Transcripts

1999 World Championships - ABC profile

Tamara Moskvina: Elena Berezhnaya is very shy, very quiet. She looks very beautiful like a movie star. Like a person who does commercials. Anton Sikharulidze is like a match. The moment you put the lights on, he explodes. For the skater in a way it's good because he's temperamental and you can see that temperament on ice.

ABC (Leslie Visser): This unique blend of grace and fire have proven to be a potent mix over the last year as Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze dominated the world of pairs skating. After winning the silv ermedal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, the two went on to win they entered until this past January. They may be different in personality but in three years as a team they skated with a single purpose.

Tamara: They work well together because they have the same goals. They would like to be best skaters in the world. They would like to get 6.0 at the competitions. They would like to be well-known. They would like to please the public. So this is their goal and they adapt their feelings, their temperament to this goal.

ABC: Recently, however, they have dealt with disappointment. In January they were forced to withdraw from Europeans after the short program because Elena had the flu. They were leading at the time. And just three weeks ago they placed second after a frustrating performance at the Grand Prix Final. To their coach, disappointment is something all couples must learn to endure.

Tamara: This is the best lesson for them as there is night and there is day. Right now those European Championships and this Grand Prix Final was their dark time in their competitive life.

ABC: They rely on their relationship to get through times like these. Once romantically involved, they are now best friends.

Elena Berezhnaya (through a translator): He knows how to work with me on the ice. When I can't do something he knows what to say to settle the problem and to help me continue to work. This is the most important feature because it is so rare among pairs and that's why we have become a team so quickly.

Anton Sikharulidze: She's a very strong person. You know, she's small but here in her head she's really, really strong like man. And you know sometimes I want to be like she.

Tamara: They are good friends and he takes good care of her like a gentleman and she completely respects him and trusts him and this is a very good working relationship. People when they watch them, they're like (deep sigh). They dream of such a nice couple.