From gazeta.ru by Anna Ilyinskaya on March, 18th

Reporter: Good day, Alexei.
Alexei: Good evening rather, or even good night to be exact. I'm in Japan and it's almost nighttime here.
R: Then I'm sorry for this late call. But this means I can wish you a happy birthday already.
A: Thank you very much. Actually you are the first one to congratulate me after my mom.
R: Alexei, nevertheless you came to the World Championships in Japan, despite all the rumours. Why did you decide to come to Nagano after all?
A: Initially there were no questions to me whether to go or not to go to Worlds. Yes, I won the Olympic Games. Yes, this is the main dream of every athlete. But I wasn't going to refuse to skate at World Championships. I wasn't going to offend those people who bought tickets and wanted to see a good show.
R: Well, why would that neccessary mean "to offend"? Just like all the other athletes you were preparing for the Olympic Games in the first place. You won them. Why not to take some rest now?
A: I will have enough time to rest after Nagano (so he considers what he is doing right now a rest? ). Conserning my participation in World Championships I'd like to say I'm feeling good enough right now to be able to give a deserved performance and to become World Champion for the 4th time.
R: So Kurt Browning's fame bothers you, right?
A: What's Browning got to do with it? Although I'm not going to deny Tatiana Anatoljevna always dreamed about Russian skater to repeat the achievement of the overseas athlete. And I'm like having a second wind now.
R: Btw in Moscow some say you were thinking about not going to Worlds because your coach Tatiana Tarasova initially didn't want to fly to Japan. She explained it with indisposition and tiredness of a tough Olympic season. But still you are in Nagano. How can you commentate on this situation?
A: After the Olympics I was in America and Tatiana Anatoljevna was in Moscow. Like I said, initially I wanted to go to Worlds. But when my coach called me and said she didn't want to go to Japan because of tiredness, I started to hesitate. Not because i was blaming Tatiana Anatoljevna. She was really very tired and she wanted to spend some time at home in Moscow with close people. So I started to think was it really so neccessary to go anywhere? Probably I'd better go to Peter, to my mom. But then some inner voice told me - people are waiting for the result from you. If you decided not to turn pro it means you have to fight till the end. I decided to go although I admit I was very nervous. To compete without a coach seemed beyond my strength. Luckily she will be with me in Nagano despite everything.
R: Btw, about Tatiana Anatoljevna. There were rumours about Tarasova's serious illness circulating in Russian press, like suppousedly she was partly paralized. How is she?
A: I'd prefer not to discuss her state of health. I can only say she is in form now and she looks good. Please don't umbrage, but all the rest I'll keep in between me and her.
R: Of course, this is natural. We wish her well. Now, shortly about World Championships. I guess you already know your main rival Evgeny Plushenko won't come to Nagano. Alexei Mishin says his student has periostitis. I suppose in Zhenya's absence it will be much easier for you to compete?
A: Surely, Zhenya's absence will make my task appreciably easier. But on the other hand, you saw how Goebel was skating at the Olympics. He didn't make a single mistake and he jumped 3 quads. To add some more artistry and it will be very difficult to fight with such a rival. It is not known what a surprise he can give at Worlds. As for me I have to perform siutably, all the more I clearly realize everybody expects only a victory from me.
R: Don't you think the real reason of Plushenko refusals to participate both in European and World Championships are that he feels his inability to compete with you? Remeber, they used to write you were not participating in this or that competition because you were afraid of Plushenko. Isn't this situation the same, only that the hero has changed?
A: Me and Zhenya are both professional athletes. Nobody is afraid of noone. Simply these are the circumstances right now. I'd love to meet him in a single combat (mmm, not sure if I'm translating this right ) on the Nagano ice. But everyone can have health problems. I wish Plushenko a speedy recovery. I hope next season we can create the intrigue once again. For now, at Worlds I will fight for two (means "for both of us").
R: Thank you, Alexei, happy birthday once again and good luck.
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