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The hair, the costumes, his interest
in reptiles… There are many things that make Adrian
Schultheiss stick out, and he likes it that way! But most
of all he wants to be known for good skating, and he’s
well on his way to succeed. After an exciting battle with
Kristoffer Berntsson, Adrian walked off with the National
Champion title last December, and a few weeks later he won
gold at the Nordics (while Kristoffer competed in Torino)
and placed 16th at the 2006 Junior Worlds. |
You won Nationals twice as a junior and once as senior,
what was the difference?
The competition is much tougher in the senior class!
I was nervous but had decided I would just do my best. It worked
well, but when the music stopped in the middle of my free program
I about lost it, I didn’t know what to do! The music covers
three tracks on the CD and that worked just fine in practice,
but for the free skate it was only set to play the first track.
But I was allowed to pick up where I left off in the program,
and luckily I was able to put it all behind me and give it my
all. It worked out well after all.
You started skating at age three, how did that happen?
I have no idea! I think my mom just brought me to the rink to
have fun. It was a public skating session and we could try hockey
and bandy. But I liked figure skating and someone noticed I had
talent for it so I continued. But I did all kinds of other sports
as well. I played soccer, hockey, handball and I even wrestled.
Then I injured my foot during a soccer game and that’s when
I decided to just concentrate on skating. But I’m still
triying a few other things, like Kung Fu. It strengthens my muscles
and helps me gain speed; and speed is of the essence in skating.
Galina and Evgeni Loutkov |
You move like you’ve danced
a lot of ballet, is that the case?
For a long time I was a very poor dancer, totally worthless
actually... *His coach smilingly nods here.* But then I
decided to really work on it and leave the robot stage behind.
My choreographer Galina Loutkova
has helped me a lot. I don’t work so well in a group
so I get private lessons. |
Your season started with silver at the Junior Grand prix
competition in Andorra, and then you won gold in Croatia and qualified
for the finals in Ostrava where you fell ill.
*Sigh* Yes, that final is its own story… My throat was hurting
so badly but during practice all was well with my skating. But
the competitions was not good, I wanted too much, such things
happen. Of course I was still haunted by it during Nationals.
That’s why I decided to just do my best there and put on
a no-worries attitude.
What is your greatest moment in skating
so far?
Hmm, well, that would be my win in Croatia. I actually skated
better there than at Nationals, I did two triple Axels.
Where do you keep all your medals?
Most of them are at my parent’s house. I have so many
trophies and things that take up a lot of room, so I only
keep the most important ones at my place in Gothenburg,
from the European Youth Olympics and this past season.
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What do you do before a competition to keep your nerves
under control?
It’s very hard. I usually don’t sleep well, but then
I remind myself that all the other competitors are going through
the same thing and that it’s part of competing. There would
be something wrong with me if I didn’t feel anything. And
preparing gives you a kick as well.
Do you skate better under a bit of pressure?
Well, a lot of times I actually skate better during a competition
than at practice. I know what’s at stake although a lot
can go wrong too… Like with the jumps, they can be so easy
during practice and so very hard during a performance.
Are you close to getting a quad?
The toeloop and flip are within reach, I just need to land them
on one foot. My goal was to have them down this season but I will
of course continue working on them.
Because of Kristoffer Berntsson’s 10th place at Europeans
last year, you too had the opportunity to compete in Lyon. What
was it like to participate in such a big competition?
It was about like I had expected it to be. I was a bit disappointed
about the couple of missed jumps in my free program.
Still, you made it to the freeskate and placed 20th overall which
is not bad for a rookie. What was the best part about the competition?
Well, I’ll tell you this much, it wasn’t the food…
In spite of winning the Swedish Nationals,
you were not sent to Torino to represent Sweden, were you
disappointed?
No, not really. There will be other Olympics, my time will
come.
How do you get along with Evgeni
Loutkov, your coach?
Just fine, we understand each other very well. We don’t
always agree on things but we manage to find a way to solve
it. I know he has the skills to help me become the best
I can. |
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You train with Filip Stiller, are you friends or competitors?
We are friends although right before a competition I kind of withdraw
into my own little world and only think about what I have to do.
So like most training pals, we’re friends during practice
and competitors at competitions.
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The men’s podium at Swedish
nationals, Filip Stiller, bronze, Kristoffer Berntsson,
silver and Adrian Schultheiss, gold |
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This season has been a sort of break through for you,
have you done anything differently?
No, it’s been practice as usual. It takes time
to develop and things are finally beginning to happen.
Do you have a skating role model?
Alexander Abt was always a bit different and more interesting
to watch than the others. He had a great quad toe and nice footwork.
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What can you tell us about your free
program and the costume?
The costume should have an aura of mysticism and the supernatural
to catch the viewers. So many men skate in black and white,
I want to be different! Galina Loutkova makes my costumes
and she’ll make a drawing of her idea and then I say
yes or no to it. With this one we started with the blue
bodysuit and then added a few things and then some more.
People either hate this costume or they like it. Personally
I love her work, I want to stick out and be seen; it’s
part of the sport. |
And your hairdo?
Before Nationals I actually cut it myself… I like to try
different things. When I was younger my hair was blue and black
and red, but I don’t want to be that extreme anymore. I
want something that stands out but isn’t too wild.
What is your opinion about the Code of Points?
I’m all for it, I just don’t think it’s quite
ready yet. Like the quad, it should be worth a lot more points.
Those doing it now are often robbed since those doing a triple
Axel – triple toe get as much. I don’t think that’s
fair, you can’t really compare a triple Axel to a quad.
The quad is the high point of a program and should give more points.
But other than that, the steps and spins work well for me although
one step sequence only got a level 1 at JGP when really it’s
level 3 steps… Maybe some things are just too fast for the
caller, I don’t know, it’s impossible to see everything.
But it would be fun to be able to compare results from one competition
to another and with other skaters, but right now that’s
not really possible.
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Do you usually watch the other disciplines at
competitions?
Not really, no. I only concentrate on what I have
to do and I hang out only with those I choose, the rest
I ignore. I don’t mean to be rude, it’s just
the way I am. But it’s interesting to watch the pairs,
especially now that Sweden has a pair. I really like the
throw jumps. |
You’re a student, what do you study?
I’m in junior college, first year. My classes so far are
pretty general, next year it gets more specialized. I’ll
get into marketing or something; I haven’t decided what
I want with my schooling yet. For now my goal is to get through
school with the grades I’ll need to go to college. But skating
comes first since that’s not something I can do for the
rest of my life. I can always go to college later; learning is
something you do all through your life.
You have a rather unusual hobby…
You mean my reptiles? Yeah, I have a snake; it’s a boa constrictor
and I have two lizards. They live in a terrarium at my parents’.
When I was a kid our neighbor had reptiles and I thought it was
so cool. He even had piranhas, and I had some too for a while.
They are pretty easy to keep, you just feed them. The lizards
are great because they move around a lot, but they don’t
show any emotions. My family has two dogs now and I like them
better.
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What are your plans for the summer?
I will keep working on the quads and make a new
short program.
What will you be doing ten years from now?
My future is so open; I mean I live in a dream where anything
is possible. I’m aiming for the stars; I want to do
something I can make a good living off. An Olympic medal
would be good… |
So there he is, Adrian Schultheiss, the new Swedish shooting
star, with one foot already in the sky. Many had the opportunity
to see him at Europeans and of course we’ll be watching
him with great interest since he’s another Swede making
a mark. His coach, Evgeni Loutkov, gets the final word:
I come from Russia and skating is much bigger there. I am excited
we have Adrian in our club; success draws interest and we’re
trying to make people more interested in skating. This year Sweden
had two men at Europeans and maybe some day we’ll have three!
*Laughs* Adrian is a hard worker on the ice. He has good technique
and my wife Galina and I have worked very hard with him to get
him to show some feelings when he skates. He is doing much better
with that now!
Watch a part of Adrians SP at Swedish Nationals 2005 here
and his LP at Nordics 2006 here.
Be sure to select the smaller image for the best quality (this
icon in the lower section of the player 
)
