* * * * * * M A J O R B R E A K I N G N E W S - Y A G U D I N * * * * * * www.sport-express.ru/art.shtml?143933Basically, (1) he had a hip replacement, and (2) he's going to work with Tatiana and Nikolai and try and come back to eligible skating.
I wish Alexei a very speedy and successful recovery!
Edited to add a really loose, edited computer translation - you should get the gist of it...
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Yesterday, Olympic champion of Salt Lake City-2002, 27-years old Alexey Yagudin has informed the correspondent of "SE" that he has made a decision to return to amateur sport.
THE FILE "SE"
Alexey YAGUDIN
Was born on March, 18th, 1980, in St.-Petersburg. The Olympic Champion - 2002
The 4-time World Champion - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, the Silver medalist of the World Championship - 2001, the Bronze medalist of the World Championship - 1997, the 3-time Champion of Europe - 1998, 1999, 2002, the 2-time Silver medalist of the Championship of Europe 2000, 2001
The Junior World Champion -1996
by Elena VAJTSEKHOVSKAYA
On July 5th, in New York, Yagudin had an operation to replace his hip joint. Information about this event had appeared poor. The coach of the figure skater, Tatyana Tarasova, whom your correspondent called in the beginning of the month, had said:
- Lesha called me at home from America and asked: "If I shall return to amateur sport, will you help me?" I answered in the affirmative, and heard: " In that case, I will go to the clinic to be operated on."
Attempts to reach Yagudin by phone were not successful. The only thing that it was possible to learn from Tarasova was that the doctors insisted on a fortnight stay of the athlete under their constant control so they could be assured that the first rehabilitation period took place without complications. Also, that Tarasova recommended Alexey not to hurry to work his hip at all. To wait even a month.
Yagudin has called himself. He has confirmed: the operation was made and successfully. Also, he has absolutely dumbfounded me with the phrase: " Wait, I shall call you back later towards evening. I wish to do the interview after I work out."
In due time, the phone has rung again.
- You excuse that I did not answer for a time your calls - begins a little guiltily Yagudin. - I was afraid to speak about something ahead of time. I wished to understand first whether my plan to return to amateur ice was real.
- So you all the same have made such decision?
- Well. Therefore, I departed to America for a survey (examination). Sooner or later, all the same, I should have to lie down in the clinic. But when the decision was ripened, it solved what to do. I saw pictures of the joint. It was not necessary to possess great knowledge of medicine to understand that the joint was shattered completely. Besides, around it strong hypostases(?) and inflammations were formed.
To the clinic I arrived some weeks prior to the operation as an initial survey occupies a lot of time.
- In what did the operation consist?
- When to me have shown the pictures taken in the first two weeks: now I am as "The Terminator." With a titanic hip. In the picture it looks ustrashayushche (?): the metal probe, a titanic head of a bone and itself articulate the mechanism too from the titan. I have chosen this metal. To me they told it behaves very organically in the human body. It is as though implanted in me.
- You are assured that you will manage to train as before?
- I want this very much. Perfectly I understand that I am 27 years old, and at the Games in Vancouver I will be 29, that figure skating is not necessary on a place (stays in place?), and the nervous system doesn't cope so well with heavy work, but, on the other hand, if before the operation I cleanly executed all jumps, and sometimes even jumped triple axel, it will not be exactly worse.
All depends on how the further rehabilitation will go. I am inspired with the example of Rudy Galindo, who had replaced both hip joints within two weeks and already in half a year skated in Collins' tour. If in 2010 in Vancouver I shall manage to get within the top three, I shall consider it as the hugest achievement.
- And if to you it is banal there will be no place on the Olympic team? There is in fact no guarantee that Russia will manage to send to the Games two men.
- Know that I have told Nikolay Morozov, who has already agreed to work with me, that it would be good if at the nearest world championship really returned Evgeny Plushenko. That Russia received for a preOlympic season two spots. And he answered me: " If you already now will start to think that the place on the team cannot be won by you, it is not necessary to begin."
- So you will train with Morozov? (something about frost here - frosty?)
- And Tarasova. We have already discussed it. We have solved that for the sake of purpose to win a medal in Vancouver, it is meaningful to be united and together to try this purpose to achieve. Certainly, for me it is terrible. Because it is necessary to take place infernal work. But I wish to take part once again in all this.
Complete interview with Yagudin - in one of the nearest numbers (issues?)
Sergey ARKHIPOV, surgeon-orthopedist, doctor of medical sciences, professor:
- The essence of the operation which was carried out on Yagudin consists that inside of the femur is inserted metal implant with a rough external surface. The second part of the design representing a cup into which the head of a hip enters has the same structure. Bone cells at regeneration sprout in this roughness. If too early you start to subject the hip joint to excessive strain, there is a certain risk to cause rassasyvanie(?) the cellular fabric, to loosen the joint and by that to hold up the process of rehabilitation. As for professional prospect to skate, Yagudin certainly can. To make forecasts about jumps, all the same I shall not risk. It is necessary to understand that thus on a joint much more impressive work falls than that on which it is calculated.
Tatyana TARASOVA, the deserved coach of Russia:
- When Lesha called and asked me whether with him I will agree to continue work, I have agreed, not deliberating. Yagudin is not simply an outstanding figure skater. He is a person who madly likes to compete, and, the main thing, is able to compete as no other. As for those some years that Lesha skated in various shows, he has psychologically had a rest from the big sport. I yet did not call on Nikolay Morozov and did not talk with him, however, I do not doubt, as it is very interesting to him to work again with Yagudin. Though, certainly, work for Morozov as a coach will strongly increase: in fact one of the strongest at present figure skaters Takeshi Honda skates. The most important is that all is by the way of health. If the hip will really cease to disturb Lesha, I do not doubt he will become successful.
Valentine PISEEV, the president of the All-Russia federation of figure skating:
- If Yagudin is really serious to set up to renew training and to struggle for a place on a combined team, I can only welcome his decision. On this occasion I have not talked with Alexey, but as soon as he will officially inform me on the return, we shall immediately address in the International Union of Skaters the request to return Yagudin to the status of amateur so that he acquires the right to compete in ISU competitions. In the same way, I can assure you that from the federation everything will absolutely be made to provide Yagudin with all necessary conditions for preparation.
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She was so young, but her performances that got her the gold were superb. ;D
;D ;D
They're almost cryptic!
I always will.
I'll tell you how Viktor Petrenko made me love him one day by donning a tuxedo and skating to Stranger In Paradise. Plenty of time for that later. I just had to dip a toe into this thread because it was calling me, and I had no choice but to answer. 