Interview with Tiffany Zahorski : new job !

Born British, naturalized French, then Russian, Tiffany was as a brilliant ice dancer with Alexis Miart under the tricolor banner, and, from 2014 on, with Jonathan Guerreiro under the Russian flag. After participating in the PyeongChang Olympic Games in 2018 and places of choice in international competitions, - 6th at Euros 2018 and 2020 Euros, 2nd at 2018 NHK and 2020 Russian Grand Prix, she hung up her skates after the 2022 national championships. Since then, she has been working as a part-time assistant coach. But it was in a completely different role that we met her at Grenoble Grand Prix Final last December. Behind the scenes of the Polesud ice rink, she was training with her future colleagues from... the Eurosport channel. In January, we took advantage of the European Championships in Tallinn, her first competition at the other end of the microphone, to interview her in the press room of Tondibara Ice Hall. We interviewed the interviewer!

Patinage Magazine: How did you end up working for Eurosport?

Tiffany Zahorsky: You know I like to coach. I've been doing this for a little while now, part-time. I had the chance to work with Karine Arribert and Mahil Chantelauze in Villard de Lans. But my mindset is to try different things. Last year, I participated in shows for example. Last October, I received a call from one of the directors of Eurosport. Nathalie Péchalat was leaving her position as a commentator for another channel [France TV] and she suggested my name to replace her, as well as Valentina Marcheï’s. Valentina was not available... There you go! (laughs) I thank Nathalie very much for this opportunity. I was hired for this season. I'm testing the waters and I'm super happy to be here!

P.M.: Is it a stressful job?

Tiffany : To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I'm used to interviews, but before I wasn't the one asking the questions! I was a little tense at first, but I'm on my third day and it's getting better. Even if there is still some stress because I've never been on this side of the microphone, I try to do my best, to listen well, to ask relevant questions. I listen to my colleagues in the neighbouring booths, I try to find my own way of doing things.

P.M.: I assume being a former competitor helps you a lot.

Tiffany: Oh yes!! After all these years on the ice, I know exactly what questions the skaters will have fun answering. I also know what viewers want to hear. They are not in the skating business, you have to talk to them in clear terms. What makes sense to me as a former skater is not necessarily logical to them. So I have to adapt my speech so that it is not purely technical. I listen carefully to what my team tells me because they are used to the general public. I like to learn and I am lucky enough to learn quickly. So everything is going great.

P.M.: This afternoon, I heard you change of language several times in a few minutes. In how many are you fluent?

Tiffany: Only three! (laughs). English of course, which is my mother tongue, French which I learned during my years in Lyon, and Russian, since I lived in Moscow for almost nine years. I'm slowly learning a fourth one: Spanish!

P.M.: Will we hear you again at the World Championships in Boston?

Tiffany: Normally yes, but as a commentator during programs, not as an interviewer. I live in Paris now and I will be in the TV studio with Alban Préaubert and Anne Boyer. It's another job that I'll have to learn! But I told you, I love learning and doing different things. If everything goes well, I might continue next season! It doesn’t just depend on me, we’ll see, I have to prove myself first! But honestly, I like it. After all these years of skating, it’s nice to move to the other side of the fence and the microphone. Skating is a small world, you know that! I meet friends again, I discover new skaters, I’m still in the same environment but everything is different! And since I also like change… (laughs)

Interview by Kate Royan