From 1985 - 1998
RUSSIAN SNIPPETS
translated by Olya Smolyanova
1985
World Junior Championships 1985
The footage is from the 1985 Jr. Worlds, I think, and if I am not mistaken, their coach at that time was Shevalovskaya. Katia fell on a side by side jump and made some other minor mistakes, so when she returned to the K&C area she didn't look happy. You couldn't see the coach, but she was sitting next to Katia and telling her in this really annoyed voice, "I told you so many times, you should jump TOGETHER!" She goes on and on while Katia just sits there and listens, and Sergei looks like he's not paying any attention. Anyway, thought you might find this interesting.
G&G's family at the Goodwill Games 1990 (at their home in Moscow)
Since I got so many encouragement's from you guys about my little "observations," here's another one for you.
It's a little sensitive, so don't get mad at me - you asked for it! It's about Katia's family Vs Sergei's family, and it's from the 1990 Goodwill Games broadcast.
You know how from some things we read in Katia's book we can tell that their families were different? Well, this broadcast provided a funny insight on that difference, and how it was handled with humor.
They are sitting on a huge green couch in the Gordeevs' living room, watching the Games and answering L. King's questions. They are joking and smiling, but if you watch Elena and Anna closely, you can tell a little "something" between them. Anna said something that didn't really fit the program, and Elena got all quiet in her little corner. I don't want to speculate of course, but watch closely and let me know if I'm wrong!! Katia's Dad is sitting in the middle, providing this "neutral" zone so to speak - giving Anna little hugs, telling her when to wave and when to just sit still.
At one point it was so funny! Larry King, being this hilarious Russian-speaking guy, is calling everyone "MAMA" and "PAPA," which obviously is making these people giggle 'cus it comes out of this all-American reporter with heavy New York accent. Anyway, Larry goes: "So, this question is for the MAMA here, Katia's mother..." Elena presses the mike closer to her ear while Anna, obviously disappointed that the question wasn't for her, folds her arms and mumbles with this half-smile "Okay, MAMA, go ahead..." She wasn't mad or anything, but it was just so funny to watch the three of them!
It made me smile, so I hope when you go back to watch it, it'll make you smile too once you know what they are saying...
Profile of G&G during the Challenge of Champions in Barcelona (1991):
Ekaterina watching through a telescope
It was during their trip to Barcelona. Katia and Sergei and a bunch of friends are on top of this hill, sort of like a sightseeing point, and Katia is trying to use the "telescope" to get a better look at the city. Well, after Sergei deposits the coins, she looks in, turns around and exclaims laughing:
"Lena (her friend), how the heck do I look through this thing!! I can't see anything!" She then attempts to fix the lenses and goes,"Man, it's soooo close!!"
Special on G&G before the 1994 Olypics:
I thought that you might want to know what Marina was saying to Sergei and Katia when they showed them practicing the Flamenco number. They were going over the opening move, the one where they turn around and lock their arms in this very expressive Spanish manner. When they stop she says: "There you go! Of course it was much better! Turn around... and hold that pose!" As G&G were returning to the boards, Marina held her hands as if they were skates and said: "You have to make sure they are SHARP against each other. Okay, next..." She seemed very intense which short of surprised me because when I saw her in the K&C area she appeared very soft-spoken and relaxed. It was interesting to watch.
G&G after Lillehammer's short programme (1994)
After the short program. After they showed the marks, Katia whispered something like "Chto tak plokho..." meaning "Why so bad..." then she smiled and waved at the crowd. Sergei shook his head and said to somebody in front of them "Ne khvatit..." which means "Won't be enough..." I guess they weren't that happy with the marks (you could kind of guess that by the expressions on their faces). Then Sergei leaned over to Katia and asked her something - but I can't say what it was. Perhaps, if she was happy with the program - she kind of shook her head and smiled. Then he said "Pojdyom" which means "Let's go" and they left.
In the stands
Again, I couldn't really understand what they were saying. Katia asked Sergei something - I assume it was about some skating position, because she said a word "pryamo" which means "straight," and made this gesture with her hand as if showing somebody standing straight. Sergei went on explaining something to her, and she just nodded. Perhaps they were talking about Arthur - I don't know.
Sergei at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics when G&G are waiting for their scores
Let me tell you about one funny episode, and I hope no one (including Sergei) will be offended. It was right after their long program in Norway, they returned to the Kiss & Cry area and were sitting there with Marina waiting for their marks. It was obvious that Sergei was upset about his mistakes, he was just tense and had that almost angry expression on his face. And then he said a bad word in Russian. Like really bad - he was very quiet, of course, and I don't even think Katia heard it, but I could definitely read his lips. I thought - well, he is just like any one of us, isn't he...
After the long program
Marina kissed Katia a few times, and Katia said "Spasibo... Gospodi.." which means "Thank you.. O God..." and they Marina leaned over behind Katia and said something to Sergei. He looked kind of annoyed, and then the other man (was it their head coach?) said "Sergei, uspokojsya, nu chto ty..." meaning "Sergei, calm down, what's wrong with you..." and Katia looked at Sergei and said something too (I assume to reassure him). He then leaned over to her and pressed his forehead against hers, but I don't think he said anything.
1994 Olympic Games, where they show Katia's parents in their Moscow apartment
This one is from the TNT (I think) broadcast. Dasha is sleeping in Elena's arms. G&G marks are being announced (actually, the Russian reporters knew almost right away that they were champions) and when they appear on the screen, both parents look intensely at the tv screen. Then Elena jumps up and screams out: "That's it!! They got it!!!!!!!" and Alexander throws his arms up and then presses them to his temples whispering: "These kids, they won it..."
Rêverie in Lillehammer (1994): Sergei before going into the first lift
After watching the tape over and over and over, I can finally say that I am 99% sure that what he says is "U'por!" (The way you pronouce it in Russian is "uh'por") He doesn't actually say it, but rather SHOUTS it to Katia - does it really get so noisy out there on the ice?
The direct translation of it is "support" as in "two posts provided SUPPORT to the deck..." but I asked a friend of mine who is a figure skater, and he says that it is one of their technical terms defining a certain way to lock your arms in a lift. The question is - was Sergei reminding her that a lift was coming up??
Canadian Pro Championships 1994 - after the long programme "Vocalise"
After the long program, Sergei was worried that the judges would deduct for something, but I am not sure what it was. When they were in the K&C area both of them looking so happy, he turned to Marina and Katia and said "Interesting, will they deduct for...?" Katia smiled and said "Why?" and then started wiping something off Sergei's nose. It must have been something to do with their artistry because the technical marks had been already released, and Marina was telling them "No, they won't deduct, won't deduct" then the artistic marks came on and she said "...won't deduct, see? That's it." I don't know about Sergei, but I didn't notice any flaws during that program, it was absolutely out of this world. Also, when they were just about to get up and leave, Sergei turned to Katia and said "Waive at them" and Katia smiled and started to waive at the cheering crowd. Sergei waived at the camera a little bit too - but it was like he knew that she was the main attraction there.
World Pro Championships in Landover 1994 - after their technical programme "Crazy for You"
They were joking about that butterfly accident and Marina was saying that everything was fine and they looked really good. Katia then turned to Marina and exclaimed "We tried so hard!", Sergei nodded and Marina said "Yes, you tried so hard, you shouldn't worry, everything was fine." (It was actually Marina's lips that I was able to read since she was facing the camera, and then I realized that she was repeating Katia's words.) At the end, just when they were about to leave, Sergei said proudly "See! There you go!" and kissed Katia's hair.
Sergei after "Requiem" at the Skates of Gold III gala (Nov 12, 1995)
After putting her down from their ending pose, he turned to her and said (he said it so loud, - I could almost hear his voice): "My skate has untied, Katia. At the very beginning, I think" and she looked down at his state and says "Really?" He looked like he was going to say something else, but Katia was already preparing for the bow.
Celebration of a Life 1996: Ekaterina singing a song to Daria
Katia's singing together with Dasha during the CBS tribute (remember, sitting on the floor of their Simsbury condo?). This famous children's song is called "A Smile Will Brighten Up Everything Around Us" and goes:
And then, I swear
The clouds will start dancing
And a cricket will Play the violin...
Celebration of a Life 1996: What Dasha says to Ekaterina when they are singing from a book
Dasha pulls the book from Katia's hands and exclaims: "I already know this page!" and Katia is like - fine, fine, whatever you want. So cute!!
Celebration of a Life 1996: After Ekaterina's Mahler performance, crying and uttering some words
Katia says to the audience, "Thank you very much, thank you so much!" ("Spasibo vam ogromnoye, spasibo vam bolshoje...")
Dateline Interview 1996: Ekaterina helping Daria to tie up her skates
Dasha is sitting on a bench and Katia is helping her tie her skates. Dasha is shaking her hands in the air going, "...tie them with my OWN hands..." and Katia repeats, "...own hands.." The sentences were incomplete - but I guess Dasha was wondering when she was going to be big enough to take care of her own skates. I don't know - that's just a speculation...
Gold Championships 1996: Ekaterina and Galina sitting in the kiss and cry area
Katia comes off the ice and tells Galina (while putting the skate guards on) that she "hasn't worked the jump through" whatever that means in skating language. Galina agrees and says that you have to do it no matter what, you can't hesitate. They sit down and Galina starts telling Katia that her other jumps and spins were okay, but that her skirt was too long and got in her way during the performance. She suggested they cut it shorter. Then she sees that Katia is upset about her performance, and tells her that she was beautiful, a little Giselle (she called her "Gisellechka" which I thought was hilarious). At that point Katia gives her that funny look and starts making faces at the camera.
World Team Championships 1997 - after Ekaterina's first performance
Last night, I re-watched the first part of the World Team Championship and wanted to let you know what Elena [Bechke] and Katia were saying to each other in the Kiss & Cry area. Katia was obviously upset and crying, and Elena was saying something like, "Don't worry, it was fine..." Katia seemed a bit annoyed and exclaimed, "Can't I see for myself? What was fine?.." and Elena responded, "Okay" as if giving up.
Then she turned to Katia again and said, "Not a big deal..." at which point Katia nodded her head as if in disbelief and touched her hair. I am sure you understood what Elena was saying about the flowers because it was in English.
From the "My Sergei" documentary - aired on CBS on February 4, 1998
I was watching MY SERGEI again last night and noticed that when they showed Katia writing her "memoir" with her voice supposedly reading it in English, the page with her handwriting did not correspond to what she was actually saying. It looked more like a page from her diary. This is what it said: "Today is May 29 and we have started to make a movie about Sergei, about what kind of person he was. We lived an amazing life as athletes, but we were always so busy -- we never had time to just be with each other. It is strange..." There was more but that was all I could read before they phased out.
Also, there was some wonderful home video footage with them speaking Russian. One time they showed Sergei sitting on the floor and Katia in an chair, and little Dasha right in front of the camera smiling and making funny noises. She was probably confused about the camera lens and wasn't sure whether she could play with it, so Sergei kept whispering to her, "Touch it, come on, touch it..." Also, when they showed G&G rocking the swing in their backyard, he kept smiling and joking with Dasha. I think the camera man must have gotten her attention because as she kept swinging, Katia said, "...you can see him from here, and from there..." and Sergei said, "...what an interesting guy, isn't he..." Dasha goes, "He's good!" and Sergei repeats, "Good!" -- all in this funny baby talk, not pronouncing some of the consonants. So precious!
That scene, when they were reading from a children book, is probably my favorite. Katia asked Dasha, "Is this goose good or bad?" and Dasha goes, "Bad!" ("Plakhoj" except she can't pronounce "L" so it comes out like "Pakhoj!") and Katia says, "Because it ate all the apples, right?" It was probably some Russian book about animals because I remember the same footage from an earlier interview when Katia was reading from the same book and Dasha was imitating a duck.
Okay, the scene where Katia and Dasha are reading from a book while Sergei is smiling in the background: Katia asks, "What does the duck say?" and Dasha goes, "Outie, outie, outie..." (which is short for "outka" - duck), and Katia goes, "Crja, crja, crja..." (which is how the duck sounds in Russian).
In the practice scene they are trying to get their arm positions right and Marina says something like, "Much better, looks much better" and Sergei responds, "This time it was easier for me to do it because she also... leaned forward bit..." and Marina says, "...she did it slower, right?"
the G&G corner - Copyright © Su-jan Yip, September 1996 - 2007