Skater Karartynyan on his Grand Prix performance in Kazan: Enduring four minutes is essential and worthwhile

Russian figure skater **Eduard Karatynyan** shared his thoughts after performing his free program at the Grand Prix stage in Kazan.

«I’m pleased with my performance because I managed to focus. There were minor issues during my preparation; I’m currently experiencing growth and had to switch out a pair of boots because my foot is getting bigger. This has led to a bit of coordination trouble, but I’m happy that I was able to skate through it. Yes, there were mistakes, but I fought through them. I change my boots twice a season since my foot is growing, and I tend to break them quickly. I’ve grown four centimeters since August. This has had a significant impact; my jumps have changed, and my physique is also transforming. It has become tougher to jump, but I believe I can overcome this and become a more consistent athlete. Right now, I stand at 174 cm, and I think I haven’t stopped growing; I expect to reach around 180. I don’t want to be short, but I also don’t want to be overly tall, as it can affect my performance in sports.

I want to build the consistency that I’ve lacked in the past; I could have great starts but then just give in. This season, I’m aiming to alter my approach, work on my reliability, and achieve top placements. I haven’t had performances like this in practice; it’s my best skate (smiles). I geared myself up and really tried to prepare; enduring four minutes is achievable and essential, or I’ll regret it later,» Karatynyan said in a video for the Russian Figure Skating Federation.