RT: Did you hear that when Obama came to Moscow he said – “I am proud to be staying in the same city as Ovechkin”. What did you feel when you heard that?

A.O.: Well, I felt proud, proud for myself, my country and my family. He came here to pay a visit to the President and the Prime Minister – and then, he mentioned my name for everyone to hear. It was very pleasant.

RT: Obama also said that Russian heritage and culture had enriched the USA. How, in your opinion, can Russia enrich world sports?

A.O.: I think that there is no need to make it richer in sportsmen – we are already rich in sportsmen. We just need to keep on working and winning.

RT: How does Russian hockey differ from, say, Canadian hockey?

A.O.: One can write a book about difference between Russian and Canadian hockey.

RT: But in your own words?

A.O.: We are more about technique, we are more technical. And we are more…lucky, I guess. You can say that.

RT: What is this organization – The Continental Hockey League [KHL] – about? Can it be a serious rival for the NHL?

A.O.: Currently, I don’t see any competition between the NHL and the KHL. But as for the future, God willing, there will quite some rivalry. There needs to be someone to look up to. That was the point behind setting up the KHL.

RT: Last year you signed your US$124 million contract with the Washington Capitals for 13 years. This is the biggest deal as far as the NHL goes. That makes you the highest paid player. Does it feel like an additional responsibility: the bigger the pay – the bigger the demands?

A.O.: No, I don’t really pay much attention to my salary. I don’t care about what they write or say about me. I just do what I love to do. That’s all. I get my satisfaction from it – as well as the money.

RT: Do you ever doubt yourself?

A.O.: No

RT: What can make you cry, apart from victory?

A.O.: Maybe some kind of grief. Or maybe the birth of my future child.

RT: Is that in the plans already?

A.O.: Well, not at the present moment.

RT: For the past two years you’ve had super results. You got 100 points for two years in a row. Did you dream about that? Or is it not a limit for your dreams at all?

A.O.: My dream was to become the best. So, the dream has come true, thanks to Volnik. But it all mainly depends on you, really. You can play one season well, then another season – also well. But you need to keep it up. You can’t afford to get a big head and walk around saying what a cool player you are. You just can’t do that.

RT: Our country won the championship for two years straight. Are there chances to win at the Olympic Games in 2010?

A.O.: Everyone has a chance. But we will try to win.

RT: Is it a fair chance?

A.O.: Sure, quite a good chance.

RT: You received every possible award in hockey. Does it change anything for you or the way you play – or not really?

A.O.: Well, not every award.

RT: Almost.

A.O.: Almost, but not all. When I have every single award then I can tell myself that I can relax.

RT: Where do you think you are more popular – in Russia or in the USA? Where are the fans more grateful?

A.O.: I haven’t checked my popularity ratings.

RT: At all?

A.O.: (shakes his head)

RT: Simply Ovechkin, and that’s it?

A.O.: Sure.

RT: So, when people recognize you in the streets…

A.O.: It is nice, but I don’t keep record of where I am more recognized or where I gave out more autographs.

RT: Let’s compare Russia and Washington. Sure, Russia is your home country. Washington is where you work. But, honestly – where is it more interesting for you play, from a professional viewpoint?

A.O.: Of course, over there [in Washington].

RT: And that’s because…?

A.O.: Well, first of all, it was my dream to play in the NHL. Secondly, all organizational issues are on the top level. It’s more interesting there, it seems.

RT: What did you miss the most in Washington – apart from the borsch and dark rye [Borodinsky] bread that you always mention? Were there things that we really hard to get used to?

A.O.: I missed my friends, of course; the Russian language and surely, our beauties [the Russian girls].

RT: You don’t like American girls?

A.O.: There are pretty girls there, but still.

RT: But they can’t be compared with Russian girls?

A.O.: Russians are Russians.

RT: What’s your lucky charm?

A.O.: I don’t think I should share it. I am a very superstitious person, so, I’ll keep this information to myself.

RT: So, the thing about scissors is not true?

A.O.: The scissors are a lucky charm in hockey, before the game. But as for my life, there is one more…

RT: Are you very superstitious?

A.O.: Yes.

RT: How do you prepare for the game? Is it true that you can’t have sex before the game?

A.O.: Sex really helps, actually.

RT: Before or after the game?

A.O.: Before and after.

RT: Are you on any special diet – or do you eat anything you want?

A.O.: I eat anything that I want.

RT: Hockey is a very traumatic sport. What serious injuries have you received?

A.O: Different cuts, dislocations and a broken nose, too.

RT: Do you try to avoid situations with likely injuries or, when you play…?

A.O.: Not really.

RT: Have you been provoked to fight?

A.O.: Yes.

RT: Does it happen often?

A.O.: Not often, but it does happen.

RT: What game was the most aggressive for you?

A.O.: I can’t even remember. Maybe, playing the Canadians at the Olympic Games.

RT: What happened there?

A.O.: It was very emotional.

RT: Do you also hit players, or you are on the receiving end?

A.O.: I hit them, too. And I get hit back as well. It’s normal.

RT: What character traits should someone have to be a good hockey player?

A.O.: You need to be a winner.

RT: And what about physical aspects?

A.O.: You don’t have to be big and huge. You do need to have a good character, luck and skills.

RT: Luck is very important in hockey, right?

A.O.: Of course.

RT: Are you into any other kinds of sports?

A.O.: I’ve played football today.

RT: Really? Have you been playing football since childhood?

A.O.: Well, yeah.

RT: What season do you like most: the summer time or the time when you work?

A.O.: The summer.

RT:  What do you do in the summer?

A.O.: I enjoy life.

RT: In what way exactly?

A.O.: I do whatever I want.

RT: Usually, stars like you -Beckham, Sharapova – get into advertising and commercials. What about you? What do you outside your job description?

A.O.: I definitely don’t do any advertising.

RT:  Have you received any offers though?

A.O.: Yes. There were some offers of advertising contracts. But they all had to do with hockey, not something else. My face is still not quite good enough for photo sessions or for advertising something. That’s why.

RT: You do have your own clothing line though.

A.O.: Those outfits are a part of the contract that I have.

RT: Ah, so, it wasn’t your idea?

A.O.: It was a joint idea. But I am one of those people to select a logo and decide on other details.

RT:  You sit there and draw?

A.O.: I am shown samples and then say what can be done. They put my ideas into drawings and then I point out what I like and what I don’t like.

RT: Is this the kind of clothing you yourself would wear?

A.O.: Yes, I do wear it. Quite often, in fact.

RT: You are very young and super-successful. One could almost die with envy. And – there are so many things still ahead of you. You are not even in your prime. Surely, when you get that successful, there is usually another side of the story. No?

A.O.: (shakes head)

RT: No? Everything is just as great as it seems? You don’t feel like it’s a burden sometimes?

A.O.: Well, if I start thinking that everything is great and excellent, it then can leave me very quickly. So, I try not to think about it really.

RT: If you weren’t a hockey player, what would you be then?

A.O.: You know, I don’t have an answer to this question because I gave all my time in childhood and during my school years to hockey. If I wasn’t a hockey player, then I probably would scrounge off my parents like many young people nowadays do.

RT: Alexander, thank you very much.