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– It’s all about physics. The air flight time must be longer, i.e. the skater must push higher and the rotation must happen faster. This is how a figure skating coach sums up the difference between triple and quadruple jumps Marina Shirshova.
In recent years, Russian women have introduced demanding quadruple jumps as part of women’s figure skating competitions. On the other hand, Russian-born Shirsova has recently been working with the women’s quadruple jump champion, the only 15-year-old Janna Jyrkinen with.
– I have the height and rotation under control, but now I need to be able to carry the jump to the end. And one day I want to get it in a competition, Jyrkinen chats in his familiar surroundings on the ice of Lappeenranta’s Kisapuisto.
However, “someday” is not yet at the door. At the moment, training for the risky quadruple jump is on hiatus, and we will focus on it again in the spring. At the time of the interview, the full focus is on refining the competition programs and basic technique, with an eye to the EC home competitions starting today, Wednesday.
When the Russians have been excluded from the games, there is no great pressure to perform quadruple jumps.
Jyrkinen, who won prizes in the youth series, has quickly entered the adult level. The first women’s Finnish championship came in mid-December in Joensuu, and the record points have already risen to over 170.
Jyrkinen has also made it to international competitions abroad. In Finland, he has also been seen in Finlandia Trophy and Espoo’s tough GP race.
At the EC ice in Espoo, Jyrkinen gets to present his skills to an even bigger audience. He doesn’t take unnecessary pressure from it.
– I’ve already had two races in Espoo, so I know what it’s like. The spectators are very supportive and that has been a new thing for me. But I like it, Jyrkinen reveals.
– Janna knows all the difficult technical stuff, which is enough for a high European level. He also has all triple jumps in his repertoire, coach Shirsova says.
A demanding coach – a similar student
Marina Shirsova, who received her figure skating lessons in St. Petersburg and also performed in St. Petersburg’s ice circus during her own skating career, is a demanding coach. In addition to Jyrkinen, he also coaches Lappeenranta’s Figure Skaters Iida the BearFinnish youth champion.
– I work in the same way as I trained myself. I have a strong point of view and a system that is familiar from my childhood. I demand a lot, but the plan is clear. When, what and why? An athlete also needs to know the stages, Shirsova opens up about her coaching.
– Marina is demanding, but also cheerful, humorous and helpful, Janna Jyrkinen lists her coach’s character traits.
Jyrkinen’s mother is also Russian. The skater believes that it has helped the successful cooperation with Shirsova.
– It’s the same culture that people are demanding in Russia. For me, it’s okay and even good that it’s required, Jyrkinen states.
Jyrkinen’s role model also comes from Russia. Three years older than him Aleksandra TrusovaBeijing Olympic silver medalist and quite the jumping machine, who has successfully performed up to four different quadruple jumps in his competition programs.
Janna is mentally strong, and she doesn’t even fully understand how strong yet.
Marina Shirshova
Jyrkinen describes unyieldingness, perseverance and goal-setting as his own character traits. They have already been visible very early in childhood, when Janna had to go to practice in the middle of the kindergarten day. Or when Jyrkinen and Shirsova traveled twice a week to Helsinki to practice during the corona virus, because the ice rinks in Lappeenranta were closed.
– Janna is a pleasure to coach. He is versatile, nice and brave. Not exactly an easy guy, but that’s how it should be in our sport. Janna is mentally strong, and she doesn’t even fully understand how strong yet, Shirsova sees.
– I set goals for myself and I also try to reach them. You have to be pretty perfect, actually in almost everything, Jyrkinen admits with a laugh.
It can also be seen at school. Jyrkinen is in the ninth grade of elementary school in Kesämäki’s international class, and the certificate numbers are at least one.
When Jyrkinen wants to relax, he goes out with his dog. The breed is a small and fluffy Pomeranian that lives up to the name Axel. Of course, according to the figure skating jump.
– Skating doesn’t always feel easy and fun. Even in this sport, you have to go outside your comfort zone sometimes. It is perhaps the everyday routine that we still have to work on, but it is normal for a top athlete of that age, Shirsova admits.
“I feel that I am mature and ready to compete in the adult series”
The age of figure skaters has become such a big topic of conversation in recent years that the decision to raise the age limit for the adult category from 15 to 17 has already been made.
The change will be made gradually, so for Janna Jyrkinen it will no longer affect the competition. In a few months in February, she will already turn 16 and in 2024 she will be 17, which will also be the new minimum age for women.
– I personally feel that I am already quite mature and ready to compete in the adult series, says Jyrkinen.
The age limit change was intended to address, among other things, health problems that developing young women have experienced in the demanding sport. Back problems in particular may remain a memory for the rest of your life.
– For me, this is not a simple matter. I myself am not only a coach, but also a skater’s parent. On the other hand, I see it as if an athlete wins everything already at the age of 15–16, then after that he still has time to focus on studies and get involved in normal working life. Combining studies, work and elite sports is so difficult, Shirsova thinks.
Shirsova’s daughter Alisa Efimova (23) represents Germany in pair skating, born in Belgium by Ruben Blommaert with. The pair is also participating in the European Championships, so Shirsova has enough to double the tension at the Games. But what were the realistic goals for Janna Jyrkinen?
– Our goal is to make two intact programs. And of course you have to remember that only the best 24 get into the free program, says Shirsova.
Janna Jyrkinen will compete in the women’s short program of the European Figure Skating Championships on Thursday. Live broadcast in the Arena from 1:15 p.m. Broadcast on TV2 at 3 p.m.