Viktoria Komova is a long-time ice hockey fan. During her vacation in Sochi, she attended a game of the local hockey club FC “Sochi” and was interviewed by the press-attache of the club. She talked about her life after retiring from the sport and her fiancee Valery Gorhskov, a former professional hockey player who knows works as a children’s hockey coach in her native Voronezh.
Q: How did you end up in Sochi?
A: My husband’s* parents live here and we came for a visit on New Year holidays. And we couldn’t miss hockey. Thanks to “Sochi” for the warm welcome, it’s really nice.
Q: What is your relationship with hockey?
A: It’s very close. In 2019, after retirement, I met my husband. He played for different teams at the Supreme Hockey League. I got to experience the life of a hockey player wife, followed him from one city to another. I absolutely love the hockey atmosphere. So, I’m on the first-name basis with hockey.
Q: Before the start of the interview, you even said that you predicted for yourself in the past that you would marry a hockey player.
A: Yes, but I don’t know how to explain this. I was talking to my coach about it, he was asking me to stay in the elite sport for longer. But I then told him that when I retire, I’ll marry only a hockey player. He said, “Well, ok, we’ll find you a hockey player”. That’s exactly what happened. Only Valera appeared on his own.
Q: How do you watch hockey, how do you react to what happens on ice?
A: When Valera was playing, I would worry a lot, my heartbeat would get elevated, my hands would sweat… I would always cheer very hard for the team he played on. My heartbeat would be through the roof. I like hockey for the atmosphere, for the goals, for the adrenaline.
Q: How did you react when your husband would block a shot?
A: I know what professional sport is, what injuries are, how unsettling they are for athletes. So, I was always worried, always praying when I saw such situations. But Valera wasn’t spared from injuries either, there’s no sport without them.
Q: What are your thoughts on hockey in Sochi?
A: It’s a great show, great atmosphere! It’s nice that so many fans came to the arena during the holidays. I’m from Voronezh and I envy all the fans from Sochi who can watch hockey in such a beautiful Palace of Sports. Our Palace of Sports is, unfortunately, outdated, both in terms of facilities and looks. But I believe that in some near future there will definitely be a modern hockey arena in Voronezh. I really liked watching hockey in Sochi, thank you so much again for the invitation.
Q: Tell our fans how your life is going after retirement?
A: Right now I’m a homemaker,** but I’m starting to work with kids this year. I’ll share my enormous experience with them.
Q: How did you deal with that difficult moment when you had to retire?
A: Yes, it’s a difficult period for most of the athletes. You compete for your country, millions of people cheer on you and then boom – you’re in a big world alone, often without knowing what to do next. I was offered to become a gymnastics judge but I know that judging is not for me. I’ve been floating around for a while, thinking about what to do after retirement. Now I’m on the right path, as they say, I’ll work with little kids. And, in the future, if I’ll manage it, I’ll try to open my own gym.
*Komova calls Gorshkov her husband here because in Russian society, a couple that move in together often call each other husband and wife without registering the marriage of before they register it. Cohabitation is often accepted as a de-facto marriage culturally but not legally, meaning that partners who are not officially registered as spouses are treated as spouses by their family and friends but are not considered legal partners by the authorities.
**Komova worked as a children’s coach in Rostov but came back to Voronezh last year.
