It sounds wonderful, and she feels Russian fans closer to her.

Thanks)) And, by the way, how do you call Kevin? I was told about "Quad pixie" or "Canadian pixie". Is there any other nice names?

Here's the 2nd part of my report, I hope I was able to use the words and structures correctly. And I also put several comments beneath the text so that the readers could get the idea of some Russian phenomena.
Thank you very much for reading))

How we met Kevin - Day 2)

Thus, I’d like to remind you of the end of the previous part: Friday the 29th came, I couldn’t sleep as I was really scared not to hear the alarm-clock signal because of fatigue and couldn’t eat because of being nervously sick, and couldn’t think because of the fear that the meeting would pass unwell!

So I had nothing to do but leave the house a bit earlier than 9 a.m. in order to, having walked along chilly morning streets, arrive in the hotel and there meet the others with whom I could be nervous more productively, easily and merrily.

I came up to “Aerostar” at 10 sharp as precise as Shtirlitz* – and I wished I had the nerves of steel as he did – and sat down in the lobby among some Japanese ladies. Japanese ladies had always delighted me by their behaviour and manners, so I had just been watching them for at least five minutes and then started rewriting the questions that we had devised with Nastya the previous night, into the notebook. While I was doing it, there appeared Natasha to join me, and my hands stopped shaking at last. (Nastya and her mum were to buy the flowers, so they came only short before the beginning of the meeting)

As a result, we sat down in some cosy corner and started talking about various unimportant things almost irrelevant to the upcoming event – as the only aim was to make the time flow faster. Though, on the other hand, I’d have preferred it continue stretching and stretching like a rubber – I could hardly imagine what to talk to Kevin about . That is, certainly, he’s an ordinary person, so it could be possible to discuss with him a lot of different things, but, in any way, such meetings resemble blind dates to some extend – you’ve got the aim of the meeting but when it comes up to an ice-breaker to start the conversation – it is the complete stupor that you fall into at once.

So, we were sitting and waiting for Kevin and Nastya together with her mum, and also for the others who were theoretically to come. At some moment I saw a very specific redhead sliding past us and heading for the exit to the stairs. Getting terrified of the thought that Reynolds-youth didn’t simply notice his awaiting fans and was leaving, I ran after him screaming “Keviiiiiin!”, and, when, at last, he heard it and turned towards me, I saw a pair of surprised eyes and a bit confused expression of his pleasant freckled face: “Eeeeerm…. Yeah, I remember», - muttered Kevin and added: “I just have to check something.” And there came my turn to get embarrassed – on imagining that he might have been going to a lavatory or had some other personal business, I apologized almost making a curtsey, squeaked something like : “I’m reaaaaaly sorry, so, we’re… waiting for you… o..over there…” and hurried away to hide myself into the armchair and burn with shame there!

But all my hopes for having some time to come to myself and make a couple of breathing exercises to keep away from nervousness didn’t come true – in no more than one minute Kevin was already sitting next to me on the sofa and watching me and Natasha with interest and curiosity. “Have you ever been to Tahiti?”** nearly asked I, because it was the only neutral question-to-start-the-conversation-with that came to my mind. But, collecting all strength of my will, I got rid of it and said: “Hi, how’re you?” And Kevin told us simply and frankly that it was really hard, because he hadn’t had enough sleep, and, yes, it was hard to get accustomed to time zones change, as there was 11-hour difference, and also he had got up at 5 a.m. the day before for the Free Skating training and had been almost dying the previous evening, but now he was much better and ready to wait as long as necessary for the others, as he was absolutely free and had nowhere to hurry to. He said all these things so plainly and commonly, as if we had known each other for ages but hadn’t met for some time…and exactly at that moment I took my ease... Some kind of an elephant’s tranquility, when there was neither gooseflesh, nor trembling voice or hands. There was nothing at all – as if it was an ordinary thing to come to Moscow and talk to Kevin Reynolds, a 20-year-old Canadian figure skater who had already written his name into the history of World Figure Skating.

As soon as I calmed down, Nastya and her mum arrived, carrying flowers, and their appearance immediately created festive mood. We started the official part of the meeting. Nastya thanked Kevin for his arrival, his skating and his art, and she was talking so heartily and emotionally, that the sunny boy turned slightly pink and was smiling, though not understanding Russian language. Then we proceeded to giving presents, and Kevin seemed to me to get even more confused. It’s really hard to say for sure whether he is always so modest or he just couldn’t believe that all that was happening to him, and some foreigners could appreciate and love him so much.

Nastya and her mum presented Kevin with a colourful album in English about Moscow And also some souvenirs with pictures of Moscow sights printed on them: they seem to be a cup, a ball-pen, a notebook, a key ring and a magnet. He also was given the photos of himself at Cup Of Russia – he was examining the photos with a surprise. But it was hard to guess if the reason of Kevin’s surprise was in the fact that he hadn’t seen the pictures before or the entire look of himself – so young and amusing.

Well, what can I say… my present-giving seemed to be a real failure: as a true Tula-born and bred, I decided to present Kevin with a Tula pryanik (gingerbread)***. This idea had actually been suggested to me by my friend’s (not a Kevin’s fan) mum, when I had been running along the ceiling plucking my hair off in despair because of just one question: “Oh, My God, what to present Kevin with???!!!!!!” And now, please, try to imagine: there is a Pryanik in the box. And there is a picture of a samovar**** printed on the box. What should a foreigner think of an actual present?! And how to explain to a foreigner what “a samovar” is if he can’t even imagine what kind of device it is… so… I don’t even remember what I was prattling, but I do remember that Kevin was smiling at me very politely while I saw no understanding in his eyes. Thus, in the end I gave him one more Tula souvenir – a Filimonovskaya toy***** - and just told that it was a very positive Russian handmade which could be used for whistling, and at that moment I felt so stupid that only wished that the earth could swallow me up. But it wasn’t possible to happen… as on the one hand I had to conduct the meeting. And, on the other hand, Natasha was already handing a very lovely squirrel to Kevin. Squirrels appear to be found in Canada, that’s why our Golden-and-Clear lit up with bliss of understanding, then got a little confused while being told to resemble this nice animal, and then we passed over to the question-answer part.

I’m not going to write much about this part because it deserves separate posting later on. I’d just like to tell that it was the first time when I acted as an interpreter, and it was very emotionally tiring. Moreover I sometimes wanted just to sit and watch Kevin’s rich miming – not without mentioning his lovely smile which was lighting his face and made its expression a bit credulous and very pathetic. But I always had to keep myself together, concentrate upon the conversation, resume the eye contact. It was truly hard but so incredibly marvelous! (and if to add a philologist’s happiness of the possibility of talking to a foreigner to all my impressions, you will be able to understand my state of mind and soul at that time!!!) Somewhere there – where I could hardly see – figure skaters were strolling; I just noticed Alexandr Smirnov who was standing for some tome near the place we were sitting. Someone – I believe it was Brian Joubert – was applauded at the other end of the lobby, but all these events went past me almost without being noticed.

And, frankly speaking, it was Patrick Chan’s appearance which became the apotheosis of the meeting (Patrick was stopped by the fans entirely opposite the place where Kevin and we were sitting). And Galina took the occasion to come up to the newly World Champion and told him in Russian: “Patrick, you’re surely great but we love Kevin the most” I’ve no idea what they translated to him, but Mr. Chan instead of getting upset or, on the contrary, putting an insulted look, smiled at us and waved his hand very friendly.

When the questions came, at last, to the end we passed over to the autograph- and photo-session. Kevin was writing very accurately the names which I dictated to him – he even once prompted to me when I forgot the letter. He was the same accurate while going where we asked him to stand, and eagerly took photos with all of us. Not letting hold of the flowers though. And it all looked so pathetic and lovely…

When he left, having collected the presents he had been given at the beginning of the meeting, I fell onto the armchair as I was hardly able to stand… my legs were trembling badly. I was dizzy. And sick, because my stomach remembered the absence of food inside of itself and started aching. And I felt like aching myself… because Kevin went away and it got extremely drearily … Nastya sat down next to me – she couldn’t stand either…

I don’t really want to plan ahead... but I dream that much more people would come to the next meeting with Kevin. So that they could learn what a sunny and clear person he is. And so that he could learn how we love and appreciate him!
That’s it)

----------------------------------------
* Max Otto von Stirlitz – the legendary spy – a character of the famous Russian TV serial “Seventeen Moments of Spring” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirlitz )

** a phrase from a famous Soviet cartoon of 1980s “Vozvrashcheniye bludnogo popugaya” (The Return Of The Parrot)( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW1p2qntqUQ ) by which the Parrot named Kesha tried to attract the attention of the audience

*** The famous Russian gingerbread which is made only in Tula ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tula_gingerbread )

**** a traditional Russian device which was used for boiling water in 18th-20th centuries ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samovar )

***** a toy which is a part of Tula handicraft which was made for children. Now they are known as very nice and colourful Russian souvenir. I presented Kevin with the one resembling this one http://www.more-podarkov.ru/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/filimonovskaya_igrushka.jpg but not exactly the same.

* Max Otto von Stirlitz – the legendary spy – a character of the famous Russian TV serial “Seventeen Moments of Spring” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirlitz )

** a phrase from a famous Soviet cartoon of 1980s “Vozvrashcheniye bludnogo popugaya” (The Return Of The Parrot)( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW1p2qntqUQ ) by which the Parrot named Kesha tried to attract the attention of the audience

*** The famous Russian gingerbread which is made only in Tula ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tula_gingerbread )

**** a traditional Russian device which was used for boiling water in 18th-20th centuries ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samovar )

***** a toy which is a part of Tula handicraft which was made for children. Now they are known as very nice and colourful Russian souvenir. I presented Kevin with the one resembling this one http://www.more-podarkov.ru/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/filimonovskaya_igrushka.jpg but not exactly the same.

this is the greatest part, i don't understand how u found words for explanation

this is the greatest part, i don't understand how u found words for explanation

thanks!!! actually, this time a had plenty of time to think))

this is the greatest part, i don't understand how u found words for explanation

Agree! Icouldn't have even imagine why you were thinking about a parrot or Tahiti!!
And I really like that Filimonovskaya toy you gave him :) Good choice!

tantan-nana

Agree! Icouldn't have even imagine why you were thinking about a parrot or Tahiti!!

when I'm nervous I always think about rubbish))

And I really like that Filimonovskaya toy you gave him :) Good choice!

Thank you!!! While choosing it I wanted to find something very positive and joyous))

Привет!
Shallena
Thank you for your long report! Thank you for sharing your emotion. Your words really moved me. Большое спасибо :)
Russian nice gifts attracted my interest. Приятные подарки!


I call him Kevin. Sometimes I call him Kevin-kun. (In Japanese, -kun is used for young male)

,Kaori-KI Thank you very much for your feedback to my report)) I'm happy!

Russian nice gifts attracted my interest. Приятные подарки!

ありがとう! ! !
I hope Kevin liked them too)))

I call him Kevin. Sometimes I call him Kevin-kun. (In Japanese, -kun is used for young male)

Oh, I see)) Thanks for your answer)
As I guess, 'Kevin-kun' is informal? In comparison with 'Kevin-san' or 'Kevin-sama'...Right?

Привет! Как дела?

Shallena

As I guess, 'Kevin-kun' is informal? In comparison with 'Kevin-san' or 'Kevin-sama'...Right?

Yes, "-kun" is informal. '-kun' is used when we speak to younger male friends. For example, boyfriend or male classmate... It has friendly feelings.

Well... "-sama" is formal. It means to admire. 'Kevin-sama' means 'Mr.Kevin'.
"-san" is formal or informal. It is most commonly used.
'Kevin-san' means 'Mr.Kevin' or 'Kevin'. We use '-san' among friends, relatives and colleague. It is used when we speak to younger or older people.


I like Kevin's skating. His performance is artistic!
Я люблю выступления Кевина.

Yes, "-kun" is informal. '-kun' is used when we speak to younger male friends. For example, boyfriend or male classmate... It has friendly feelings.

Well... "-sama" is formal. It means to admire. 'Kevin-sama' means 'Mr.Kevin'.
"-san" is formal or informal. It is most commonly used.
'Kevin-san' means 'Mr.Kevin' or 'Kevin'. We use '-san' among friends, relatives and colleague. It is used when we speak to younger or older people.

Kaori-KI, thank u for explanation.

Kaori-KI
thanks for the explanation!! ^^
So "Kun" its for male only? what about female? "sun"? or something alse?

Привет!
Aline
Yes, "kun" is used for only male names.
"san" is used for both male and female.

And...may I add a another one? It is "chan".
"-chan" is used for male and female. It's usually used for baby, children and teenagers. It's used for among close friends))

Kaori-KI
thank you very much for the explanation!)

"Who is your favourite male figure skater?"

vote for Kevin :))

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=question&id=140667576007460

Привет всем! Это Рождество / Новый год подарок из Японии! Надеюсь, вам понравится.


One of the Japanese magazines interviewed Kevin. It was strange for me to translate this interview from Japanese into English...because it was originally done in English! Anyway, here is the English translation. Sorry for my poor English

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Reynolds: His specialty is quad with tight and quick rotation. When he was 17, he landed a combination of three jumps that began from 4S, and also landed two quads in a short programme last season, both are the first time in figure skating history. This season, he has three different quads in his free programme that nobody else has even planed on the paper. Only his outstanding jumping ability is recognized before the other skills, but he has been improving in the skating skill. How many “first times” will he show us? We look forward to it.

Q: Favourite element? And are there any skaters whom you want to copy that element?

A: Well, I like jumps in general, especially, quad salchow. It always feels great when I take off.
When I was a little younger, I somehow wanted to land quad salchow, because not many skaters could do it at that time. And I really like it because it was different from quad toeloop (that many could do), and it looks smoother to take off that jump.
I copied just a few skaters (as good examples for 4S), Li Chengjiang, Zhang Min and Takeshi Honda, because there hadn’t been so many who tried this jump. I’m thrilled to watch them doing quad salchow on TV.

Q: What does Figure Skating mean to you?

A: Lately, I’ve come to think about what figure skating means to me quite often. And I think it’s been gradually changing how I think about it.
When I was younger, I just considered it as an athletic sport, sort of like it was mainly jumps, and I wasn’t interested in so-called expressions at all.
But after having dedicated many years to figure skating, I came to be impressed with the performances which express the programme. Of course I still admire difficult jumps of other skater’s, though.
So now, figure skating for me is not just a sport but expression as well. I think an unforgettable programme comes from a fusion of a sport and expression. And I would like to show people such a great programme.

Q: Since last season, many skaters have begun to put a quad even in the SP. And you are the one who landed 2 quads in the SP last year. So, can you tell us how you, as one of the pioneers, think about this situation?

A: I think it’s a great situation. Because it was a high-risk, but low-reward approach, the skaters seldom tried a quad in the SP before. But now, everyone started to realize that we need to compete much more aggressively, I think. And when all the skaters already put the most difficult spins and steps, I think quad is a sure way to surpass others in TES.

Q: Have you ever overcome any setbacks in your life? Not only skating but in general.

A: Yes, many times. But I guess everyone else must have experienced various setbacks. When I feel I’m defeated, I try to see everything positive, and then it goes right. Suspicion drives me overly negative and brought me negative results. So, I’ve been trying to be as positive as I can be.


Q: What do you think the best achievement that you have done in your career is?

A: I can say that I became the first skater ever to land two quads in the SP, and after that, nobody else hasn’t done the same thing yet. But I don’t want it to be the best and last achievement in my career. If my skating makes someone begin to skate, or love watching figure skating in the future, I would say it’s a great achievement for me.

Q: When you looked back on your life, not only about skating but your whole life, what music would you imagine as “the music of your life”?

A: Just one? It’s so difficult to choose just one. I can’t say precisely, but music from the video games might have influenced to music I usually listen to. No matter if I like or not, I’ve listened to so many kinds of music from the video games, because it has a great variety. For example techno music, classic music, rock, jazz…and so on. My long programme this season “Chrono Trigger” is the one I’ve heard from the video game, and was interested in.

Q: What is your goal for this season?

A: Last season, I went through full of disappointments, so this season, my goal is simply to show good skating. I would like make people think that I’ve improved in skating skill and quality of performance itself by showing good skating. I would also like to be the first skater to land a quad loop in an official competition. Since I began to skate, I’ve been hoping to land the jump that nobody else has done. I’ll keep going for it.

nana-tantan

Отрывок проката Кевина сегодня -
второй, 80 баллов. (У Патрика 101...)

на всякий случай ссылка https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jRXwsdFsuQ

nana-tantan,
Thank you so much for translating article from Japanese magazine ! ありがとう !
Yesterday there was an interesting event - I received this magazine from Japan by air mail from a Japanese girl Ito Sakiko !!
Here are some photos from this magazine













It stamps from Japan


to Russia



Thank you so much Ito Sakiko for this warm gift!! ありがとう !