by allison on July 26, 2009
JULY 2009
An interview with elite coach Slavka Kohout Button, who ran the Wagon Wheel Skating Ice Palace in Illinois, and was coach to Janet Lynn. 54 minutes, 53 seconds.
Tagged as: dick button, figure skating, figures, janet lynn, olympics, skating, wagon wheel
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Needless to say this is amazing. Thank you very much for this interview. I love your approach of talking about the lesser known sides of the life of skaters and coaches as well instead of only about the already frequently discussed topics. That certainly makes your podcasts worth listening. Very much appreciated!
You are welcome! thanks for the feedback. I loved talking with Slavka Kohout. She’s such an amazing person.
Hi Allison…Having just listened to Part 1 of your interview with Slavka, I would like to comment. First, it was fun to hear her speak of her childhood and and Wagon Wheel coaching years in retrospect. Second, she commented that 1)her relationship with Janet was wonderful and that Janet learned so easily, etc., like it was a match made in heaven, and 2) that Janet was a strong willed person. Here’s the thing: Slavka is also a strong willed person. Any coach in any sport must be to accomplish anything. These two locked horns on a regular basis. There were many times that Janet came off the ice in tears. Slavka’s voice could often be heard speaking in anger at Janet. Slavka has a temper and Janet could easily push her buttons. However, I want to make clear that I am not being critical of Slavka’s coaching style. There isn’t a star athlete on the planet who didn’t have contentious periods of time with their coach. The coach/athlete relationship is as complicated any other close human partnership. For it to be presented as a bed of roses, especially in this particular case is just not accurate. ( I skated with Janet beginning at Michael Kirby, then at the Wagon Wheel until my early teens.)
Thanks for your comment. I don’t think she was trying to present it as a bed of roses, but I do think over time we tend to glorify those relationships and remember the good more than the bad. From comments I’ve heard or read from Janet Lynn, it was overall a fulfilling relationship for both parties. But I don’t doubt there was the occasional conflict. I myself have left lessons in tears before, and I was in my 30s . . . but I still adore my coach!