Off the ice she is fond of cooking, while he holds his breath when his eye catches the sight of a glitzy car. She thinks that it is easier to be a pair skater, while he believes it is easier to skate as a single. But when they get on the ice, perfect unison is the shared goal

They had been living and training in Moscow until aliya brought them to Israel. Ekaterina and Fydor will be representing Israel in senior pair skating

-Fyodor, will you continue to train in Moscow?

-Yes, we train under Vladimir Zaharov, the coach of the legendary two-time Olympic Champions Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov.
-That's a real honour. How many hours a day do you train?
-Normally it is two 2.5-hour sessions a day.
-Who is the leader in your pair?

(Ekaterina, pointing to Fyodor) – He is.
-It seems to me that he leads you where you want it to.
-No. (the petite blond Ekaterina shakes off my remark energetically). Fyodor is the leader.

-Fyodor, is it easier to be a single skater or a pair skater?

-For me it would be easier to be a single skater. There is more responsibility when you skate in a pair. You might do an element well, but you might still wonder if your skating partner did it well too.
-And for you, Ekaterina?
-I feel more comfortable in pair skating. I feel the shoulder of my partner, and it gives me more self-assurance and self-control.
-Are there elements that you would like to improve first and foremost?
-All skating elements need constant improving. But side-by-side jumps are definitely a priority.
-Why?
-Usually in a skating pair, the guy is a few years older than the girl, and he masters the jumps earlier, while it takes the girl a few years to catch up with him, and this disparity might harm the performance.
-I see. Do you have particular preferences in selecting the music for your skating programmes?
-It depends. For example, this year our short programme was to the Flamenco music, and our long programme was to the soundtrack of The Spiderman. But we are going to work on new ones next season.
-Do you have role models in figure skating?
(Together) – Oh, yes. Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov, the 2000 World and Champions in pair skating. We appreciate them both as skaters and wonderful personalities.
-How do you prepare yourselves mentally for the competitions to overcome the agitation and the rage of adrenalin?
(Fyodor) – Once you are physically fit, you have to prepare yourself mentally. And only you can do it. No one else will do it for you.
-And you, Ekaterina?
-I look to him for this kind of readiness. If I see he is calm, I am calm too.
-No I understand why Fyodor thinks it is easier to be a single skater. He has to do a double job as a pair skater.
(Fyodor)-But Ekaterina cooks well, and it makes up for the effort.
-Do you have other hobbies?
(Ekaterina) - As you have already understood, I like cooking, and Fyodor likes cars.
-At least on the ice there is no difference in tastes or goals. The 2007 Nationals is going to be your first competition for Israel. Let me just wish you good luck.
-Thank you.

The interview was taken on the first day of the Israel Nationals, Aug 24th, 2007