“The All Around World Champion in gymnastics, Aliya Mustafina talked with “F-Sport”‘s Alexander Vladimirova in an interview about how to cope with the excitement of competition, how she spends her spare time, and why she’s not going to leave gymnastics.
The Russian head coaches said the main challenge for the team is a vault with 2.5 twists that must be prepared for the Olympics. Have you managed to restore this vault?
I’m trying to get it back. Without this vault, it will indeed be really hard to fight on the same level as the Americans. They have gymnasts doing that vault, but we don’t.
Have a lot of gymnasts in the world vaulted 2.5 twists?
No. At international competitions, I personally know about 10 people.
And almost all of them are American?
Nearly, yes.
Senior women’s team coach Alexander Alexandrov says that stability when dealing with stress is your strong suit. At competitions, you don’t feel agitated?
No, of course I get nervous. But I try not to pay any attention to it. When you go out onto the podium, there’s nothing left you can do. So there’s no point in being afraid.
Has your team ever worked with psychologists?
No, we do not especially need something like that. We’ve managed before without psychologists, and we’ll continue to manage in the future.
The team coaches also mentioned that since the injury, your style has changed a bit, and has become more athletic. Do you agree?
I think gymnastics should display… (a balance) between being timeless (classic) and feminine. I do not know what the coaches mean; they haven’t said anything to me.
What’s the most difficult part to handle during competitions?
I can’t say. When I go up to compete on the podium, I do not think that it’s hard, but that it’s easy. I think about the combinations I need to do. So that way, going up to the podium is not difficult. At the peak – mentally it can be difficult to get oneself going (kind of get the ball rolling, take the first step), so you tune in to get everything to come together and it will all go well. For example, if I’m one of the last (in the rotation) to go up on bars, I’ll stand in a handstand on the floor. Or for the beam, (stand) on my toes with my eyes closed, (visualizing) doing flips. This helps.
Do you try not to watch the routines of your competitors ?
No, I often watch my competitors.
And should you watch the marks? Some athletes say that in general, one shouldn’t look up to the scoreboard
Only if it happens to catch your eye. In competitions, I’m not interested in where I’m going to place, but I’m greatly interested in what (how) I went out and performed. Trust me, that’s not up to the score.
Who brought you to the gym?
My Dad. He works in CSKA. (Central Sports Army Club)
Do you remember the first practice?
No. I never think about the past.
Why?
I’m not interested.
And do you think about the future?
No. I live for today. I don’t even make plans for tomorrow.
You don’t even think about the Olympics
I think about it. But I don’t plan for it; it’s a goal.
You say that during competition, problems don’t present (themselves). But during the hardest workouts?
Forcing oneself to work just as hard (as competition, as hard as you can).
And it is often difficult?
Almost always.
But, nevertheless, you’re not quitting. What keeps you (in the sport)?
I love everything about gymnastics. Competitions, practice, even when things are difficult. For now (the near future), I just can’t live without it.
How important is the support of the audience during your routines?
Honestly, I don’t notice (feel) it. After stepping up on the platform and seeing the apparatus, I think only about what I need to do on it. And everything else around me is of no concern.
Does any time remain to study?
A little bit. I’m in the 11th grade. Sometimes I do between workouts.
What is your favorite subject?
Algebra.
You have a mother who teaches physics. You didn’t inherit her love of the subject?
At first, when we started to study physics I liked it too. But now it’s too difficult to understand.
Do you go off to your lessons with pleasure?
I wouldn’t say that. I can’t say that I particularly love to study , just very much since childhood I’ve never really done much in terms of lessons. I’ve simply not had enough energy to study . You come from training, and go nap. In the evening too, (after training) you get massage/physio, bathe and then it’s time to go to bed.
So, you have almost no free time.
Well, yes. On my free days, I can go to the “Mega” to go shopping. But I’m not a shopaholic. If I need something, then yes, I will go. But I don’t like going without any reason.
And the last time to went to watch a movie?
I do not even remember. There’s not really a movie I really love. I watch almost no TV.
The Russian head coaches said the main challenge for the team is a vault with 2.5 twists that must be prepared for the Olympics. Have you managed to restore this vault?
I’m trying to get it back. Without this vault, it will indeed be really hard to fight on the same level as the Americans. They have gymnasts doing that vault, but we don’t.
Have a lot of gymnasts in the world vaulted 2.5 twists?
No. At international competitions, I personally know about 10 people.
And almost all of them are American?
Nearly, yes.
Senior women’s team coach Alexander Alexandrov says that stability when dealing with stress is your strong suit. At competitions, you don’t feel agitated?
No, of course I get nervous. But I try not to pay any attention to it. When you go out onto the podium, there’s nothing left you can do. So there’s no point in being afraid.
Has your team ever worked with psychologists?
No, we do not especially need something like that. We’ve managed before without psychologists, and we’ll continue to manage in the future.
The team coaches also mentioned that since the injury, your style has changed a bit, and has become more athletic. Do you agree?
I think gymnastics should display… (a balance) between being timeless (classic) and feminine. I do not know what the coaches mean; they haven’t said anything to me.
What’s the most difficult part to handle during competitions?
I can’t say. When I go up to compete on the podium, I do not think that it’s hard, but that it’s easy. I think about the combinations I need to do. So that way, going up to the podium is not difficult. At the peak – mentally it can be difficult to get oneself going (kind of get the ball rolling, take the first step), so you tune in to get everything to come together and it will all go well. For example, if I’m one of the last (in the rotation) to go up on bars, I’ll stand in a handstand on the floor. Or for the beam, (stand) on my toes with my eyes closed, (visualizing) doing flips. This helps.
Do you try not to watch the routines of your competitors ?
No, I often watch my competitors.
And should you watch the marks? Some athletes say that in general, one shouldn’t look up to the scoreboard
Only if it happens to catch your eye. In competitions, I’m not interested in where I’m going to place, but I’m greatly interested in what (how) I went out and performed. Trust me, that’s not up to the score.
Who brought you to the gym?
My Dad. He works in CSKA. (Central Sports Army Club)
Do you remember the first practice?
No. I never think about the past.
Why?
I’m not interested.
And do you think about the future?
No. I live for today. I don’t even make plans for tomorrow.
You don’t even think about the Olympics
I think about it. But I don’t plan for it; it’s a goal.
You say that during competition, problems don’t present (themselves). But during the hardest workouts?
Forcing oneself to work just as hard (as competition, as hard as you can).
And it is often difficult?
Almost always.
But, nevertheless, you’re not quitting. What keeps you (in the sport)?
I love everything about gymnastics. Competitions, practice, even when things are difficult. For now (the near future), I just can’t live without it.
How important is the support of the audience during your routines?
Honestly, I don’t notice (feel) it. After stepping up on the platform and seeing the apparatus, I think only about what I need to do on it. And everything else around me is of no concern.
Does any time remain to study?
A little bit. I’m in the 11th grade. Sometimes I do between workouts.
What is your favorite subject?
Algebra.
You have a mother who teaches physics. You didn’t inherit her love of the subject?
At first, when we started to study physics I liked it too. But now it’s too difficult to understand.
Do you go off to your lessons with pleasure?
I wouldn’t say that. I can’t say that I particularly love to study , just very much since childhood I’ve never really done much in terms of lessons. I’ve simply not had enough energy to study . You come from training, and go nap. In the evening too, (after training) you get massage/physio, bathe and then it’s time to go to bed.
So, you have almost no free time.
Well, yes. On my free days, I can go to the “Mega” to go shopping. But I’m not a shopaholic. If I need something, then yes, I will go. But I don’t like going without any reason.
And the last time to went to watch a movie?
I do not even remember. There’s not really a movie I really love. I watch almost no TV.