"I had a map of the world on the wall of my home in Russia, and to this day, I underline the places I've been to after going there." said Yagudin, who finds the world travel that his sport demands, as a favorable thing.
A Drive to be Perfect
The Yagudin official site lists "driving fast" as one of his hobbies. Yagudin himself, in this Olympic year, is driven by what he called sometimes almost too much pressure. On the ice, he strives for perfection. "There is a big group of skaters who are trying to get to number one, too. People think it's easy that I only spend two hours on the ice practicing," he explained. "There are interviews to do, dealing with media, going to Healthtrax up on the hill, many things to do that are part of my life."
Echoing a sentiment of U Conn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma, Yagudin said about being number one, "It's harder to stay a World Champion than it is to get there." He said, because of that, he has added a sports psychologist to his training regimen. He relies on other skaters in the group that came here to train. "If I had stayed in my country, the rinks are smaller and the ice melts a lot." he said. Some of the funding for training expenses comes from the Russian Olympic Committee.
"At first, I had a condo that was real close." Yagudin explained about the change in living situations that brought him to a small apartment in Wethersfield, "It is completely my own and so quiet compared to Saint Petersburg. I had to move from being so close because everyone would come to visit there."
One of his dreams that became a reality when he moved to the states two and a half years ago was getting a dog. "I always dreamed to have a Cocker Spaniel," he said. "My mother didn't really like dogs, but she has grown to love Lawrence, who will be staying with her in Russia." The dog was named for the Lawrence of Arabia routine that Yagudin successfully competed with, for his second World Championship. His mother has been to visit him and he would love to have both her and his grandmother to move here to the states. "after the Olympic season, we'll figure that out." he said.
He said he is glad he will be in his native country for New Year's Day, which he described as "...more of a big holiday than Christmas is here. We have Christmas in January." the Russian Orthodox-bred skater added.
Yagudin often mentioned the uncertainty facing many in this country and elsewhere. "You never know what will happen." he said, referring to the World Trade towers tragedy. For instance, both figure skaters and hockey players can no longer carry their skates on airline flights. ""I've already had my skates arriving a day later for competition." he said. When asked if he has favorite skates, he responded with a question of his own, "Do you have a favorite pen or pad?"
Here in the Newington area, his favorite things to do include, "...renting a lot of movies and bowling." When asked about his bowling skills, he answered succinctly, "I'm a better skater." He likes the Bowl-O-Rama because it's open at times that are compatible with his schedule. With Japanese being his favorite food, he feels he has a wide choice of restaurants. He also enjoys going to West Hartford Center, where the outdoor eateries are more familiar to him. He claims to like all kinds of music, "...even some rap and hip-hop with rhythms I can use when I skate."
His agent, Dmitri Goryachkin, works for the prestigious IMG agency. "He gets me some modeling for me without ice." Yagudin said. Skating fans need not fear that he is going to abandon his sport, though he does foresee coaching in his future. His major was Coaching at the Academy of Sports and Physical Culture in his home country, and he is not "just another pretty face", since he graduated second in his high school class.
Yagudin is second to none when it comes to his fans' loyalty; there are almost 30 websites dedicated to the skater.
He is obviously a born performer. "I can hear the voices and what they're saying, and moreso at shows than in competitions." he said. "While competing, you can hear my heart going fast." he added, gesturing the movement of beating under his fleece jacket.
Yagudin zeros in on pretty girls in the stands and often includes them in his performances by going into the stands, much to the delight of his fans. He indicated that he doesn't have time with training and travel to have a relationship. "Besides," he said, this time with a gesture towards the rink, "the ice lady takes all my time."
He will be gone for three weeks on this particular trip. Stopping to take a case of his favorite Vespa sports drink that Bob Young, manager of the rink, has signed for from a delivery service, Yagudin posed for pictures, both inside and out in the sun, flashing a smile as bright as that sun. then, with a formal handshake, he is off to finish packing and continue on his quest.
(*Actually, only two of the officers present were French women. Other AYWFF officers hail from Germany and the USA...a minor faux pas...lol.)
