Margarita Mamun - biography, personal life, pregnancy. Margarita Mamun - about leaving sports, the despotism of Wiener and the best date in life
Margarita Mamun is a Russian gymnast who won gold at the 2016 Olympics in 2016, a seven-time world champion, winner of international sports competitions and championships. rhythmic gymnastics.Childhood and family of Margarita Mamun
Margarita was born on November 1, 1995 in Moscow. The athlete’s father is marine engineer Abdullah Al Mamun, originally from the Republic of Bangladesh. He died of cancer in August 2016. At the very beginning of the 90s he came to Soviet Union study and at the Astrakhan Technical University met his love - Anna, Margarita’s mother. 
The girl has dual citizenship, and thanks to her Bengali roots, fans gave her the nickname “Bengal Tigress” (another, more affectionate one is “Mamunya”). Until the age of 10, she often traveled to her father’s homeland - in Bangladesh she was impressed by the bamboo thickets and lotus plantings, the ubiquitous cows and chickens that the locals kept instead of pets.
Mamun began practicing rhythmic gymnastics at the age of 7 - the Olympic village was located not far from the house where the girl’s family lived. Before that, she had briefly practiced figure skating, but she stopped because of her mother - Anna was afraid that her daughter would fall and break on the ice.
By today's standards, 7 years is a rather late age to start classes (4 years is considered the ideal age), but the baby was accommodated halfway. And, as it turned out, not in vain. The gap in skill between peers and the distrust of coaches only spurred the purposeful Rita.
Sports career of Margarita Mamun
In 2005, 10-year-old Margarita took part in the Miss Valentine Cup gymnastics competition, which was held in Estonia. In subsequent years, the girl competed once for the Bangladesh team (at a championship that was not held under the auspices of the International Gymnastics Federation), but then she always represented only Russia.In 2006, a promising girl decided to connect her life with professional sports. The girl’s personal trainer was Amina Zaripova, Honored Master of Sports in artistic gymnastics and wife of musician Alexei Kortnev.
In 2011, Mamun became the Russian champion in all-around and in apparatus exercises. In October 2012, Margarita again became the absolute champion of Russia, and then competed at the Aeon Cup World Club Championship, where she took 4th place in the individual all-around.
In 2013, the gymnast again received the title of Russian champion and automatically became the leader of the Russian team. Then Mamun took part in her first European Championships in Vienna. Margarita's team, which also included Daria Svatkovskaya and Yana Kudryavtseva, received gold medals.
In the summer of 2013, at the Kazan Universiade, Mamun received gold medal in the apparatus exercise and in the individual all-around. The girl again showed brilliant results and final stage World Cup in St. Petersburg, and at the World Championships in Kyiv and at the Aeon Cup in Japan
2014 was no less successful for the young gymnast - championship in the all-around at the Moscow Grand Prix, three-time medalist at the Grand Prix in Thieu, a silver place at the World Cup in Stuttgart, 4 medals in Minsk - and this is not the whole list. Margarita's only failure that year was her performance at the European Championships in Baku - the girl suffered three unfortunate losses and took only 5th place in the all-around.
IN next year Mamun again proved to the world that she is a real champion - gold, silver and bronze medals at all stages of the World Cup. The girl also confirmed her absolute leadership at the Japanese Aeon Cup and distinguished herself at the World Championships in Stuttgart.
Margarita Mamun at the Rio Olympics
Traditionally, starting 2016 with numerous victories at international tournaments and championships, the girl went to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.Margarita Mamun with clubs. Grand Prix 2016
Irina Viner-Usmanova became Mamun’s mentor in the national team. On August 20, 2016, Margarita took gold in the individual all-around, ahead of her main rival and friend, Yana Kudryavtseva, who was awarded a silver medal. The 20-year-old athlete scored 76.483 points based on the results of 4 exercises (hoop, ball, club and ribbon).
Margarita Mamun in Rio at the Olympics
Rita's victory came at a double price - in Rio she began to become dehydrated and her temperature rose to 39 degrees. Due to the treatment, she had to forget about training for a week.
“Of course, I'm happy. Overall I was calm. As Irina Viner says, she maintained Olympic calm.”
After the end of the Olympics, for her high achievements in sports, Margarita received the Order of Friendship and the Medal “For Strengthening the Military Commonwealth.” After the Olympics, the girl took a short vacation to rest and recuperate.Death of Margarita Mamun's father
Rita, who returned home with a medal, was greeted by fans and parents. Her father held her award in his hands and was moved to tears. And two days later he was gone. 
As coach Mamun later said, father Olympic champion was slowly dying from a serious illness (according to information from open sources, it was oncology). When Rita flew to Rio de Janeiro, doctors gave Abdulla Mamun about two days to live. He lived for two more months - he witnessed his daughter’s victory, albeit on TV, and met her, congratulating her on the greatest achievement in the life of an athlete. It’s hard to call it anything other than a miracle.
As soon as I arrived, I immediately ran to my dad to show him the medal. He didn't let go of her.
Personal life of Margarita Mamun
At the Universiade in Kazan, Mamun met swimmer Alexander Sukhorukov (born 1988), silver medalist of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, two-time winner of the European Championship and the World Championship in short water. The young people met at the cafeteria in the sports dormitory. Six months later, Sasha and Margarita began dating. 
In December 2016, at the Russian Olympic Ball, Sukhorukov proposed to Mamun in the presence of all the guests. He planned to propose immediately after his beloved’s victory at the Olympics, but the plans were dashed by the death of her father.
MOSCOW, November 4 - RIA Novosti. The Olympic champion of Rio de Janeiro in rhythmic gymnastics is a Russian, the head of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics announced this on Saturday.
Olympic champion, seven-time world champion, four-time European champion Margarita Mamun was born on November 1, 1995 in Moscow. She is half Bengali and her father is from Bangladesh.
She started doing gymnastics at the age of seven, training under the guidance of Natalya Kukushkina. At the age of 11, Margarita decided to play sports professionally. She trained under the guidance of Amina Zaripova.
Margarita played for the Bangladesh team for a short time, but soon decided to play for Russia.
Mamun achieved her first great success in 2011, when she became the champion of Russia in exercises with clubs, ball and hoop and in all-around. The athlete began to be involved in training with the national team in Novogorsk. In the same year, at the World Cup in Montreal (Canada), she took first place in ball exercises and third place in the all-around and for the first time in her career climbed to the senior podium. In the national team, the gymnast’s mentor was Viner-Usmanova.
In 2012, Margarita Mamun again won the Russian rhythmic gymnastics championship in the all-around.
In 2013, Mamun became the champion of Russia for the third time.
At the 2013 Alina Kabaeva Champions Cup, Margarita won exercises with a hoop, ball and clubs. At the 2013 European Championships, Margarita won gold in the exercise with a ribbon, silver in exercises with a hoop, ball and clubs. The gymnast also won a gold medal in the team all-around.
At the 2013 World Championships, Margarita Mamun won gold medals in exercises with clubs and a ball, and also became a bronze medalist in exercises with a hoop. At the 2013 Universiade in Kazan, Margarita received four gold medals - in the individual all-around, exercises with hoop, clubs and ribbon.
At the World Cup final, Margarita Mamun won four gold medals: in the all-around, in exercises with hoop, clubs and ribbon. Margarita came second in exercises with the ball. In 2013, Margarita Mamun also won the Grand Prix final in Berlin in hoop and ball exercises and became the best in the all-around.
In 2014, Margarita won the individual all-around at the Kabaeva Champions Cup. At the World Championships in Izmir, Turkey, Mamun received the highest award in the team all-around, and also won a medal in each of the five types of the program: gold for the ball and ribbon, silver for the hoop, clubs and individual all-around.
In 2015, at the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, the gymnast won gold in the team all-around with Yana Kudryavtseva and Alexandra Soldatova, and also won a gold medal for the hoop exercise and two silver medals for the ball and ribbon. In the individual all-around, Mamun became a silver medalist.
In the 2016 season, she won a silver medal in the individual all-around at the European Championships in Holon (Israel). In the same year, she took part in five stages of the World Cup. At the third stage in Pesaro (Italy) she took second place in the all-around; in the finals she won two gold medals in exercises with hoop and clubs. At the fifth stage in Minsk, she won four gold medals in the individual competition and another top award in the all-around. At the seventh stage in Guadalajara (Spain), Mamun received four highest awards, winning exercises with hoop, clubs, ribbon and in the individual all-around.
At the ninth stage in Kazan, she won five medals: gold in the all-around and in exercises with clubs and ribbon, silver in the ball and bronze in the hoop. At the final competitions of the World Cup in Baku, she became the winner four times (individual all-around, ball, clubs, ribbon), and also won a silver medal for the hoop exercise.
In 2016, she won a gold medal in the individual all-around at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
At the end of the 2016 season, Margarita Mamun decided to suspend her sports career.
On November 4, 2017, it became known that the gymnast ended her sports career at the age of 22.
Margarita Mamun - Honored Master of Sports of Russia, Olympic champion (2016), seven-time world champion in rhythmic gymnastics (2013, 2014, 2015), four-time European champion (2013, 2015), four-time winner of the Universiade in Kazan (2013), champion of the 1st European Games 2015 in Baku, multiple winner of the Grand Prix and World Cup stages.
Mamun was awarded the Order of Friendship (2016), a certificate of honor from the President of Russia.
Margarita Mamun is married. The husband is a silver medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games, a Russian swimmer. The wedding took place in September 2017.
The famous Russian athlete Margarita Mamun is an Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics and a multiple winner of the World, European and Russian Championships.
Margarita was born in Moscow on November 1, 1995. Her father is Bengali by nationality. He worked as a marine engineer and came to Moscow from Bangladesh, a small state located on the eastern border of India. My mother is a Muscovite; at one time she also did rhythmic gymnastics. From her father, the girl inherited an exotic appearance and oriental grace and plasticity.
Seeing good inclinations in her daughter, her mother took her to the rhythmic gymnastics section at the age of seven. The Olympic sports complex was located not far from their home, so all the conditions were favorable for the future champion’s activities.
Natalya Kukushkina became Margarita’s first coach, and later Amina Zaripova began to coach the talented athlete. The girl made great progress, and her first victories were not long in coming. It is noteworthy that at one of the international junior competitions, the ten-year-old athlete represented her father’s homeland – Bangladesh, since she also had citizenship of this country. But this did not happen again in the future; Margarita Mamun began to play only for the Russian team.
Sports achievements
The talented gymnast won her first championship gold in 2011 at the Russian Championship, where she became the best in the all-around, as well as in two types of exercises. On this wave of success, the girl was sent to the World Cup in Canada, and she lived up to expectations, taking bronze in the all-around and the highest award in ball exercises. For her extraordinary plasticity and grace, given her exotic origin, the gymnast was dubbed the “Bengal tigress.”
Margarita Mamun during the competition
The next year, 2012, was marked by new victories, the main one of which was the title of absolute champion of the Russian Federation. Mamun repeated this success in 2013, becoming the national champion for the third time. The gymnastics team coach Irina Viner recognized the athlete as the team leader. In the same year, she collected a generous “harvest” of medals, the main of which were victories at her first European Championship in the team event and ribbon exercises, as well as gold for two types of exercises in her debut at the World Championships, which was held in the capital of Ukraine .
Margarita Mamun with her coach Amina Zaripova
The next year, 2014, was no less fruitful for victories. As in previous years, she won the World Cup and Grand Prix podiums, and only the European Championship that year was unsuccessful for her. But the “Bengal tigress” took revenge at the World Championships, winning the team all-around and two types of exercises.
Yana Kudryavtseva and Margarita Mamun
And in the club world championship Aeon Cup she was an absolute success - the highest award in both team and individual all-around. Margarita repeated this success the next year, 2015.
Margarita Mamun with a gold medal
Performances at the 2015 World Championships brought new gold to the gymnast’s treasury - in the team competition and for one exercise. Taking second place in the individual all-around gave the athlete the opportunity to participate in the 2016 Olympics. And she realized this opportunity in the best possible way– became an Olympic champion in the individual all-around, forever inscribing her name in the history of Olympic victories.
Personal life
Despite constant training, training camps and competitions, Margarita Mamun also finds time for romantic relationships. Since 2013, the girl has been dating Olympic silver medalist, swimmer A. Sukhorukov, who is 7 years older than her.
Margarita Mamun with Alexander Sukhorukov
At the Olympians' ball, held at the end of 2016, Alexander publicly proposed to his beloved, getting down on one knee, to which the girl agreed.
Biographies of other famous Russian athletes read
23 August 2016, 16:22Margarita Mamun born November 1, 1995, in Moscow. Olympic champion (2016), seven-time world champion in rhythmic gymnastics (2013, 2014, 2015), four-time European champion (2013, 2015), four-time winner of the Universiade in Kazan (2013), champion of the 1st European Games 2015 in Baku, multiple winner of the Grand Prix -At and stages of the World Cup. 
Three-time absolute champion of Russia in rhythmic gymnastics (2011, 2012, 2013), as well as two-time silver medalist of the national championship (2014, 2016). Fans call Margarita the “Bengal Tigress”. 
She is half Russian, half Bengali. Her father, Abdullah Al Mamun, is from Bangladesh and is a marine engineer by profession. Mother - Anna, a former gymnast. It is with her eastern roots that her coach explains Mamun’s expressiveness, lyricism and plasticity. Rita, at the age of seven, began going to the gymnastics section, where her mother brought her, since the Olympic village is located not far from their home. She consciously began preparing for a career as a gymnast at the age of eleven. She trains under the guidance of coach Amina Zaripova. At the Sports and Youth Sports School she trained under the guidance of Natalya Valentinovna Kukushkina. In the national team, Mamun’s mentor is Irina Aleksandrovna Viner-Usmanova. 
Once, at children’s competitions not held under the auspices of FIG, Margarita competed for the Bangladesh team, of which she has citizenship, but subsequently always represented Russia.
Mamun achieved her first great success in 2011, when she became the champion of Russia in the all-around, as well as in exercises with clubs, a ball and a hoop. Margarita began to be involved in training with the national team in Novogorsk. In the same year, she was sent to compete in Montreal, where the World Cup took place. Mamun, with a score of 106.925 points, took third place in the all-around and climbed to the senior podium for the first time in her career. In exercises with the ball, Rita scored 27.025 points and took first place. 
The most paradoxical thing about Margarita’s personality is that she is completely unsuitable for big-time sports. This is what her coach once said, the famous former gymnast Amina Zaripova, who at one time won six top world titles. She complained that her ward was too good for big sports. There is no bitchiness in her, no selfishness, no anger towards her rivals, there is no such thing that the household or training regime is violated in any way, in general, even if you want to scold, it is not a fact that you will find a reason to find fault. A young lady for a family is not for the platform. Well-mannered, smart, obedient. What the hell kind of Olympic champion is she? 
At the same time, Amina understood: her girl did not have an advantage at all, being in Novogorsk - the holy of holies of the Great Gymnastics. She was not “promoted” as an athlete, did not get to the European Junior Championships with girls of her age, and in the transition period - halfway to the adult team - if Mamun was lucky in one thing, it was that Amina herself was in her time of my favorite student Irina Viner. And she simply could not refuse when Zaripova asked to take her athlete to a training camp in Croatia. 
– I understood that Rita “can”. And that she just needed some kind of starting push,” Amina said. – I don’t remember how it happened, but we went to the World Cup. I was pregnant with my third child, Aksinia, and I didn’t expect at all that Rita and I could even get into the purely participants, but when this happened, I remember that I was most surprised by how organically Rita fit into the ranks of the strongest. That's when we started working in earnest.
– Was it hard?
- It was hard. Mamun is very intelligent and educated family. Nobody ever raises their voice. At first, when I called Rita at home, I couldn’t understand: either I woke her up, or judging by her voice, she was going to die. 
– How did she survive the gymnastic reality of Novogorsk?
– This turned out to be the most difficult. I myself never yelled at her, although I probably should have – to at least somehow prepare her for what awaits her on the national team. Rita is really not an athlete - in the generally accepted sense. She will be an ideal wife, mother. She doesn't need to repeat anything twice - she understands everything right away. But God only knows how much effort I had to put in so that Rita began to make decisions on her own, and not wait for me to give her some instructions.
– Did she learn this?
- Don't know. She is very emotional, not a "techie". Everything with her comes from the heart, from the soul, from love for the world. Sometimes she is so overwhelmed by music that she generally stops thinking about competing with anyone. Irina Aleksandrovna Wiener calls this “falling out of the flow.” Therefore, the key to success for us is not to fall out of the flow. Do everything, and do it as well as possible. At the same time, Rita always had her own opinion regarding music and programs. And she was never afraid to defend this opinion, even in conversations with Wiener. And few people dare to do this. 
– Can the ability to concentrate be trained?
- We are trying. I’m just not as good at it as Irina Alexandrovna. She knows how to force a gymnast to show her maximum when she is tired, forgetful, or in a state where her legs are cramped... I still don’t feel quite confident in such situations. Although Rita herself understands what she is missing. And he does his best. Again: you want to scold her - but there’s no reason.
On the other hand, Rita taught me a lot. Made me think about such deep things that I never delved into when I was an athlete. She is secretive, so I constantly ask her to talk to me as much as possible during the training process, to share her feelings. If I feel that she is withdrawing into herself, then the stress level is at its maximum. When she feels bad, she will never show it. Unless he takes a napkin, dabs his eyes and throws this napkin on the floor. I would probably rip everyone’s throats out, but Rita silently continues to work. 
Personal life . Since about 2013, she has been in a relationship with Russian swimmer Alexander Sukhorukov. After Margarita’s victory at the Olympics, he stated that is thinking about getting married to a gymnast.
Russian swimmer Alexander Sukhorukov and gymnast Margarita Mamun are perhaps one of the most beautiful couples in domestic sports. The gymnast’s boyfriend was present at the final of the individual all-around, where she won a brilliant victory, ahead of her friend Yana Kudryavtseva. 
In an interview with R-Sport correspondent Elena Sobol after the dramatic finale, Sukhorukov told how Mamun was worried before the final and what she told him immediately after she came off the pedestal, why he believed in her gold, and also what he intends to do marriage proposal to Olympic champion.
- What did you feel when you were sitting on the stands in Rio and were sick? When did it all end?
I was terribly worried, it seems to me that I turned all gray. Almost went crazy! Rita - well done, she was able to do everything right. But all the same, I worried all day yesterday, and today. I can say as an active athlete: it’s much harder to sit and get sick without doing anything! It's much easier to perform. It’s not so scary for yourself: you splash out your energy yourself, you work on your own. And here, when you sit and watch, you can’t help in any way except scream, whistle... It’s very difficult to be sick. I'm very tired, that's what I can say. Emotionally and physically exhausted. But the joy is unreal for Rita!
I always told her: you are the best, the best, the best! She always argued: “No, what are you talking about, that’s... That’s not true.” Well, so - I told her, I told her! 
- Last days What did they say before the start, how did they support you? Or was she more to herself?
No, she wasn’t herself. I didn't really sense any excitement in her. Of course, she was worried during the competition, but as an athlete I saw that it wasn’t too much, that she was quite calm and behaved confidently. She had a quiet confidence. Therefore, I didn’t particularly choose any words. He said: do what you trained, what you can, these are the same competitions... He probably tried to calm her down more. He said that the same starts are just, let’s say, rare - once every four years.
- Which of Rita’s exercises do you like most?
Favorite? My favorite thing is when she performs with a ribbon. This is probably the most... Because I can’t look at the clubs at all, you can go crazy - they fly out or something else. It always happens to them. And with a ribbon like this looks easy, graceful look. As a non-professional, it is this exercise that is most interesting for me to watch.
- Didn’t you understand more about rhythmic gymnastics?
Well, now I’ll probably start to figure it out (laughs)!
- What was the first thing you said to Rita when you were able to hug her after the finale?
Said: “I told you, I told you, you are the best!” She immediately began to cry.
-You didn’t cry yourself? Or do boys not cry?
Boys don't cry (smiles), let's leave it at that. 
- What now? You probably want to take Rita to the ends of the world and relax a little?
I think no, Rita should now get her share of fame and emotions. Survive all this. It seems to me that on at the moment She doesn’t understand all this herself. I myself had a medal, though a very long time ago, but I understand that she needs time to sit down and understand that she is the best in the world, that she is an Olympic champion! That this only happens once, or at most twice, in a lifetime. That this is very honorable, very cool, very cool! I want her to sit down in a calm environment and understand. Because now, I understand her, she is flying, she is in extraordinary euphoria! Even I heard the interviewer say: “I don’t understand yet!” I think only when he flies home will he understand, only after some time. Maybe in six months or a year she will understand that “I’m cool!” And so... So much to go to this medal, to take gold... Super! 
- There was always a second one.
Well, not all the time, but quite often she lost a little to Yana, somewhere they were evenly matched. Therefore, of course, there was excitement in the sense that Yana is a strong athlete. Of course, I was worried, and my parents were worried too. But, thank God, everything worked out. Very happy, very happy for Rita. Immensely!
- A very personal question...Have you thought about marriage yet?
Certainly! Rita and I have been together for three years, of course, I thought about it, why hide it! There were and are thoughts.
- What about the proposal?
No, I haven’t proposed yet (smiles). Everything is in order. We love order.
- I won’t torture so as not to spoil the surprise. But you will probably do it in a very special way?
It will be very beautiful.
- Where will you take Rita on vacation this year?
Honestly, we haven't planned it yet. Most likely, we will fly to Los Angeles for a couple of weeks. Because I've been training there for the last four years, I think it's not a bad place to relax. The ocean... It’s familiar there, there’s a place to live, the weather is good. I think Rita deserved the most best vacation. Maybe we’ll go to some islands. I don’t know yet, I’ll ask her and torture her. And she will tell me as always: “I just want to be with you.” 
Photo from Instagram
Coach of Olympic champion Margarita Mamun Amina Zaripova in an interview "Moscow-Baku" shared her impressions of her gymnast’s victory at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, confessed her love for coaching and said that she wanted to come to Baku with her husband to play golf.
Amina, your athlete Margarita Mamun won gold at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In sports, nothing can be higher than the title of Olympic champion. What future goals do you see for Rita and yourself?
- Rita was faced with the task of winning the Olympics, and she completed it. Now I have little gymnasts with whom I work a lot, preparing the new generation.
- How did you feel at that moment when Margarita was on the carpet?
- There was a feeling that I was performing with her. It was scary, but only at that moment when she walked to the platform. And when the music started playing and Rita began to do the exercises, all fears were forgotten and disappeared somewhere.
She had to perform as well as possible and did it! We prepared long and hard for these competitions, we went through a lot. In her victory there is one very important point- Margarita dedicated the performance to her father, who at that moment was very seriously ill. She gave him strength, he had to see her win. After the Olympics, a tragedy occurred in Rita’s family - her dad died... (Margarita Mamun’s father, Abdullah Al Mamun, was a citizen of Bangladesh - editor's note).
It was necessary to get the athlete out of a difficult mental state, so we decided to go to a competition in Japan, which we had not planned. Rita performed there, and is now on vacation in America.
- Did you manage to rest after the Olympics?
My husband and I (Amina Zaripova’s husband is a famous musician, actor and TV presenter Alexey Kortnev) approx. edit) gathered the children in an armful, boarded a plane and spent four days together in the Austrian Alps wonderful day. Not enough, of course, but they were ours!
- You come from Uzbekistan, do you often come to your homeland?
- Unfortunately, very rarely. Last time– two years ago I was there at a competition. I haven’t taken my children there yet. But this is my old dream, to show them my native places.
-Have you ever been to Azerbaijan?
- Yes, I came this year. I really loved this country! Baku has become a modern world metropolis. It's so beautiful there! I wanted to take my husband there in October for his birthday. But I was told that there are strong winds at this time, and we are playing golf, and this may cause problems with the game. My plans still include coming to Baku to play golf ( Smiling).
- Azerbaijani gymnastics began to be developed by Irina Aleksandrovna Viner in close collaboration with the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva. I remember the performances of Aliya Garayeva, in certain types she was World and European Champion. I remember Dinara Gimatova well. Now a Bulgarian coach is working with the Azerbaijani national team.
- Would you send your daughter to do rhythmic gymnastics?(Aksinya, daughter of Amina Zaripova, 5 years old - approx. edit)
She refused. She said that when mom is in the gym, she will study, but without me she doesn’t want to.
What qualities, besides physical data, are important to succeed in your sport? Is it possible to immediately determine the future champion?
- In addition to the data, it is important how the child reacts to the coach’s comments and how efficient he is. It is impossible to say right away whether the girl will be successful in rhythmic gymnastics. We engage in high-performance sports, and there are injuries that are incompatible with high-level sports. Nothing can be predicted in advance.
- If not coaching work, then what profession would you see yourself in?
- You know, many people note my good organizational skills. I would probably hold some kind of leadership position. ( Smiling). In general, before becoming a coach, I did a lot of things: I tried to be a journalist on NTV, a salesman, and opened restaurants. As a result, I realized that I only get pleasure from rhythmic gymnastics.
How does the gymnastics of your youth differ from modern gymnastics? The elements have become more complex, there is more competition, and what else?
We didn’t have those chic swimsuits that girls wear on the carpet now. The site was smaller. Not to mention the apparatus that gymnasts work with. There was no platform; they performed on the floor with a carpet on it. And now in many countries around the world children train on platforms.
- Do you often see your former coach Irina Aleksandrovna Viner?
I'm just on my way to see her. Now we are working with Irina Alexandrovna in the same room. Looking at her, I understand what is sitting in front of me great woman. She is a rather tough and straightforward person. If she loves, then this feeling is so strong that you can die from it, but when she screams, you can also die. ( Smiling). She is great and brilliant. What she can see, God forbid, I can see half of it.
Thanks to her efforts, Russia in rhythmic gymnastics has reached the level that we have now. Through her efforts, rhythmic gymnastics remained an Olympic sport in the Olympic family.
When we performed at the Olympics in Rio, the attendance record was broken. Artistic gymnastics in South America very popular, but during the athletes’ performances the stands remained half empty, and at rhythmic gymnastics competitions people sat “from floor to ceiling.” The hall with ten thousand seats was packed to capacity. Not a single empty seat.
