Oksana Baiul's BIO
November 16, 1977 (Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine, Soviet Union)
Oksana Baiul's quotes |
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I'd like to consider myself a versatile skater and I like to skate to different kinds of music.
I recall being on a COI tour in 1994 with Sergei and Katia. Sometimes after long trips from city to city, we would go swimming in the hotel pool to relax. Sergei was a good swimmer and was constantly making a fool of himself in the pool and making people laugh.
And still I'm not completely happy with my skating. I always feel I can do more and climb higher.
And I started taking care of my body much more carefully than I used to. I don't smoke. I don't drink. And I eat healthy.
Competitive skaters must be prepared for lots of work, challenges, self-discipline, and motivation. The desire must be there, but more importantly, you're love for the sport.
No, I'm not coaching. It's a huge responsibility to coach somebody.
Also, I gained lots of weight between ages 18-20 because I was drinking alcohol at night. Alcohol has lots of calories and that does not help.
I want kids to enjoy skating and I think it's a great workout.
Michelle Kwan is a very talented competitor. As she's getting older she is becoming more graceful and powerful on the ice.
Professional competitions are overrated.
Actually I dance really well on the floor.
Olympic Gold changed me and my life dramatically. I became a celebrity overnight and people see me as a famous skater, not a real person.
I use Graf Edmonton for boots and John Wilson blades.
I'm working really hard on my clothing line, but if I would want to skate on Champions On Ice I'll be able to do both.
Pairs skating and singles are two different things. Although some skaters have achieved this successfully, it is a very difficult transition. You're looking at double work.
I don't care what the critics say or think because I care for and love my fans.
I like to listen to different kinds of music - it just depends on my mood. I love Madonna, Russian singers... I like the Rolling Stones a lot!
I skate now for fun and to keep myself in shape.
Edouard Pliner is a very strong technical coach. I worked with him for four months in 1997 and I really liked him a lot because he is a great technician.
I love to cook! My specialties are Russian Chicken and Napoleon Pastries.
When I'm on the ice, I like being Oksana, and not imitate other skater's music.
I liked Maya Plisetskaya and Anna Pavlova as ballet dancers. As skaters, I liked Brian Boitano and Jill Ternary.
I will perform and entertain people very soon. But first, I must improve on my techniques and take care of old injuries.
If you want to compete, you must find a coach that will be there for you 24/7 and that will challenge you in order to take you to a higher level.
I keep my skates. My Olympic skates are still in my closet!
For the past four years, my coach has been Valentin Nikolayev, but I use different choreographers all the time.
I was able to travel the world, meet a lot of fascinating and interesting people, and able to see incredible places.
My whole life is a challenge!
I come to Fashion Week events in New York City twice a year.
I think the ISU should open up the rules for all the professionals to skate more so that they can contribute along with the amateurs to the sport of figure skating.
My weaknesses are my jumps. The reason is that although I land them in practice, when I actually compete or perform, I should let my body go and stabilize my mind better. Also, I need to work on not letting negative thoughts and emotions get to me on the ice.
One of my favorite vacation places is Miami, because of the people, the water and the beach - of course - and the architecture on Miami Beach is so wonderful.
I have always been interested in fashion. Gene owns a clothing company called NorthSportif. He supported and worked with me to achieve this goal of becoming more involved.
I moved to Massachusetts to a little town about forty minutes from Boston to be near my trainer, Eduoard Pliner.
While the amateur ranks focus so much on the technical aspects (like jumps), the pros don't jump as much and focus more on artistry and entertaining. Therefore, their programs are not geared enough technically to really compete against the amateurs.
In Russia, we didn't have to pay for coaching. Here, in America, I left Galina and I went back to my old coach, Valentin Nikolayev, because he was my coach who prepared me for the 1994 Olympics.
I started taking ballet lessons when I was three and a half and I still take dance classes.
First, I have to thank God for giving me the gift that he did as well as a second chance for a better life.
I want to have a line of sportswear for the dogs!
I like candy colors.
I took some time off to enjoy my life, but figure skating is something I love and something I will continue doing for the rest of my life.
People really do spend a lot of money on their pets - sometimes more then themselves.
I will try to make a doll of Oksana with a little dog.
I wish I could compete again, but my good feeling is, these competitions are better as exhibitions.
Now, I don't make decisions as fast as I used to.
I have a lot of different stages in my life when training has been easy or hard. Now, it seems that I have been training for so long that it has become almost second nature to me.
I wish I could say it's easy, but honestly, to get ready for a big championship is not as easy as it seems.
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