Back in the ice rink - in a new role

Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy

Together they became world champions five times, European champions four times and won the bronze medal at the Olympics twice. This makes Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy some of the most successful figure skaters that Chemnitz has ever produced.

Now they are back - as a coach and trainer for young talent. Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy tell us what plans they have for the local ice skating centre in the Maker of the Week interview.

How does it feel to be back here?

Robin Szolkowy: It was like coming home - except that you feel more grown up. I would compare the time we were both away to years of travelling. When you're young, you go out into the world, sow your wild oats and come back with new experiences. That's how it feels for us.

Aljona Savchenko: It's like back then. Only now my parents are here with me, parts of my family. That's very helpful. I feel at home here.

They skated together as a couple from 2003 to 2014. After the bronze medal at the 2014 Olympics, they parted ways. Robin Szolkowy ended his career, Aljona Savchenko put everything on one card with a new coach, new partner and new centre of life in Bavaria and was rewarded with Olympic gold with Bruno Massot in South Korea in 2018. This was followed by coaching jobs abroad for both of them. Robin Szolkowy has been back in Chemnitz since August 2022 and Aljona Savchenko since April 2023.


What made you decide to come back?

Szolkowy: First and foremost the family. I now have two children. My wife and I were in Switzerland and the USA after my active time. Especially during corona, we realised what it means to have a family and a stable social structure with childcare and health insurance around you. At some point during this time, around 2020, Alyona and I had more contact again after it had definitely been quiet between us for two years after 2014. We wrote more often again and realised that we were still on the same wavelength and communicated as equals.

Savchenko: We know each other well, our good and our bad sides. Like Robin, my family was the reason I came back. When the war started in Ukraine, my family fled to Chemnitz. Robin was already back here at the time and at some point we spoke and said to each other: let's give it a go.


What are your current tasks?

Szolkowy: We are employed by the Chemnitz Ice Skating Club and offer training. I'm currently coaching a pair and Alyona two single skaters. We also help each other out when one of us can't make it. After all, unlike before, we now both have children. There is more understanding on both sides.

Savchenko: I created the programme for Robin's pair, for example. I love creating choreographies.

But we don't just train people from Chemnitz. We've also had skaters from Dresden, Mannheim, Berlin and Lithuania who have been here for a week or two. I would say that we are more there for the speciality.

Szolkowy: We were always well received. We have told the other coaches that we are not poaching anyone. We are here as a supplement, we offer our help. Anyone who wants to and has the qualifications can train with us. But we don't take work away from any coaches.


How does your training work? Do you consult with each other or does it flow naturally?

Szolkowy: It actually happens quite spontaneously. We've known each other long enough that we know pretty much exactly what the other is thinking.

Robin Szolkowy was born in Greifswald and grew up in Erfurt. He came to Chemnitz at the age of 16 and spent "his most formative years" here, as he says himself. Aljona Savchenko was born near Kiev and came to Chemnitz in 2003.


What exactly is your goal?

Szolkowy: We want talents from Chemnitz to make it back onto the international stage. Or talents from other cities who want to be moulded here.

Savchenko : That won't happen overnight. But we are here to help and bring a breath of fresh air. But to do that we need the support of others in ice sports.

Szolkowy: There is competition between the coaches, but that's also a good thing. Everyone has their own way of working. Aljona and I have travelled internationally both as skaters and coaches. We were able to see the bigger picture. Aljona is an Olympic champion, she doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. The energy and dedication, but also her ambition, which she definitely still has, are good for all of us.

Savchenko: But it is very important that there is always a second hall available. A lot of children train here and they can't move around as freely when there's so much going on on the ice because there's only this one training area. The hall is also old. If we want to put Chemnitz back on the map of international ice sports, we need to be able to feel like we're training at an international level.

Szolkowy: You can't explain to anyone internationally that we don't have at least one rink to train in all the time. The eight to twelve weeks in summer without any ice are tough.


What is the beauty of figure skating?

Szolkowy: It's a very balanced sport, the physical and mental requirements have to be right. The pair skaters in particular have to watch themselves and each other, they need to be in harmony. Nevertheless, you are moving at the limits of your body, for example in the inclined positions. A routine like this lasts four minutes, the pulse goes to 180 or more in the first ten seconds, and yet it's not a sprint. Then there's the dancing, the music, the choreography, which can compensate for a lot, but can also mess everything up.

Savchenko: It combines all sports from athletics to gymnastics to weightlifting. Plus the music! You need everything for it: stamina, elegance, but also a lot of hard work, courage and patience. Talent alone is not enough.


What do you want for Chemnitz as Capital of Culture 2025?

Savchenko: A second, modern hall. And maybe we can put on our own show to give a piece of ourselves back to the people.

Szolkowy: I would like to see Chemnitz, my home town, get a boost. It was very nice for me to come back. A lot has happened, the cityscape has changed for the better since I left. People are friendlier and more open.