by Daphne Backman | On-Ice Images by Robin Ritoss
Estonia’s Solene Mazingue (20) & Marko Gaidajenko (21) had a whirlwind 2021-22 season. They relocated to Montreal within the off season and have been making ready for the 2022-23 season when an accident throughout follow resulted within the season turning out a lot completely different than deliberate and Mazingue needing emergency mind surgical procedure to avoid wasting her life. Study extra about this younger staff’s particular person journeys in addition to how they’re shifting ahead after an unpredictable season.
Each Mazingue and Gaidajenko began their skating journeys on the age of three, however their early experiences couldn’t be extra completely different.
Mazingue was born in Paris, France. Her mother introduced her to a rink native to her neighborhood to see if she would really like it. She fell in love with skating and the ice. She by no means left. At six years outdated, she began competing in small competitions in her metropolis, which she actually loved.
“Earlier than 15, I used to be simply skating as a result of I preferred it,” Mazingue mentioned. “I actually love skating, and the factor I like essentially the most is to compete. I prefer to really feel the music and to present some emotion feeling to the general public who watches me.”
When Gaidajenko’s mother and father put him on the ice for the primary time, there have been 20 or extra children going from one aspect of the rink to the opposite in a single path. When coaches arrived, they pushed him, however his legs went right into a cut up.
“I began saying I don’t need to, I don’t need to,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “They took me again house. The subsequent time, I used to be seven, and then I caught to it. It began for enjoyable, however at one level if you begin to perceive that you simply prefer it, you’re getting higher and preserve going. It simply turns into your way of life such as you’re knowledgeable athlete. You skate, you’re employed out and also you compete, and that’s what drives you from competitors to competitors. This adrenaline and emotional increase is the factor what pushes you and likewise like drives you.”
Partnership
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world of determine skating with the World Championships being the primary occasion casualty in March 2020. Whereas the skaters discovered artistic methods to proceed coaching and showcasing their abilities, forming a brand new partnership throughout journey restrictions introduced its personal set of obstacles.
In 2020, Gaidajenko was coaching for the Junior Grand Prix with companion Darja Netjaga when the ISU introduced the occasions wouldn’t be held that fall. The truth is, there have been no competitions being held in any respect.
“We determined to cease skating for a second as a result of there was no aim to go someplace,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “It was like actually laborious to push to do nonetheless the run-throughs.”
When the partnership ended and despite the fact that he had but to announce it, he began to obtain messages about tryouts from potential companions.
“The world of determine skating is so tiny,” Gaidajenko mentioned.
Mazingue cut up together with her companion on the finish of the 2019-2020 season. As a result of it was inconceivable to journey, she spent quite a lot of time searching for a brand new partnership by viewing video trailers of skaters from the U.S. and Russia. Then, she heard about Marko.
“I straight away texted my coach, who texted him, and he mentioned sure to a tryout,” Mazingue mentioned.
“Rapidly, Solene texted me as a result of she was with out a companion as properly,” Gaidajenko added.
It was December 2020, and journey was nonetheless restricted to and between sure nations. The duo determined that having the tryout in France can be the best choice.
“I mentioned let’s strive,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “Let’s go to France.”
“We tried out for 2 weeks,” Mazingue added.” “It [the tryout] was good for me and excellent for him too, proper?”
“Yeah,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “I went for New Years again to Estonia. I got here again to France, and we began to skate collectively and to consider possibly we should always strive for our future.”
Season One
Mazingue & Gaidajenko moved ahead with their partnership for the 2021-22 season. They have been nonetheless age-eligible for the junior degree and debuted on the second Junior Grand Prix occasion in France, the place they gained the bronze medal, adopted by a ninth place end on the Cup of Austria JGP.
A month later, they competed at their first senior occasion, Warsaw Cup Challenger Sequence occasion in Poland, the place they completed fifteenth. After successful their first Estonian senior nationwide title, they completed ninth at Golden Spin of Zagreb.
Whereas competing at each ranges introduced its personal set of obstacles, the rhythm dance theme lended itself to a neater transition.
“It’s normally more difficult as a result of it’s normally completely two completely different rhythm dances, however final season that was the identical topic, like a hip hop and avenue tradition,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “Additionally, it was each the blues. It’s Midnight Blues (senior) and Blues (junior), so it was simpler.”
“We went there with the concept of high quality technical qualification for the free dance,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “We’ve labored loads earlier than earlier than this Worlds, and we additionally had the actually good draw for us. We have been within the fourth group.”
For a brand new staff, they exceeded expectations and certified for the free dance in a well-known twentieth place.
“Once we end our rhythm dance, we will straight away see if we certified or not,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “We did the most effective rhythm dances for our entire season. Me and the coach are sitting in kiss ’n cry and already understood this as a result of we noticed the factors. Solene didn’t get it but. We noticed the ‘Q’, and she mentioned ‘what does it imply?’ We certified for the free dance, and she’s so excited.”
“I didn’t perceive if we certified or not,” Mazingue added. “Once we handed, I used to be tremendous completely happy as a result of we labored for one season. And that was a lot emotion as a result of really one 12 months working every single day, 5 hours, much more.”
Their first season, the place they straddled junior and senior occasions, ended with the duo ending nineteenth at their first World Championships,
“It’s sort of difficult, and it’s taking part in along with your thoughts a bit as a result of we began the season as a juniors, and then we slowly moved to the seniors,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “It was a pleasant expertise. and likewise fairly profitable for us as seniors and likewise juniors. Additionally, we watched all of the obstacles we went by means of. It’s an important expertise, after all competing in a single class it’s a lot simpler.
The Transfer to Montreal
In preparation for the upcoming 2022-2023 season, Mazingue & Gaidajenko made the choice to coach on the famend Ice Academy of Montreal beneath the steering of coaches Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, and Romain Haguenauer.
“Then the state of affairs with Ukraine began, so there was no likelihood to remain there in any respect. We had relationship with the coaches from Montreal earlier than, and we had concepts already to maneuver there. At this level already, we don’t have every other options, and plus we actually need to go there. We simply after Worlds had two to 3 weeks break, after which we went to the Montreal. All the things began right here.”
In accordance with the staff, one coaching location is just not actually akin to the opposite.
“It’s actually two completely different strategies,” Mazingue mentioned. “For instance, in Russia, it’s extra by your self, and there’s a coach, and she or he comes that can assist you, however right here it’s extra like a personal session. We like each. It’s actually how the skater likes it.”
“Right here they’ve their very own strategies, which works completely good and excellent,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “They’re completely different than others and the a lot effort, they put within the college and within the skaters. You’re feeling right here as a household. You’re feeling help from from the skaters and from the coaches. Now we have psychological coaches. Now we have so many so many individuals round us, and the best half is that you every single day you study one thing new. It’s information. It’s quite a lot of way of life altering as a result of right here you’re dwelling the lifetime of an precise athlete. You do your personal selection. should you don’t need to skate right now, you can’t skate, however then it’s the way it will have an effect on you sooner or later.”
The Accident
The transition from Moscow to Montreal was a clean one for Mazingue & Gaidajenko, till September twenty ninth when the whole lot modified for the couple. Falls occur in determine skating for various causes and even on components which can be practiced time and again.
The staff’s first competitors of the season can be the 2022 Finlandia Trophy occasion, which is a part of the ISU Challenger Sequence. The staff was skating run-throughs of their packages and have been engaged on their free dance.
“He was serving to me to do the assisted bounce,” Mazingue mentioned. “There was a gap, so his blade will get caught within the gap. He fell again, and at this one he was lifting me, so my head was down, and my foot was up. When he fell again, I fell on my head, and at this second I lose consciousness for 10 seconds.”
“It was a easy raise that we’ve achieved like gazillion instances earlier than that and was getting into to the twizzles,” Gaidajenko added. “I used to be caught on the ice, and she hit her head. Typically we hit our heads on the ice. Typically there’s nothing, and generally there’s a concussion. Skaters actually battle with the concussions for like a 12 months or so after as a result of we simply don’t cease our season. On this case, she hit her head actually laborious. We went to the hospital as a result of the swelling on her head was loads, and she was she was in main ache. We known as the ambulance straight away with the coaches after the autumn.”
Gaidajenko continued, “Once we arrived to the hospital, I went proper to the ready space and through this time it was two and a half hours. They did this head scan, and it confirmed that that her cranium was damaged, that there’s a fracture, and then there was a bleeding, however they didn’t actually see how precisely it’s affecting the mind but. They noticed that there’s bleeding inside and outside.”
“I had a fracture and was bleeding loads and quick, and this was pushing my mind within the left components and center,” Mazingue added. “This was actually dangerous as a result of that’s how individuals can lose stroll and converse. My physician’s nurse who was doing my head scan known as straight away to the surgeon. At this second, my physique stopped to react. My pupils stopped responding, and I fell into the coma. My physique dropped to 32 levels. I went to surgical procedure. It was about three hours.”
“They began to do operation and through this time the nurse got here to see me and say that she’s in crucial circumstances, and he’s undecided she’s going make it by means of operation,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “The nurse advised me if she’s going to make it we don’t know if she’s going to speak once more or stroll once more. Three hours in the past I noticed her. I talked to her. Follow was nice and at this level, any person was telling me that it could be the final time you see her.”
Gaidajenko continued, “I used to be in a fog. It was actually laborious to take it as a result of I used to be alone there for like these three hours. I used to be on the cellphone with my dad. He’s additionally in medication, however again in Estonia. God bless Tim [Dieck] and Olivia [Smart] who got here to see me straight away. Patrice [Lauzon] got here after follow and presently she was within the working room.”
At 10pm on the identical day as her accident, Mazingue had an emergency craniotomy. They opened the cranium, drained the blood and checked her mind exercise. They put in titanium plates with six anchors. The nurses advised Gaidajenko they’d attempt to wake her the following morning at midday. They warned him that she might have amnesia or be panicked and never bear in mind the place she is, or why she is there.
“I got here again house and subsequent morning I acquired a name at 7am,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “It was Solene’s voice asking are you coming to see me. She was doing nice. She was smiling, and we defined to her what occurred. The subsequent day, her mother arrived and was visiting her every single day within the hospital. The development went actually quick.”
Early on in her rehabilitation course of, Mazingue determined she needed to share her progress with others to be an inspiration to others.
“I used to be searching for somebody like me to speak to me about what my future will likely be and truly, there was nobody. It’s actually laborious to seek out somebody as a result of individuals who had surgical procedure don’t discuss once more. They don’t work, or they’re nonetheless in hospital. I used to be feeling actually alone. I used to be like, what will likely be my future? What will likely be occur with me? To get on social media, I need to give hope to to everybody and encourage everybody, and I need to be this one that is right here for assist. On this case, no matter downside this is, it’s not simply just for surgical procedure, it may be for any damage or any downside. I need to be this one that can provide hope and inform you that it’s not inconceivable.”
The Journey to 2023 Worlds
Whereas Mazingue had an extended highway to restoration forward of her, she determined two days after her surgical procedure that she needed to skate once more.
“In hospital, I used to be already fascinated with Worlds,” Mazingue mentioned. “Once I began my rehabilitation with my physician, the very first thing that he requested me was ‘what’s what’s your aim?’ He advised me that for each affected person, for each athlete he at all times units the aim. My aim with my companion was to go to Japan 5 months after the surgical procedure.”
“I additionally grew loads from this accident,” Gaidajenko added. “Like the whole lot modified. My mindset modified loads and like my habits and the whole lot. I had the concept that what are we going to do if we don’t go Worlds and likewise what we’re going to do if we go to Worlds. I used to be prepared for it every state of affairs. She was doing all this tough job. For the reason that first day after she wakened from surgical procedure, her mentality began to work in a method to put together herself for Worlds already. It felt wonderful seeing her being so completely happy doing this.”
Each Mazingue and Gaidajenko knew that they have been heading to Saitama not at full power, however for them it was extra vital that they have been in a position to compete versus any outcome achieved. The Estonian staff completed twenty eighth within the rhythm dance and didn’t qualify for the free dance, however it was simply being there that made all the effort price it.
“This competitors wasn’t a contest to point out our greatest skating efficiency,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “We did present our greatest. We have been there to point out that should you don’t stop, you may make it. After we completed our rhythm dance earlier than in entrance of 20,000 Japanese followers, I used to be clapping and that felt proper. We’re in the correct place the place we must be presently. It felt wonderful.”
“I used to be actually I did it,” Mazingue added. “Simply to be on the ice on the World Championship in Japan with a lot individuals round me. This was simply an expertise, an unimaginable expertise.”
Wanting Forward
The staff continues to be reminiscing about their accomplishments and beginning to assume forward to subsequent 12 months and past.
“The primary aim for me since I’m six and even seven years outdated is to go to the Olympics,” Mazingue mentioned. “Simply to go to Worlds in Japan was step one after the accident on the way in which to the Olympics. My subsequent aim is Olympics Milano 2026. Three years.”
For the rapid future, Mazingue & Gaidajenio are trying ahead to the rhythm dance for subsequent season, set to music from the Eighties.
“Proper now, we’re making ready for the following season and we’re listening the 80s music,” Mazingue mentioned.
“Everyone seems to be trying ahead to subsequent season,” Gaidajenko added. “After competitions, in virtually each playlist, there’s music from the Eighties. We’re listening to these things and completely like when the ISU provides us a chance to do one thing fascinating to point out cool stuff, some dancing strikes. For 80s music, we’re completely in!”
Mazingue continued, “I actually just like the 80s music after I heat up earlier than follow. It’s 80s music, however I’m listening as a result of it (creates a) actually good temper for me.”
“We already heard some songs groups listed below are selecting,” Gaidajenko mentioned. “There will likely be fascinating packages. Not everyone seems to be coming again but to construct them, however when everyone seems to be right here, we may have an 80s vibe on the ice for positive.”
Off the Ice
Whereas most of their time is concentrated on coaching, the duo finds time for leisure and hobbies once they can.
Gaidajenko is a giant gamer and performs Name of Obligation, Hogwarts Legacy and God of Warfare: Ragnarok on Ps. Each have a Nintendo Swap, however Mazingue doesn’t presently play as a result of she’s nonetheless engaged on her mind restoration. They hope to begin a Youtube or Twitch Channel sooner or later to stream a few of their gaming actions.
Mazingue does shade books as a part of her remedy. She is studying to put in writing once more and retains a journal of her day by day actions. Her mom helps her with math and calculations. She additionally likes to play board video games, together with Seven Wonders.
Each like to construct with Legos, together with a bonsai tree that’s beneath reconstruction. Throughout a latest journey to New York Metropolis, Gaidajenko made a Solene lego character for her.
The staff additionally makes some extent to purchase a pop determine at each competitors vacation spot.
How You Can Assist
As you may think about the price of Mazingue’s ongoing remedy is expensive by itself, however coupled with coaching bills the staff wants assist to proceed combating for his or her dream. You possibly can help the staff through their GoFundMe page.
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