Namita Nayyar:
You have been a member of the Dutch National Skating team from 2016 to 2018 and had competed in many competitions. Tells how you were drawn to this sport of figure skating and your meteoric rise to be a member of the Dutch National Skating team?
Anastasiia Smirnova:
When I turned fourteen, I was offered to switch to pair figure skating, I was happy to make this offer, because I always liked to watch couples skate on TV and dreamed of trying it myself. I paired up with my new partner under the leadership of Alexei Sokolov, but a year later my partner decided to end his career. I also thought that my career would end there and was already ready, as the skaters say (to hang the skates on a nail), but luckily for me I had to try my hand with a partner from Holland, who was looking for a partner.
I moved to Holland and started training in a new country, of course, it was not always just that there was no support from my parents, because they stayed in Russia and I had to rely only on myself and believe that I was doing this for a reason, we quickly skated and got in shape and very quickly got into the Dutch national team. I lived in Holland for three years, but we did not have a permanent coach and we had to learn a lot ourselves.
Namita Nayyar:
You have trained in single skating with the group of Olympic champion Alexey Urmanov and the honored coach of the Russian Federation Larisa Yakovleva. In pair skating, you trained with Alexey Sokolov and also skated in the Netherlands from 2015-2018. Tell us more about your experience of these exceptional opportunities to train with the world’s best in skating?
Anastasiia Smirnova:
I am very glad that initially I got into the group of the honored coach of Russia Larisa Yakovleva – this gave me a certain impetus for rapid development in figure skating. When I moved to the group of Alexei Urmanov, it was already a huge incentive, because training in the group of the Olympic champion places a great responsibility on you, which played a very important role for me.
Pair skating I have always loved and dreamed of trying myself as a pertner and I am very glad that I had such an opportunity.
Namita Nayyar:
You have been a participant in the world’s largest liners Royal Caribbean International skating show and as well as the Russian show “Shine on the Ice”. Tell us how you took the decision to get featured on these entertainment shows and what has been a catalyst to this exceptional achievement in your professional career?
Anastasiia Smirnova:
After completing my sports career, my parents played the main role for my further development, who supported my idea to try myself in ice shows, at first I performed in the circus on ice Shine on ice, but decided that I had to move on and wrote to the American company Royal Caribbeaninternational my first major contract was sent and I spent seven months on the largest liner Harmony of the seas where I performed in an ice show.
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Anastasiia Smirnova:
I always start my workouts with a jog, I run three kilometers at a free pace. Then I carry out a set of exercises that engages all the muscles and allows them to keep them in good shape. This set includes exercises such as squats, lunges, back lunges, push-ups, abs and back exercises.
Namita Nayyar:
What is your fitness routine in such pandemic times?
Anastasiia Smirnova:
During the pandemic, I was engaged exclusively at home, most of the exercises, in order to always be in shape and have a good figure, can be done at home and it will be no less effective than doing fitness in a specialized gym.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you train your abs? One secret to your toned body.
Anastasiia Smirnova:
In abdominal training, I think the main thing is to always practice new exercises, because the press very quickly gets used to the exercises if you do only one block of exercises this will not bring the desired result, you need to use different exercises every day to pump the abdominal press
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
