Our Interview with Miki Ando and Javier Fernandez
Miki Ando and Javier Fernandez are both world champions. They are also one of the sport’s most surprising couples. We recently had a chance to catch up with them after Fantasy on Ice and spoke to them about love, quads, competing at the top and why Javi should always be sure to text Miki back before competitions.
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July 2, 2015
So chatty, so adorable…so right for one another. Thank you skating lesson! 😀
July 2, 2015
This is a very good interview, realizing us how genious MIKI ANDO is, a great jumper, sophisticated performer, with amazing personality! I hope the skating world will never forget this female quad jumper who resumed her skating career just two weeks after giving birth and competed till the final group of six to get a ticket for Sochi Olympics in ever tough competion of the Japan Nationals with Mao Asada, Akiko Suzuki and Kanako Murakami!!
Thank you very, very much The Skating Lesson!
dk
Tokyo, Japan
July 2, 2015
Miki is so upbeat, I didn’t expect that from her.
She and Javier are a nice match.
Best of luck to them in all their endeavors.
Thank you, Jenny and Dave, for yet another interesting interview.
July 2, 2015
is javi the papa of that babysan??
July 3, 2015
OOOOoooooooooooooooohhhhhh, when MIKI had that baby, Javier was nowhere in the picture! Remember, rumors swirled that Morozov was the father!!!!
July 3, 2015
Miki and Javier have been dating since September 2014, Miki got pregnant in 2012. I think Javier was dating a Canadian girl back then. And, from the only picture they’ve uploaded with Himawari’s (her daughter) face, she seems to be fully Japanese. So it’s not really possible for him to be the father.
July 2, 2015
This was a fun interview to watch. I wish it was longer. They have such infectious personalities, and I didn’t know Miki was so funny!
It’s really impressive that she was able to come back after giving birth, and her triple lutz was still HUGE!
July 3, 2015
Ditto!!! I wish it were longer as well! Miki & Javi have such great chemistry and personality! Great questions and great answers! Wishing both all the best!
July 2, 2015
Omg, this is insightful and hilarious. They really look adorable together. By the way, is there any chance that you will be interviewing Brian Orser in the future? It is nice to get his perspective as a coach to three of the top five finishers at worlds.
July 3, 2015
Loved this couple.
I did not know how strong Miki was, she really had to put up with a bunch of s@%$^&* with the Federation all these years….Javi is so free , and they look so happy, I wish these relationship can stay stronger to build a skating program called ” the dream team “…..wish my kid will be on the program one day.
Dave Lease and Jennifer has grown so much as Journalist, it’s really impressive to me. They are doing an excellent job.
Kudos to you guys.
Bless,
Peter.
July 3, 2015
Wonderful start to my weekend, an interview with the reigning World Champion, you two are finally getting the recognition andrespect you so richly deserve for so muce love, hard work, passion and dedication to the Skating Lesson!!!!! Cheapeaux!
July 3, 2015
This was utterly, utterly fascinating. After the first 15 minutes, I thought, great, this is just going to be a bunch of fluff about training hard and doing one’s best. But boy did Miki reveal a lot through her chosen words.
I think it goes to show that we fans on the outside (or if “we” are in the media, the federation, in the Japan, in the US, etc.) assume a lot about what’s going on with people’s lives. But they start as children, grow up, live life 24 hours a day just like us. So we simplify our view of others with thoughts on message boards like, “Oh, I bet Miki’s not training,” what happened to this element, ____ about her private life, etc. Well, maybe some of us (I’m sure many of us are grounded in reality).
One can see that Javi is still the competitive skater, in that his answers didn’t reveal much. Maybe his skating life truly isn’t as complex as Miki’s was.
But dayum, is Miki a strong woman. And intelligent. I have to remember that we’re listening to her in English (so vastly improved over the past few years, so expressive now), after she learned fluent Russian, and she’s Japanese. She was careful with her words in a way that revealed years of media training, but also having come through it all as an adult and being able to maker her own choices and have her own thoughts. Which is why we got this carefully thoughtful, and generously revealing interview.
I now look at Miki in a whole new light. I was even there at 2009 Worlds to see a little bit of the one on one drama with the federation and her coach, and the one moment that really stood out to me was on the bus back to the hotel. Mao was chatting with someone from the entourage about skin care, and there were Japanese fans outside the bus holding posters and cheering. Miki was sitting alone, looking outside, waving to them, and she said out loud to herself, “Awww! So sweet! That makes me so happy!”
July 5, 2015
Loooooooooooved this interview! Javi is always so funny and charming and, even though he jokes about his “laziness,” I am sure he is far from lazy. And I am so impressed with Miki’s English! She speaks so honestly about everything and has such a level-headed attitude about her past and present. Thanks Jenny and Dave, for keeping us so entertained during the off-season!