It's everything for me. Without figure skating, I am nothing.

I skate for the fans. It's not as fun without them there supporting me. I get energy from them and I want to skate well for them. They relax me. They make me happy when I skate for them. I feel the Americans like me more and more each time I tour.

Viktor Petrenko and I met at a competition, where I beat him completely accidentally. I felt so embarrassed in front of my idol.

I'm a wealthy man now. I've got a flat, a car, I have enough money to buy food. I skate to make the people happy. If somebody skates to earn money, I don't care. I skate for the people. Besides, it's pleasant to supply Russia with gold medals.

I try not to think about marks, the first place or gold medal. The most important thing is to show what you are capable of on ice. The rest will come on its own.

At school I fought sometimes. Kids were saying that figure skating is sport for the girls. Then I had to prove them wrong.

My main competitor is myself.