After skating a clean short program at the Olympic Games in Vancouver Russian Alena Leonova is at the 8th place, losing more than 12 points to the leader Kim Yu-Na of Korea. Leonova commented on her performace in an interview to the All Sport news agency.
Q: Alena, you are looking so happy that it needs no saying that you are satisfied with your skating!
A: Yes, I am, indeed! I’m absolutely happy that I’ve been able to skate so well at Olympics!
Q: Why didn’t you do a 3+3 combination in your short program?
A: After Europeans I began performing my Lutz better than before. That’s why we decided to return to the initial version, which included the Lutz. But I will still have to do the 3+3 combination in my free program.
Q: What can you say about the atmosphere of the Games?
A: The audience gives a warm welcome to everyone, regardless of what country they represent. I heard people shout ‘Davay! Davay!’ It was very nice of them. Today I skated for the audience, for my coach and my mother. Everything turned out fine!
Q: What did your coach tell you before you came to the ice?
A: She asked me not to worry, and to skate for my own pleasure. The only thing she said afterwards was ‘Well done! You’ve stood the test!’
Q: Asian skaters, including Kim Yu-Na herself, had performed brillianly just before your turn came. Had you seen them skate?
A: No, I hadn’t, but the audience’s reaction made me understand that they had done all their jumps. So, I told myself: ‘Well, I must stand the pace!’
Q: Is it an advantage or a disadvantage for you to skate in the stongest warm-up?
A: At the first practice I was feeling a bit shy and uncomfortable, but then got accustomed to such a company.
Q: I’ve heard you’ve had a lot of trouble with acclimation in Canada?
A: Yes, I’ve never experienced anything like that before, even in Japan and LA. I’ve really had a hard time here. One day I took to bed with fever. I even had to skip practices that day.
Q: Tomorrow you’ll have a day-off. What are you going to do?
A: We’ll go for a walk and buy some mementos. Unfortunately I cannot go and watch hockey, because our coaches keep us in leash while the competitions continue. You see, my parents have bound me over to take our hockey players’ autographs. I’ve already had two chance encounters with Alexander Ovechkin in an elevator, but I had nothing with me except my pajamas! Then I’ve seen Tretiak and Bykov in the coffee-room, but again couldn’t find anything for them to sign. So I hope I’ll have another chance! | 
