Stéphane Lambiel, you do a show in Basel - because it is fun or because it's a good business?
Of course I earn money with this show too. But the whole program is about fun. Even though I make an effort, doing the show doesn't feel like working.
How do you feel the audience?
Compared to competitions I have much more time to feel the audience during a show. The stress in a competition is much higher, every second is about gathering points.
Is the success of a competition only defined by the result?
Not at all. There has to stay more than the victory. When I won Skate Canada a year ago I didn't enjoy that victory. I had not shown on the ice what I had imagined.
And how big is the joy about victories when skaters like Olympic champion Jewgeni Plushenko or World Champion Brian Joubert are not taking part?
I don't enjoy a victory less because someone is not there. And: Les absents ont toujours tort.
Don't you miss the duel with Plushenko?
I'd appreciate his comeback. That would be good for skating, but also for me. The stronger the rivalry, the better I skate. But I don't know how strong he would be after a comeback. Coming back after such a long break must be difficult.
In the current season you had difficulties before winning the GPF in a convincing way last week. Are you prepared to skate for the title of European Champion starting from January 21st in Zagreb?
I want to win this title and I have the possibility to do so. But I'm glad I have some weeks to go.
What is missing then?
Nothing. It's all on the table. But I need to glue the parts together.
Why is the start of a season so difficult for you?
I plan for the Euros in January and the Worlds in March. What is before that is for preparation. Of course I'd like to be on top there too - but it doesn't always work.
Is it a matter of exercise or a matter for the head?
Probably both. I'm not a machine and there's only one Roger Federer.
You also skate in the whole world in front of big audiences. Do you compare yourself with Roger Federer?
Oh no. He's on another level. I've not seen such achievements from another sportsman. I'm a big fan of him. To me he's like a God.
Last January you skipped the Euros and you had a time-out. Are all problems and doubts of this time out of the way?
Yes, everything's ok. This time-out was the best thing for me. You know, up to 2006 it had always been my goal to become Olympic and World Champion. After that season I was double World Champion and Olympic silver medallist. I had to digest this, to class these achivements, understand myself and my entourage. I managed to do this during this break. I now know again which goals I want to achieve in sport. And I also know that I still need the competition.
Did you change anything then?
Nothing. The entourage is the same, the rhythm is the same. But all this is right for me again. On my computer I have a picture of a bull as a background image. I think of this before every competition, I remember that I need to fight.
That time-out wasn't the first surprising decision in your career. You are said to be a capricious diva, very stubborn and extravagant. Is this true?
Ähäm... that's right. I am what you see, I don't have a facade. I'm not easy: I arrive too late, I cannot hide my feelings. And I feel great for hours, but fall into a hole from a minute to the other. My emotional state can be very much up and down. That makes my life as sportsman more difficult: training is all about being precise and repeating the same thing. That's not always easy for me.
How does your entourage support you?
I'm lucky that my entourage knows me by now. And me trainer Peter Grütter and my choreographer Salomé Brunner know how to react to me in order to keep me at it.
Would you like to work with Stéphane Lambiel?
No, I think it's quite exhausting. Not only at work but also in life.
But you like yourself, don't you?
On the good days yes. But not always on bad days. But I have to say that I understand myself better now than two years before.
How does a bad Lambiel day look like?
I distract myself, I lie on the bed and listen to music, do something with my computer, watch DVD, go shopping or to the movies.
Switzerland was busy with the voting out of Christoph Blocher, were you too?
I was abroad and couldn't follow this live. But of course I noticed it.
Are you a political person?
My sport is quite absorbing. But I take part in votings, I also took part in the elections last October.
And how?
Is that good if I say that?
It depends.
Well ok. I voted for SP (Social democrats).
Skating is said to be something for girls. Does this bother you?
No. But this cliché isnt' true. No one would say art is only for women. Whoever says skating is only for girls doesn't understand my art.
You announced to stop competing after the Olympics in Vancouver 2010. You'll be 25 then...
In skating you grow old soon. Or to put it this way: I start to be gradually a senior now. At the beginning everything is easy, you are fresh and want to achieve everything. The time when I was like this is already over. It's more difficult for me now. I don't know what happens in two years. But I really believe that I will develop in another direction then.
What are your plans?
I will continue to skate in shows. But I'd like to present something more than different programs. I'd like to tell a story, a kind of a musical on ice. At the same time I can imagine to work for an event agency and to organize such events.
We ask you to choose one of two items each.
Saxon or Barcelona?
Saxon. That's where I've grown up, there's my family and I still feel very good there. I'm a person who feels strong connections to his homeland.
Armani or Abercrombie?
I've nothing against the casual style of Abercrombie & Fitch, but I prefer the more elegant one, therefore Armani.
Beer or mineral water?
Mineral water. I don't like beer too much because it takes too long before you get funny. If you had mentioned Tequila instead of Beer, I wouldn't have chosen mineral water.
Singing or painting?
Singing. I love Karaoke and I have the game "Singstar" at home. Most of the time I try the songs from Radiohead or I sing "Knockin' on heaven's door". I have no idea if I am on the pitch. But I definitely have rhythm in my blood.
Street parade or Schwingfest?
I haven't been to any of them. But Schwingfest, because I like traditions.
Я тут сильно набегами, времени сейчас ни на что не хватает
- надеюсь, кто-нибудь вскорости все это переведет. Интервью того стоит!
*тихонько радуется, что кое-какие ответы очень созвучны собственным мыслям*
Очень любопытные факты в статье упомянуты!
. Вот говорят,что Стефанчик скрывает факты личной жизни...
) 