Official Home Page of Marina Anissina & Gwendal Peizerat: Interview

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November 2001
What exactly happened in the Free Dance at NHK Trophy?	Gwendal We have no clue! As I just said to Marina, we have to watch the video, in order to understand. At this moment, we turned our backs to each other, and we were not exactly in the same direction as usual, and we found ourselves on top of each other after my jump.
*However, you were able to pull yourselves together after the mishap and to finish your performance decently*	Marina We didn’t do the program like we can do it. But even the way we did it today, and even with the little mistake, we got marks up to 5.9. We will improve this program more and more, and I think it will be very good. I don’t really know, today…. We felt good throughout the competition. Today, I felt not so good, maybe because of the jetlag.
How did you find your choreographer Bruno Vandelli?	Gwendal That’s something really special like all those things that happened to us this year with the program. We found him through a woman at my school who was taking care of my internship in a firm. I did an internship last year. She is a dancer. So, I’m talking often to her, and she is interested in us. She is always watching us. I told her about our problem to find a choreographer who is available. We had asked choreographers who were not available. She said that she knows a choreographer, who would like to work with us and who is very good. That’s how we found him.
Was it also a risk to work with someone who never had anything to do with figure skating or ice dancing?	Marina We really wanted to work with someone who can input something new into skating. We looked for someone from the outside on purpose. It was very, very interesting and we liked it a lot. All the preparations, the work were different from what we’ve done before. Even the way we put together the programs. He really brought us what we wanted, new moves, different arm moves that you see rarely in skating. He brought this side of modern dance. Gwendal and I also have worked a lot ourselves, in order to improve all parts of the program.
*Was it difficult to work with Vandelli as he had nothing to do with skating before?*	Gwendal No, it wasn’t difficult as we had worked often with choreographers who had nothing to do with skating before we worked with Christopher (Dean). We realized that we progressed a lot in our way to put together a program. Before, we had problems to put all the steps on to the ice. This time, when he showed us something on the floor, we were able to transfer it on to the ice very quickly. We realized that we had learned a lot.
Was it difficult to motivate yourselves after the past, disppointing season?	Marina I was disappointed with the result (at Worlds). But we think that is the past. It was a year that was less important than this year. We were very motivated to prepare this season. We started much earlier – with the OD, with the FD, with everything. This year is very important for us. We hope that not the same things will happen again. The Olympics are different from other competitions, everything should be fair.
You already have competed at the Olympics. Is the preparation, also the psychological preparation, different as well?	Gwendal Already the competition itself is different from others. The organization, where we are – together with other sports. There are many details, like the draw (for the starting order) that is done in a different way. Things like this. It’s more spread out as well. We arrive much earlier, the practice is different. In all the Grand Prix competitions, we have a similar rhythm. At the Olympics, it’s different. Because we experienced all this before, we’ll adapt easier. I remember, there was very few practice time at Nagano. There was only half an hour per day, and we went training elsewhere additionally. We’ll do the same thing this time.
Did you already arrange for this?	Gwendal We’ll talk with the President of the Federation. I think it has been arranged already.
Do you still work with Vandelli?	Marina Yes, and also with the Spaniards for the OD. They are all nice people, we get along very well. They come especially from Spain to see us.
*This year, you also consulted Natalia Dubova for the compulsories. How did it happen and how was it?*	Gwendal It was very good and helped us a lot. It’s always motivating to work with new people. Marina We talked to her at Worlds last year about working with us.
*Additionally, Natalia Dubova created the Golden Waltz, which is one of the compulsories this year.*	Gwendal We have worked with Klimova/Ponomarenko on the Golden Waltz before. But it’s true, it’s always good to go to the source, that helps always. They can show you details that nobody knows.
Now let’s continue with questions less focused on skating, questions that also your fans sent in. Marina, you have a dog, Gwendal, you have a cat. Who is taking care of your pets when you are travelling?	Marina My mother is taking care of Maroussia most of the time. I don’t have much time with all the practices. She loves Maroussia like a second daughter! When my mother is travelling with me, the dog stays with friends. Gwendal My parents, my sister and my grandmother all live very close from where I’m living. They arrange among them who of them is taking care of the cat.
*Marina, in which language are you talking to your dog?*	Marina In Russian, of course. But she understands also French.
*Are you planning to write an autobiography after your career?*	Marina Maybe, I don’t know. I could write one! Gwendal No.
*What was the craziest thing a fan did to get your autograph?*	Gwendal That happened in Japan, at one of the NHK Trophys. The fans were hanging outside at the windows of the bus to get their autographs. They were still hanging there when the bus started to move. This was crazy, because it was really dangerous.
*You both are famous for your hair! Do you always go to the same hairdresser?*	Gwendal With long hair, you don’t go often to the hairdresser. Marina has her hairdresser. I also always go to the same one, but not very often!
*Do you ever have a bad hair day?*	Gwendal Of course. However, that happens more frequently to short hair – you wake up and the hair sticks to all sides! This doesn’t happen so often with long hair. Marina Yes, it happens. In the morning.

Interview with Anissina & Peizerat in "L’Equipe"	This interview has been published on April 3^rd, just two days after Marina & Gwendal had won Worlds in Nice.
Marina and Gwendal, Friday evening you became World Champions. What kind of impressions do you keep?	Gwendal There was a huge emotion, just before stepping on the podium. We were at the boards, with our family, our parents. We saw the happiness in their eyes. I think this was stronger than on the podium, where I felt lost in the middle of the big arena, with a very ceremonial side. But I did appreciate not singing the Marseillaise (the French national anthem) all by myself.
When you were second after the OD, did you have doubts?	Marina Not really. I knew that our Free to Carmina Burana was more powerful, stronger technically and emotionally. I didn’t think, I didn’t want to compare it to the one of the Italians. Gwendal Surely, you are never 100 percent sure about a victory. In order to progress, you have to remain modest. This second place proved that the physical and psychological invention was enormous. I’ll have it in my body for a long time. But most of all, it enabled us to say that’s not so easy to win a World title. This gives credit to our discipline.
One year ago, after your disappointment with your silver medal at Worlds, you were very critical about ice dancing…	Marina There will be never justice in ice dancing. It’s difficult to admit, but the role of subjectivity is too important. You have to be really better than others so that a result will reflect the reality. What can help to distinguish, a sign, is the love of the audience. This is very important.
However, your partner assures that it’s this subjectivity that forms the beauty of this sport?	Marina I love the competition, the ambient – to do choreographies that are appreciated. It’s true that I had doubts, but I digested last year’s disappointment. Maybe this injustice even was beneficial. The scandal brought things into motion. But the system needs time for justice, for the development of the minds. Gwendal This season’s results surprised many people, and I told myself that, maybe, last year’s Worlds served as an electroshock. At least for one year.
Ice dancing remains the most controversial discipline of skating. Don’t you think it’s suffering from a lack of visible technique?	Gwendal Without doubt, I think it’s normal that this is targeted. It’s the discipline the most difficult to understand. If you know a bit about figure skating and the jumps, the base of jjudgement is obvious. But as soon as two programs are identical concerning the jumps, the same problem as for us arises. The judges and the people don’t agree, skaters are broken… because they are young, they weren’t expected. Because they have a fabulous program. Luckily, the falls solve the problem. Marina Figure skating has the jumps, but it’s the same for us. Some steps are easier than others, and risks are taken. Some put programs together with innovative moves, others try to hide their weaknesses artificially. For example, they skate faster, but how? In ice dancing, you have to combine speed and complicated steps to achieve a superior quality. For example, I preferred the free of the Lithuanians (Drobiazko/Vanagas, 3^rd at Worlds) to the ones of the Italians (Fusar-Poli/Margaglio, 2^nd at Worlds). But the result is normal. If you only look at the pure technique, even the Russians (Lobatcheva/Averbukh, 4^th at Worlds) were better. But a competition is the combination of everything – compulsories, original dance, choreography of the free dance, the quantity of work and the psychological preparation, and there, the Italians were stronger.
All the experts, including the three couples behind you, agree about your technical superiority this season. How do you explain this? In comparison to your Italian runner ups, for example.	Gwendal They made clear programs, easy to read, clean… Marina Concerning the pure skating, the expression and the risks taken, we did more than the others. I don’t know if this comes with the experience. I know only that we - last year, we were competing with Krylova/Ovsiannikov who beat us on the smallest of margins, and we (then) worked like crazy to beat them.
The defending champions (Krylova/Ovsiannikov) were injured the whole season.	Marina But I don’t think of that anymore! Gwendal We have been told that their absence will devaluate our title. In a certain way, it devaluates our feeling of competition, but not the title. To be good in competition, that includes good preparation and to be "there" the day X. (smiles) (Sergei) Bubka (track and field athlete), without being injured, was the best of the World, but he only once was successful at the Olympics. So, this year we would have liked to beat Krylova/Ovsiannikov in competition, because it was so obvious last year, when there are 14 000 people behind you and not behind the first. But we don’t have to prove anything anymore. In my opinion, in any case.
The vote of the public isn’t an objective criteria.	Marina Why do you think we were regarded as the victims? Because there was a scandal. If we just had skated better than Krylova, with a normal program, it wouldn’t have been the same thing. There was this reaction, because we managed to touch the hearts of the people. They have won Worlds, but it wasn’t brilliant, it was not a title that marked the spirits.
Even before you became World Champions, like the Duchesnays in 1991 – and maybe because of this – you have been the "victims", and you have been compared to them.	Marina I really liked this couple. They left their mark in skating. But we don’t have the same style at all. The only thing that we have in common it that they were representing France and we are as well.
Is the connection disturbing you?	Gwendal No, I like it. But I don’t feel it (smiles). When I was young, I saw them as the perfect couple. Totally different. A model for everyone!
Is their career an example for you	Gwendal It had its ruptures. Especially at the end of the career. When I can avoid this, learn from their experience. I don’t want that we are influenced too much, until we lose our personality. I’m afraid of this.
Will you expand your range of interpretation that has been about the same for the last three years?	Marina We have to change, to do something new, because the people will tire of it. But even the Champions can’t switch the style just like this, it has to be done professionally.
So, how…?	Marina I want to find a beautiful music, an interesting direction in choreography that is not just steps to a strange music. I imagine an artistic research comparable to what is done in fashion. I’m ready to put a lot into it, especially if it’s something really, really new, even against my culture. But you do have to want it. Gwendal I don’t agree. We don’t have to prove anything. I feel I’m capable of doing a lot of different things. You have to accept the image that you wrote in the peoples’ minds. If you change it, it’s brutal towards them.
However, great champions show the variety of their talent, try all the styles…	Gwendal No, there are the Original Dances for this. You are doing rock on year, a blues, a waltz or a tango the other.
But the Original Dances are not so well known. It’s the free dances that are the most exposed.	Gwendal Exactly, this showcase, that’s our personality, what we are inside. Last year, Krylova/Ovsiannikov chose something that didn’t work for them, they wanted to break a scheme. Like the dancers of the classical Russian school, their bodies are fixed in a form.
And what are you telling Marina, when she confirms her will to try a new approach?	Gwendal Marina tells me often "I want to do something new". She wants to do a more joyful program. But we aren’t comedians! We won’t do anything like (French skater Laurent) Tobel, just to show the audience that we can do it. Why are we keeping to do themes that are a bit similar to each other? Because we have an image, the image of a passionate couple. This said, if Marina tomorrow talks about a theme and I see the spark in her eyes, then I’ll agree. But if she presents it just to challenge, I’ll refuse.
You don’t yourself imagine to try something very modern that may hurt the feelings? Like the Duchesnays have done it?	Gwendal We have a different way to express ourselves than the Duchesnays. Marina and I, even if we aren’t in love with each other at all, we can play the passion of a couple. The Duchesnays expressed ideas, experimented with the abstract. Marina doesn’t dance an idea, she needs a flame that enlightens her face.
If your next choreographies are good and you keep your little technical superiority, do you think you’ll keep your title until the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City in 2002?	Marina and Gwendal To get to the top is already difficult, but to remain there is even harder! We see our best in relation to ourselves, and we didn’t reach that one yet. Marina If we continue like that, with good programs and the same joy (for what we are doing), then I believe we can keep that World title. In any case, if I continue to skate then it’s just for that (title). I’m World Champion, and I don’t want to lose my title. Gwendal If I say this today, then it shows that I’m not afraid, that I’ve an absolute confidence in myself, but it shows also a disrespect for the abilities of others to progress, which is not in my personality. You are World Champion, that means you were the best in one competition, not that you are the best of the world. There is one result after a championship, not an absolute truth. This is maybe different for the Olympics, even if there are Baiuls or Lipinskis. That’s not the image of the Olympics that I have. An Olympic medal means a well done career, the athlete is mature, he knew how to prepare.
By listening to you, you discover an enormous paradox – on the ice, you give the image of total harmony, although your personalities are the opposite of each other.	Marina Finally, we are getting along better with each other than many other couples. The problem is that we go in the same direction, but not the same way, and this creates tension. For example, I want to repeat a detail, to repeat it until my body and my emotions find the gesture right and register it. Gwendal works differently. He wants to understand everything, to analyze it in his head. Gwendal Imagine two different persons who can’t live together but are crazily in love with each other. They find each other in one aspect that brings them near to each other, that’s their love. They can’t do anything about it, it’s like that. Marina and I, we find each other in one thing, and that’s skating. When we are on the ice, we both have the energy for the same goal. But I don’t see any couples on high level who advanced with a smile. Even those who are married, they live passions that explode one day. It’s maybe an absolute necessary condition that the two characters are the opposite of each other to make the chemistry of the couple working.
How do you explain this chemistry?	Marina Experience, joy, talent, a lot of work. It was very hard at the beginning, we worked like crazy.
Did your relationship develop since you got together in 1993?	Gwendal We are getting along better. Before, I looked at Marina and I asked myself – how is she thinking? We were so different! Now, I know that her way of thinking is strongly influenced by her Russian culture. I know she isn’t the only one, although she has some very excessive sides… (laughter). Marina Gwendal changed a lot. At the beginning, we were qualified as water and fire. But Gwendal isn’t the water anymore. He is also stressed. Maybe because it became more important to him. Gwendal I’m not more stressed, I’m more demanding. Before, there was only Marina’s demand. However, I can’t be as cool as before on our level. I’m a bit more… involved, maybe.
Because of the results?	Gwendal No, because of the people. I have the feeling that one expects more from us, because we are giving something to the people. It’s a big word, but I’m feeling like on a "mission".
You are paying a lot of attention to the outside views?	Gwendal To the views of the people who like us, yes. Marina wants to seduce those who don’t like her, that’s a challenge. She is listening more to them, because she thinks that the views of those who like her are corrupted by the fact that they like her. Marina All this, that’s the shock between our two cultures, our education’s. I go by emotions. I don’t have to think a long time. Gwendal is a man of thought, more patient.
That’s also paradox, but I get the feeling that you wouldn’t have progressed this much one without the other.	Marina It wouldn’t have worked, that’s for sure. We were lucky to find each other. But, I’m sure about myself (she is thinking) After the split (with Ilia Averbukh), I remained alone in Moscow. When I skated, no one was watching me. I wanted to be successful so much after this situation! At the beginning, I was convinced that Gwendal had lesser goals. After all, I had made a lot of sacrifices, coming to France, staying there, adapting. By the way, if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t do it. Gwendal I know very well, that if I hadn’t met Marina, if I had continued with Marina Morel or another (girl), I never would have reached this level. But I believe that Marina, if she hadn’t found not only me but also Muriel (Zazoui, their coach), it would have been hard for her. We have the same will.
What can disturb this balance?	Marina That we don’t have the same joy anymore. In order to win, I can do a lot. I can try to understand Gwendal. I’m more open than he is. He is keeping everything inside himself, and that’s hard. Sometimes I don’t know how to act – do I have to talk to him, do I let him brooding or do I have to shake him? I’m getting tired of this, because this isn’t my character. So, if I feel our will is fading, it won’t be good for anything, and I’ll stop. Gwendal I agree. So many errors have been made (by others) because, at the end, you have to stop at the Olympics. Couples ended their career with a disappointment. But this decision can’t be taken out of the spur of a moment. It’s not only the feeling of the one or of the other. You have to feel that it’s more radical, that the holy fire isn’t there anymore.
How do you imagine to perfect your career?	Gwendal There are only few examples of perfect careers. There is one I like, the one of the Finns (Susanna) Rahkamo/(Petri) Kokko. They had difficult beginnings, but they knew to finish on the top of their career, they made great changes as professionals, in their country, where they are stars. They both did nice studies. .. They are happy people, happy about what they’ve done, without frustration or regret.
	Interview done by C�line Nony

December 1999
This year, you worked with Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean on your "Carmina Burana" Free Program. What was different about working with them?	Gwendal The first difference was that we worked for the first time with skaters as choreographers. This was a significant change for us. The steps were ready when they proposed them to us. Of course, we changed them, adapted them. But usually we are only given ideas and everything that happens on the ice is done by ourselves. In this point, much changed this time. Marina These are very difficult and original steps. Gwendal It was a different approach, a different search for new and different steps. It was very, very interesting for us to work with them. They are legends of figure skating, but we discovered all their qualities when we worked with them.
In the past, you had a new choreographer each season. Did you already think about working with Torvill and Dean also next year?	Gwendal No, not yet. Marina Well, we won’t talk about next season now. Gwendal Actually, we like to change our choreographers, because we need something new everytime. Marina We really enjoyed working with them. I believe, they helped us a lot. The result is a very difficult and original program.
What else is new this season?	Marina Everything is new! Our Free Program has much more content than last year and is much more difficult technically. Last year’s program was also very good, especially concerning the emotion and the composition of elements. However, this program is much more complete, there is more in it, and always something is happening. No step is just a step. Gwendal In general, the most striking difference is that this program is like a single movement. Everything is linked to each other. Marina We are glad that we realized this program this way. We managed to keep our style that everyone likes and to develop it further.
Was it difficult for you to start again after the disappointment when you lost at Worlds?	Gwendal No, it wasn’t difficult, because we never really stopped. Immediately after Worlds, we went on the tour in France. It was a great tour, everything was perfect, and we had success each evening. The French team did very well. After this, we went to the Tom Collins Tour, and this was the same. This kept us busy, and we didn’t have any time to think about Worlds and what had happened there. Our schedule was very busy. Well, and then, it is always difficult to start to work on a new program. But this hasn’t to do anything with the fact that we didn’t win Worlds. It’s difficult, because we know that we have to do something new, and that we have to be better than last year. We have to give more. So, each time you start from zero. Marina I was disappointed after Worlds, but this passed. It’s a new season, and we did a good job. Now we are waiting to meet our competitors who have the same music.
Was it a shock for you to hear that Krylova/Ovsiannikov chose the same music?	Gwendal Yes, it was a shock at first. We were surprised that they have the same music. But then, well, this can happen. Marina It will be easier to compare. Gwendal Exactly, and no one can say now that there is a difference in style. So, what we need is the better program.
Krylova/Ovsiannikov were not able to skate in the Grand Prix Series and won’t be in the Final. They probably won’t skate all season. Do you regret this?	Gwendal Well, if they are there, they are there, and if not, they are not. Marina We don’t know if they will do another program of if they have other problems. We did our job, and we will continue to work, because there is work left to do. We are ready for the challenge.
Since Trophee Lalique you changed something in our Original Dance. Will you also change the music?	Gwendal Maybe, if we find something better. We are looking for it in any case. We are hesitating, because we like this music very well. Marina The Original Dance was really developped further in the week after Lalique. Everyone realized that it was different. If we continue this way… we’ll see.
The Grand Prix Final is in Lyon, Worlds are in Nice – do you think it is good for you to have these major competitions in France, or do you think there will be a lot of pressure?	Gwendal Well, we’ll know afterwards.... Marina No, it’s good for us.
On what you do you focus in your work now?	Marina We’ll work on everything. On our compulsories, for example.
What else – maybe the spins or the speed?	Gwendal There is nothing to do with our spins, they are very good and better than the spins of the others. Marina It’s not easy to find spins which fit into the programs. Gwendal Yes, these spins... a spin that starts with one position, has a change of foot, has less than two revolutions in the first half and at least two revolutions in the second half… and so on!
You always get a lot of presents from your fans. What are you doing with them?	Gwendal We gave all stuffed animals that we received in Japan to a childrens’ hospital.
What are the most unusual presents you ever got?	Gwendal Shoes. By the way, I got shoes a few time in Japan. Marina I didn’t get any unusual presents yet.
Interview with Gwendal Peizerat March 1999
It was a close decision. Are you very disappointed?	Yes, of course we are sad. It is hard that we didn't win. I'm very disappointed. We came so close. We did everything we could, and it was the best performance of the season. It was better than in Prague. It is also difficult, because you never know if it was your last chance to win. We fought until the very end. But we have to take it from there and to move on. There will be a next time!
Did you think you could win?	It was like black magic tonight. We had hope that things in ice dance would change. However, the competition was very interesting, and there was a lot of movement between the top three couples in Compulsories, Original Dance and Free Dance. There are chances in ice dance, but they happen slowly. When we take the ice, we always give our hearts and real emotion. We give, what is inside us in this moment.
How are your feelings towards Krylova/Ovsiannikov?	We aren't enemies. There is no reason for hostilities. There is tension during the competition, but only on the ice.
The audience was definitely on your side.	The reaction of the audience was a consolation. This gives us the power to carry on. The appreciation by the audience is very important to us. This can't be replaced - even not by a medal.
There was criticism that your free dance wasn't as difficult as the dance of your competitors (Krylova/Ovsiannikov).	Our free dance shouldn't look difficult - although it is difficult. The free dance should flow, the difficulty shouldn't be visible. We want to make people dream. I'm ready to go back on the ice, to skate the free dance again. We'd see if the judges make the same decision again.
What did you think during your performance?	I felt, it was our best performance. There wasn't any mistake. I was completely into it, in my role.
Did you expect a 6,0?	Well, I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't any 6,0.
What about your unusual lifts?	We always wanted to do such a lift - with technique and balance. I lifted Marina first. This lift was hard to train - we fell a lot when we practiced it!
Who has these unusual ideas?	Our choreographer gave us ideas, but we did most of it ourselves. It was really our program.
Why didn't you skate to "Titanic"?	We thought about it - you know, Marina's red hair and my blonde hair - it would have been perfect. Unfortunately this music doesn't have a rhythm as it is reacquired by the rules.
Do you think the changes this year had a effect on the judging?	The judges are drawn only shortly before the competition, but "it" still happens anyway. I think, judges should be professionals, paid by the ISU. They shouldn't have to do anything with federations. Right now, they depend on their federations.
Was it difficult when you teamed up with Marina?	I was too emotional in my skating. We didn't take things away from each other, but we learned from each other. Now, the couple on the ice is a different, a third person - it's neither me nor Marina.

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