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access_time Feb 17, 2022 19:50:33 GMT 2
GRACE HUNTER
And we're moving slow, our hearts beat so fast
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access_time Feb 17, 2022 20:28:21 GMT 2
Always hug your partner after the performance
Grace Hunter & Tyler Roberts 
How do you feel about being the new USA National Champions?
Tyler: To be honest, we didn’t get enough sleep. It was a busy time. We sat, talked with the team, discussed a lot. This was our first competition in a long time, so we were a little exhausted.
Grace: So far, we don’t really feel that something major has happened, but the assessment of our coaches is very important for us. They didn’t know how we would perform. Yes, the coaches did everything to make us perform well. But from the very start, everything depended only on us… And we managed to perform well, so many thanks to our team for this.
Tyler: In general, we liked everything very much. Competition was great.
Is this national title the main award of your career?
Grace: No. We have medals from World Championships. We have also performed well at big events. The situation here is completely different in all aspects. We had a different task… But overall, we are very pleased with the title of USA National Champions.
How do you feel now?
Grace: I’m good now, thanks.
Tyler: Yes, we have already recovered.
Grace, I looked at your Instagram and came to the conclusion that you love black and white tones. Why is that?
Grace: In black and white, there is…
Tyler: Magic.
Grace: Yes, some kind of charm. Many photographs look better in black and white. I like the lines and shadows.
Do you hear from fans a lot?
Grace: Very much! Just yesterday, one fan gave gifts through the coaches. She loves our group very much, follows us to all competitions. From my understanding, she is not alone. It is just her who communicates with us. I called for a photo session, but unfortunately, this has not yet happened. But yes, they write a lot! They post stories, write long messages. Sometimes I read and tears come, people give a lot of themselves. You think how this is possible. Many are busy with family and work, but they take time for us.
Tyler: Most of the times, they post our reactions to performances. This has already become a meme! We have been compared to animals. Grace recently reposted a picture where I am a dog who smiles, and she is a serious cat. In many shots, myself and Alexandra (Bukina) are explosive, and Grace and Juri (Bukin) are more restrained. It’s cool and funny!
Does this reflect your nature?
Tyler: I’m probably more emotional after performances. I keep everything to myself so much that it just breaks at the end. Grace, on the other hand, gives so much to the performances and at the end, she has nothing left.
Are you offended by any comments?
Tyler: Some comments are very interesting. There have certainly been times where I wanted to respond, but realized that it was pointless. It is nonsense.
Grace: Because you will be invested in it.
Tyler: Now, I laugh at such comments. If a person doesn’t like something and expresses their opinion, please, especially if it is really constructive criticism. When you see that this is not the first time a person has written, and really understands figure skating, you can listen to this… But there are some that just write for the sake of saying something.
Grace: Yes, there are some who throw out unnecessary emotions based on nothing.
 
Has it ever happened that thanks to a person’s comment, you changed something in your performance?
Tyler: A couple of times.
Grace: It is not with regards to steps and technical issues though. Most comments are like “I want power, brightness.” At such moments, you can reconsider and decide that, indeed, something is missing somewhere.
It happens that unpleasant things are written by fans of other teams.
Tyler: I’m okay with this, but if you like another couple, why are you writing under our post? Go to your guys and write good things.
Grace, you are sometimes compared to Victoria Sinitsina? Are you okay with this?
Grace: Yes, absolutely! We sometimes laugh about our similarities. We also have common views on wardrobe sometimes.
What about the comments that you and Tyler would make a good pair in real life?
Grace: It’s fun too.
Tyler: On one hand, that is a compliment because it means that we can show real emotions on the ice. People believe in our story and think that we are also together behind the scenes… But we have already said many times that we are not a couple in real life, just good friends. So it is quite strange when people ask about this.
Grace: It’s very cute though!
Tyler: Those who have been with us for a long time know that we are not together, but some of our fans really want us to be together.
What would you change in ice dance to make it more popular?
Tyler: Ice dance is a very creative sport. Everything should look simple, easy, and unpredictable with us. In my opinion, to make our sport more popular, teams must be given more freedom for creativity. Then, the couples will not be alike. We have many rules that do not allow us to go beyond.
Grace: In general, the rules are made for judges. Previously, ice dance judging was based on “like it or not like it.”
Do you have long-term career plans?
Tyler: This season has shown that it is difficult to plan the future. We have decided to live day by day, and prepare for specific events. There have been many times where we plan a lot, and in the end, the plan does not come true.
A small wish to your fans at the end of the interview?
Grace: Health and love. Be happy no matter what. Live everyday.
Tyler: To make all your dreams come true in the New Year. 
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