Transcripts
1997 World Championships - ABC profile
Elena: All I remember is we were skating and spinning when I felt
this unexplainable blow to my head. I kept spinning and I felt like I was
falling. And then, suddenly, I felt something dripping. All of a sudden,
people were all around me and I tried to speak, but I couldn't. The ambulance
came and took me to the hospital and I don't remember feeling pain. The
doctor asked me questions, but I couldn't answer them, what my name was,
where I lived. He said, "say something," but I couldn't. They told me I
needed surgery, so I nodded to show I understood.
ABC (Brent Musburger): The blade had shattered bone fragments inside
Elena's skull. Doctors performed two brain operations.
Elena: When I woke up from the surgery, I was in a fog. Everything
ached. It took three days before I started to speak again. Oleg was supportive
at first. He said we could train and we would still make it for World Championships,
but the doctors told me otherwise.
ABC: First, doctors thought Elena would be in bed for three weeks,
then they thought six months.
Elena: I was in shock. I couldn't believe I wasn't allowed to do
anything. I cried. I just wanted to go home.
ABC: Elena improved quicker than doctors expected. A month later,
she went home, but decided to no longer skate with Oleg. After three months
of physical and speech rehabilitation, Elena went back to the ice with her
new partner, Anton Sikharulidze. But some might wonder how she could feel
safe at all. Why go back to the ice? To the danger?
Elena: I wanted to go back to skate. I wanted to go back to all my
friends who had supported me. To tell you the truth, I don't know what I
would do if I couldn't skate.
Tamara Moskvina: I like was a little bit her mother for her. Then
I thought, oh, if it would be my daughter, how will I behave? Because I
was afraid. I didn't know how we would react after she recovered and while
she was recovering.
Anton: Before, I never thought about such things as dropping my partner
or falling. Now I have to be extremely careful with her and give her much
more attention because any fall could have severe consequences.
Elena: I think the people around me were more scared than I was.
For me, it felt as if I was relearning to walk.
Tamara: She slowly started to walk on ice (and) do little steps.
After a while, maybe half a month, then she decided to jump - double, triple.
I was like surprised and astonished. And even when they started to do that
dreadful element, the side-by-side camel spin with new partner I thought,
"Please, stay away from each other. Stay far." But she didn't show any fear.
ABC: But there are still lingering effects.
Elena: I still have difficulty speaking. I can remember the words,
but when I speak there is the trace of an accent. So Russian people think
I sound like an American and say, "hello."
ABC: Elena has progressed rapidly, off and on the ice. The pair amazed
all at the Europeans where they placed third. Elena has found strength in
herself and in Anton.
Tamara: I know that those people who have in their life so much difficulties
and they show their will to continue to do what they like. They will achieve.
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