"It's so cool when people who first come to the ice and can't even stand on skates, then start to perform figure skating elements. They go out on the rink, it's a storm of emotions for them, they fall down, get up, smile. You give people emotions, they give them to you. And that's probably happiness.
This was said by Polina Domnina, a student of the Mordovian State University named after N.P. Ogarev, in an interview to the Russian House. She is in her 2nd year of study at the medical institute, specializing in "General medicine", and she also teaches foreign students how to skate. Free figure skating classes are held at the "InterSkate" club for students of the Mordovian State University named after N.P. Ogarev. We decided to talk to Polina about how she decided to take up such an important and responsible job, and how she manages to find a common language with foreigners".
Polina, you have been professionally involved in figure skating for many years. Tell us how your path in this beautiful sport began? Since how many years have you been doing this sport?
My dad brought me to the skating rink when I was 5 years old. He's been by my side my whole sporting career. 5 years old is really late. Kids start studying very young when they just learned to walk, but I worked hard and eventually I managed to achieve some success. Now I am a candidate for master of sports, but I have already finished my professional career.
Tell us how you came up with the idea of coaching international students?
I participated in the project "Mentoring". The year 2023 was announced by the President as the Year of Educator and Mentor, and I got a call and was told that my mentor would be Dmitry Glushko. This is the rector of the Mordovian State University named after N.P. Ogarev, my university. We met, discussed our possibilities, at that time the huge "Ogarev Arena" was transferred to the management of the university: there is ice and sports halls there. As a former figure skater, I suggested that we set up a figure skating section for Russian and foreign students.
How are the training sessions going?
Despite the new climatic conditions for foreigners, they are ready to go out on the ice and train. The guys really like it. We train at least once a week for an hour, sometimes more often because we are preparing for events. More than a hundred people came to our first training session. Now periodically 60-70 people come to each training session.
How long is it possible to teach ice skating?
Everything is individual, it depends on your desire. If you want to - three lessons and you will already be standing on skates. I'm not saying that you will move professionally, but it is possible to stand firmly. The most important thing is persistence and hard work.
Is there a language barrier? In what language do you communicate with your mentees?
We communicate in both Russian and English. We have international students, both Russian-speaking and English-speaking. There is an interpreter in our team, he comes to the classes and helps to translate certain expressions. Now the guys understand me without words, at the level of gestures, they grasp the educational material very quickly. I learn English, they learn Russian, we share the peculiarities of our cultures with each other. Only teamwork leads to results!
What element of figure skating do your students do best?
The guys really like to do the swallow element. You stand on one leg and lift the other leg up. Once I didn't know how to explain to foreign students a figure skating element like the crab, when the feet are in the second position. I say "crab" because it walks sideways. The guys started laughing, it's a new word for them.
Would you like to organize some kind of tournament or competition for your students?
Of course, there is such a plan. It would be great if we organized competitions among different institutes and universities from all over the country. But I haven't heard that there were such classes anywhere else but our university. If someone has a desire - I am ready to co-operate, ready to tell, explain and organize a big-big festival, because skating is cool and great.
Do you have any plans to expand the number of students, so that not only students of your university, but perhaps other educational institutions could take part?
We also have another pedagogical university in Mordovia. The guys periodically come and ride with us. We are in favor of promoting our project. We are happy to have guests, students, we are ready for co-operation, for new projects. So, we are waiting for suggestions and ready to help.
Do you like to teach, to pass on knowledge? What are some of the recent things you have staged with your students?
I like it very much, it's my outlet. I've been doing this since I was a kid. Recently, together with Dmitry Glushko we staged a number on ice to the Russian song "Kalinka-Malinka", Indian students took part in it. They wore Russian shirts, we wore women's Russian national costumes with kokoshniks. We also had an event before National Unity Day where each student spoke about their culture. For example, my friend Hannah Joy from India, she gave me a sari. I wore a sari, the boys wore Mordovian shirts, Russian shirts, national costumes, Indian national dresses. It is very important to establish intercultural dialogue and tell the boys that we are all together, we are friends, only then we can achieve peace in the world, harmony and unity.
Interviewer: Anna Karibyan