Blades of glory
Ukraine skating stars on a roll but there’s anguish behind smiles
FOR Ukrainian aerial roller skating duo Stardust, the chance to go far on this year’s Britain’s Got Talent means much more than mere personal gain. Having escaped Russian bullets and bombs back home for a tilt at talent show glory, Yevhenii Yemelianenko and wife Vlada Kamyshnikova are not just in it for the £250,000 top prize.
Kyivraised Yevhenii, 27, said: “This is a good platform for us to help our country, to remind people about Ukraine.
“The thing our country needs is to always be remembered. for people to remember that we still need help, that we’re still in this horrific situation.”
The aerial skating couple were given the golden buzzer treatment by Simon cowell on Saturday.
And they will be producing more pyrotechnic acrobatics when they return to compete for a place in the final during tonight’s first live semi at london’s Eventim Apollo.
But for Yevhenii and Dniproborn Vlada, 25, the thought of their loved ones who remain in Ukraine is always on their minds.
Gymnast and acrobat Yevhenii said: “It is really hard for us. But it does need to be spoken about. It’s hard just to think that our families are there and always in danger. Our hearts always beat really fast when we are thinking about them. This is really a hard situation.”
The couple, who have left judges astounded by their fast spins and stunts, have been unable to see their families in the flesh since last year.
They’ve also lost a number of their fellow performers and peers in the conflict. Yevhenii said: “It’s horrible. Really horrible. We have a lot of friends, also artists actually, that have died.
“It’s really tough. But it’s important to speak about it.”
An emotional Vlada added: “The last time I’ve been to Ukraine I think last summer I was there twice for a few weeks. I saw my family. In our hearts we always know that we are together. We have this connection.”
Yevhenii adds: “We always ask if they
It’s a good platform for us to help our country
Yevhenii on doing it for Ukraine on Bgt
need something. We are always supportive to them and they’re supportive to us.” And it appears Simon is giving them his full backing to be in with a shot of BGT glory on Sunday.
After buzzing them through to the semis, the music mogul joined them on stage and enthused: “This is fantastic. This is what it is all about.”
Fellow judge Amanda Holden added: “It was insane, it was amazing.”
And it appears emotions were high when their feat was relayed to loved ones. “I’m pretty sure they cried,” says Yevhenii.
“They put so much love into us to make us the artists that we are today, so I think they are really proud.”
If they win, Vlada says the first thing they will do, when the war with Russia allows, is to “take both sets of parents all around the world on a cruise”.
The couple’s second wish is to “build a skating rink with the good lights and good energy” in their home country.
With so much riding on it, the pair are upping the ante even further tonight with their Game of Thrones-inspired routine.
Vlada admitted: “It’s the most nervous time in my life, I would say.
“It’s quite dangerous. There will be fire which is literally going to come for us. For us, actually this is the most difficult and the most dangerous act we have ever done before.
“It’s even going to be written on the screens: ‘Don’t try this at home!’”
But should they pull it off, the chance to perform in front of King Charles at the Royal Variety Performance means they’ll likely go even bigger for Sunday’s finale.
Yevhenii said: “The King is the person that everyone around the world knows. This is the honour. And it’s a really big opportunity to showcase our talent to him.
“But first, we need to win!” ●Watch Britain’s Got Talent, tonight and each night this week, 8pm on STV and ITVX.