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Team Paradise (RUS): "After Stockholm, we made some changes in the team"


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Team Paradise has won this season almost all competitions in which it has participated, like the French Cup, the Budapest Cup or the Leon Lurje Trophy. / Credits: Team Paradise

Bronze medallist last year, Team Paradise from Saint-Petersburg, Russia, will be one of the strong contenders at the 2019 World Championships in Finland. Two times World Champion (in 2016 and 2017), the team will try to get the gold this year.

Let's take some news from the team by the coach Irina Yakovleva.

Irina, how is your team doing?
We are fine. Everything is going according to our plan.

Some changes in the team or in your programs in recent weeks?
No changes in the team or in our work. We live our normal life. Maybe the girls are working with more responsibility feeling that the main competition of the season is not far off. We are working on the elements to execute them accurately and confidently and the programs as a whole. There are no major changes in the programs, just small touches to make the programs more intricate and expressive. We would like the audience and the judges enjoy our skating and programs, so we also pay attention to the performance and interpretation of our programs.

After last year in Stockholm, how do you prepare this competition?
After Stockholm, we made some changes in the team. Five new girls are skating in the team this season. Our task was to make new interesting programs and to be ready to compete for the highest places with the top teams of the World. But I think we don’t feel any pressure.

When are you leaving for Finland?
We are leaving for Helsinki on April 9th and plan to spend our time in accordance with the schedule of competition. But if we have free time I’m sure that the girls will go shopping.


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This season, the team has introduced several new "moves" (see above). / Credits: Team Paradise

You’re used to compete in Finland with the Finlandia Trophy each autumn... What are your expectations in Helsinki?
First of all to meet our Finnish friends! Then to skate well and enjoy the atmosphere of a great event!

Do you know how many Team Paradise fans will be travelling?
I know that many of our fans and relatives had a great desire to attend this Championship. But suddenly they faced a problem to buy tickets. It turned out that all tickets were already sold six months before the Championship. So I don’t know how many lucky ones could find tickets. I think much less of those who wanted.

Do you have a goal for the 2019 World Championships?
We have one goal to skate well and to do the best we can to touch the hearts of the audience, judges and our fans. To do this, the most important thing is to defeat yourselves.

As a coach, what are you saying to your athletes?
We work every day to become better. And I teach my girls to enjoy what they do.

Anything else to add?
The last thing to say is to wish all participating teams smooth ice, good luck and to get the most out of the World Championship 2019!

Results - TOP 3

ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2019
Helsinki (FIN)
APR 12, 2019 - APR 13, 2019

Senior
TEAM Score
1Team Paradise (RUS)234.38
2Marigold IceUnity (FIN)228.70
3Helsinki Rockettes (FIN)228.61