Translated by nagainavyborg on Youtube
1st question Favourite brand of milk Chocolate?
“Milka probably”
Are momories of Olympics fresh after 10 days?
She says it’s like never happend, it’s like a dream.
What’s most pleasant you remember from olympics?
The most of course is medals and that she was able to do it after all years of training.
Did you really was sure that you can recover from injury or it was more a hope, but you didn’t have any confidence?
Yes, i was more hoping than i was certain,because i was told that only a few people were able to recover and be at the pre-injury level and recovery was very hard.
A call from canadian dude, he asking is she received his parcel,she said she didn’t.
Did you felt the popularity after the games? Are people recognize you?
No,thank god no. I wouldn’t be very comfortable if someone in the metro came up to me and ask me if i Aliya Mustafina.
So the fame is not what you wanted?
No.
Caller thanking her for victory and etc.
DJ talking that sport became very young-15,16 years old kids became champions.
Alya Mustafina is a 17 years old Olympic Champion one of them. Aliya wispering: Almost 18!
You finished school in this year? Did you had time to pass exams?-
Yes.
And how?
Fine.
So you will go to university?
I’m already entered in university.
Already?Where?
Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas.
So after sport you will extract oil somewhere in West Siberia?
Maybe :)))
And what specialisation?
Management and Economics
Why not something about sport or sport university?
Well, my dad was helping me,so it was decided like that.
You will study for free?
Umm,yes.
Are you serious about your education? Why you need a degree?
So that after sport career i can go somewhere to work.
About injury again. What people were telling you? Give up, forget about sport or come on, you can do it?
Everybody were helping me, i was at the base all the time and all coaches, specialits, girls were telling me “c’mon, you can do it!
Without a doubt you must recover!” And this helped me and encourage me to continue.
Woman asking about relationship between our girls, between russian and american girls
(About Maroney and Paseka incident).
In our team we were like a family, everybody helping each other, support each other.
And american girls, that Masha wanted congratulate her and didn’t have response,
Well i think it’s not okay.Only Maroney seemed like angry ,
other girls from USA were nice,especially Raisman, she’s a very kind girl and i like her very much.
Did you communicate with each other? Any possibility to improve your english?
No, we saw each other only at competitions and trainings, but at trainings you don’t have any chance to talk.
Did you walk at olympic village? Met any athletes from our team? Was it strict for you(only gym and rooms)?
No,we weren’t locked up in the rooms.But we simply didn’t had any time.So after gym we were so tired that we only wanted to relax and rest.
About Vika. Why is it always that she didn’t have something to became first?
I think you need to be twice better than you can be, so nobody can’t find a flaw. And she sometimes gives them that small chance to find something. She wobbled a little, they deducted not 0.1, but 0.3 and this may cost first place.
What about judging?How was it?
Well, it was better than WC-2011, but i can’t say everything were fair .
So you think they helping USA or someone else?
Let’s say on each place there’re two teams, and between them always a contest, so in our case Russia vs. USA. They choose USA.
Why do you think nobody likes Russia in gymnastics?
I don’t know.
Did you asked them or someone, american girls(you do the same job after all)?
No, i didn’t ask.
How your federation supporting you?Do you have enough?
Our federation gives us everything, absolutely everything(food, gym, living, plus in Krugloe we have school)
I saw many athletes didn’t stay for closing ceremony,such as you.You said to me it was entirely your decision.Why?
We wanted to go home as soon as possible. Almost half a year we spent in Krugloe. Many didn’t saw their parents,homes. So when we had chance to go home at 8th, we went right away.
So you could stay at London?
Yeah,we were could ask to stay, no problems with it.
Woman asking about their diet.
Actually we don’t have any diets. We can eat everything, just in small portions.Nobody made any special diets for us.We were told to have specific weight, but how we hold it, no one really cares.
Many people asking are you planning to get married, everybody’s forget that you are only 17
I’m only 17… :))
Yeah,yeah,but you indeed can in some conditions marry. So?
No, i don’t plan to marry anytime soon. For now it’s only second Olympics and then we’ll see.
How things with male fans on the internet?
Well, i’m only in vkontakte and it set to private, so no bothering at all.
But how can an ordinary boy meet with Aliya Mustafina?
*Aliya shrugging*-Ahh, he can’t! Aliya is shrugging…
Do you have any pets and what is your favourite dish?
I don’t have pets. No favourite dish either.
Will you continue to competing in all-around or it will be only certain apparatus?
All-around for sure.Because i did it all my life and i’m used to it.
Are uneven bars your favourite now?
No,for every day it’s a different apparatus.
What sport do you like beside AG?
Rhythmic Gymnastics,i like it very much,madly.It’s very beautiful.
You didn’t try it for yorself? It’s all gymnastics after all.
No,it completely different kind of sport.
I know you are friends with Zhenya Kanaeva. You became friends because you are both olympic champions?
No, we’ve met before it, in Italy. She had an exhibition and we had competitions.
In Kazan 2013 will be Universiade. Will you go there?
Yes, i have such plans,i want to go there very much, but before it we’ll have a personal European championship there.
In Kazan too?
Yes.
Is Kazan means something to you or just because it in Russia?
Just because it’s in Russia.
Perform in front of home crowd is more pleasant?
I can’t say for sure because when i perform i don’t pay much attention to it.And i don’t really care.
There in London were so noisy, it didn’t bother you at all?
When i’m doing any apparatus i don’t hear anything. Except for our team girls, them i heard.
When you doing apparatus you feel how it’s going to end?
No, i thinking about first element,then next and so on…
Amazing!Words of true champion.
You know when you were recovering from injury, i talked about you with Professor Preobrazhensky in hospital where you had your treatment. He said that in theory many can recover from it but many will have fear to do something that they did before injury. But do not fear only can the great athlete, special emphasis on “the great”. Of course it was only one Olympics for you and everything is in the begining.Did you dream to be in one line with Khorkina,Zamolodchikova, Larisa Latynina?
Mmm,no.I’ve never dreamed about it or even thought about it.
No idols?
Nope!
But because of what you go in AG?
My father brought me.
BTW your dad is a wrestler. Why not a female wrestling then?
Well, as he told me, daughters of wrestlers can be only a gymnasts or a wrestlers.And he choose gymnastics.
So there were a possibility for you to go at the Olympics as a wrestler?
I don’t think i’ll could do much.
Do you watch TV?
No i don’t like it,i don’t have much time for it,so no.
What gymnasts do at the free time?
Usually we are sleeping. Because after first training you must recover for the second and after second for the third.
Now is a vacations.Tons of free time.What you like to do?
Meeting with my friends and doing other important stuff.
The most stupid question you were asked?
So many, i don’t even remember…
So in such situations what would you asked yourself? Imagine you take interview from Aliya Mustafina. What would you ask?
:)))Frequently i ask myself why i was such a fool a year ago.
Believe me after one more year you will ask the same question.
Yeah i think so too. :)
It’s just the age…What gymnastics means to you and what can make you quit it?
For now it’s means everything to me and nothing can make me quit it.
Did you had awkward age?Or it happening now?
I had it already.
How it was?
:))Probably i was very dumb and i’ve made many stupid decisions.
So it was year ago? :)
Well one-two year ago.
Did you have a good childhood?
Yes, i can’t say i had a bad childhood, i had everything, i don’t regret it at all.
And what about movies, friends, clubs,cafe, all simple things of teenage life? Would you switch your life with life of ordinary moscow teen?
No, i’m more satisfied with my life.
Your b-day is 30th of September.How you will celebrate it?
I don’t know yet. Will see later, maybe i will be on the base.
You already had so many presents Is there something you want or you have everything?
Err, i don’t know. I have everything i wanted. But i like surprises, doesn’t matter what it is. I just like surprises.
I think the gold medal wasn’t surprise for you?
Mmm,no.
About her sister:
Yes, she’s gymnast too,but now she training only for herself. Not professionally. And yes, people told that she is one hundred more talented than me. But she couldn’t cope with growing up and with workloads and that it will be not easy.
And how you was able to cope with it?
I think it’s in the temper, from early age i had done things, not what i wanted, but what needed to do.But Nelly was doing usually what she wanted.
If you came to beginners ,6 year old girls, what would you say to them?
I would say that if they doing it- they must love it,they must do everything necessary for it, no matter what.
What do you think is the percentage of people who stay in AG after 5-6 years?
Many kids leave when begins an adult gymnastics, when begins adult competitions, when program is harder. Many afraid it… Because it’s became hard. And who is stays after all, they will become a winner.
Was there time when you almost has left or you has left completely?
Yeah, i even quit it, after youth european championship.I didn’t go in gym more than two weeks. Then coach call me and said come, i came back and stayed.
So basically you can’t live without it?
Yes.
What about now?
Well, i had thoughts that i need to go to train something, but then i remember that i spent 3 years at Krugloe, all these at least three in day trainings, that i didn’t saw my parents etc… So i need a rest.
A good question: What is your temper?
A stubborn and hard-nosed tatar one like your dad’s or russian one like your mom’s?
Everybody saying that like my dad’s. Well in sport yes , i’m very stubborn, but in real life it’s more like mom’s - very calm, carefree.
What did your mom said after injury or after wins?Enough, quit it or what a good girl you are?
No, she says what a good girl i am.The most important, when i tore ACL, well dad’s words i already knew, that i must recover or at least try.
But i more were afraid about mom’s words,that she will tell me to quit AG,that she will not cope with it, she my mom after all, she was very worried. But no, she didn’t say any of it. Strangely, she suffered it very easy.
If your mom will tell you to choose, she or AG?
I’ll explain to her that i can’t choose between them.
Terrific response! On this we’ll end this interview, thank you Alya
1st question Favourite brand of milk Chocolate?
“Milka probably”
Are momories of Olympics fresh after 10 days?
She says it’s like never happend, it’s like a dream.
What’s most pleasant you remember from olympics?
The most of course is medals and that she was able to do it after all years of training.
Did you really was sure that you can recover from injury or it was more a hope, but you didn’t have any confidence?
Yes, i was more hoping than i was certain,because i was told that only a few people were able to recover and be at the pre-injury level and recovery was very hard.
A call from canadian dude, he asking is she received his parcel,she said she didn’t.
Did you felt the popularity after the games? Are people recognize you?
No,thank god no. I wouldn’t be very comfortable if someone in the metro came up to me and ask me if i Aliya Mustafina.
So the fame is not what you wanted?
No.
Caller thanking her for victory and etc.
DJ talking that sport became very young-15,16 years old kids became champions.
Alya Mustafina is a 17 years old Olympic Champion one of them. Aliya wispering: Almost 18!
You finished school in this year? Did you had time to pass exams?-
Yes.
And how?
Fine.
So you will go to university?
I’m already entered in university.
Already?Where?
Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas.
So after sport you will extract oil somewhere in West Siberia?
Maybe :)))
And what specialisation?
Management and Economics
Why not something about sport or sport university?
Well, my dad was helping me,so it was decided like that.
You will study for free?
Umm,yes.
Are you serious about your education? Why you need a degree?
So that after sport career i can go somewhere to work.
About injury again. What people were telling you? Give up, forget about sport or come on, you can do it?
Everybody were helping me, i was at the base all the time and all coaches, specialits, girls were telling me “c’mon, you can do it!
Without a doubt you must recover!” And this helped me and encourage me to continue.
Woman asking about relationship between our girls, between russian and american girls
(About Maroney and Paseka incident).
In our team we were like a family, everybody helping each other, support each other.
And american girls, that Masha wanted congratulate her and didn’t have response,
Well i think it’s not okay.Only Maroney seemed like angry ,
other girls from USA were nice,especially Raisman, she’s a very kind girl and i like her very much.
Did you communicate with each other? Any possibility to improve your english?
No, we saw each other only at competitions and trainings, but at trainings you don’t have any chance to talk.
Did you walk at olympic village? Met any athletes from our team? Was it strict for you(only gym and rooms)?
No,we weren’t locked up in the rooms.But we simply didn’t had any time.So after gym we were so tired that we only wanted to relax and rest.
About Vika. Why is it always that she didn’t have something to became first?
I think you need to be twice better than you can be, so nobody can’t find a flaw. And she sometimes gives them that small chance to find something. She wobbled a little, they deducted not 0.1, but 0.3 and this may cost first place.
What about judging?How was it?
Well, it was better than WC-2011, but i can’t say everything were fair .
So you think they helping USA or someone else?
Let’s say on each place there’re two teams, and between them always a contest, so in our case Russia vs. USA. They choose USA.
Why do you think nobody likes Russia in gymnastics?
I don’t know.
Did you asked them or someone, american girls(you do the same job after all)?
No, i didn’t ask.
How your federation supporting you?Do you have enough?
Our federation gives us everything, absolutely everything(food, gym, living, plus in Krugloe we have school)
I saw many athletes didn’t stay for closing ceremony,such as you.You said to me it was entirely your decision.Why?
We wanted to go home as soon as possible. Almost half a year we spent in Krugloe. Many didn’t saw their parents,homes. So when we had chance to go home at 8th, we went right away.
So you could stay at London?
Yeah,we were could ask to stay, no problems with it.
Woman asking about their diet.
Actually we don’t have any diets. We can eat everything, just in small portions.Nobody made any special diets for us.We were told to have specific weight, but how we hold it, no one really cares.
Many people asking are you planning to get married, everybody’s forget that you are only 17
I’m only 17… :))
Yeah,yeah,but you indeed can in some conditions marry. So?
No, i don’t plan to marry anytime soon. For now it’s only second Olympics and then we’ll see.
How things with male fans on the internet?
Well, i’m only in vkontakte and it set to private, so no bothering at all.
But how can an ordinary boy meet with Aliya Mustafina?
*Aliya shrugging*-Ahh, he can’t! Aliya is shrugging…
Do you have any pets and what is your favourite dish?
I don’t have pets. No favourite dish either.
Will you continue to competing in all-around or it will be only certain apparatus?
All-around for sure.Because i did it all my life and i’m used to it.
Are uneven bars your favourite now?
No,for every day it’s a different apparatus.
What sport do you like beside AG?
Rhythmic Gymnastics,i like it very much,madly.It’s very beautiful.
You didn’t try it for yorself? It’s all gymnastics after all.
No,it completely different kind of sport.
I know you are friends with Zhenya Kanaeva. You became friends because you are both olympic champions?
No, we’ve met before it, in Italy. She had an exhibition and we had competitions.
In Kazan 2013 will be Universiade. Will you go there?
Yes, i have such plans,i want to go there very much, but before it we’ll have a personal European championship there.
In Kazan too?
Yes.
Is Kazan means something to you or just because it in Russia?
Just because it’s in Russia.
Perform in front of home crowd is more pleasant?
I can’t say for sure because when i perform i don’t pay much attention to it.And i don’t really care.
There in London were so noisy, it didn’t bother you at all?
When i’m doing any apparatus i don’t hear anything. Except for our team girls, them i heard.
When you doing apparatus you feel how it’s going to end?
No, i thinking about first element,then next and so on…
Amazing!Words of true champion.
You know when you were recovering from injury, i talked about you with Professor Preobrazhensky in hospital where you had your treatment. He said that in theory many can recover from it but many will have fear to do something that they did before injury. But do not fear only can the great athlete, special emphasis on “the great”. Of course it was only one Olympics for you and everything is in the begining.Did you dream to be in one line with Khorkina,Zamolodchikova, Larisa Latynina?
Mmm,no.I’ve never dreamed about it or even thought about it.
No idols?
Nope!
But because of what you go in AG?
My father brought me.
BTW your dad is a wrestler. Why not a female wrestling then?
Well, as he told me, daughters of wrestlers can be only a gymnasts or a wrestlers.And he choose gymnastics.
So there were a possibility for you to go at the Olympics as a wrestler?
I don’t think i’ll could do much.
Do you watch TV?
No i don’t like it,i don’t have much time for it,so no.
What gymnasts do at the free time?
Usually we are sleeping. Because after first training you must recover for the second and after second for the third.
Now is a vacations.Tons of free time.What you like to do?
Meeting with my friends and doing other important stuff.
The most stupid question you were asked?
So many, i don’t even remember…
So in such situations what would you asked yourself? Imagine you take interview from Aliya Mustafina. What would you ask?
:)))Frequently i ask myself why i was such a fool a year ago.
Believe me after one more year you will ask the same question.
Yeah i think so too. :)
It’s just the age…What gymnastics means to you and what can make you quit it?
For now it’s means everything to me and nothing can make me quit it.
Did you had awkward age?Or it happening now?
I had it already.
How it was?
:))Probably i was very dumb and i’ve made many stupid decisions.
So it was year ago? :)
Well one-two year ago.
Did you have a good childhood?
Yes, i can’t say i had a bad childhood, i had everything, i don’t regret it at all.
And what about movies, friends, clubs,cafe, all simple things of teenage life? Would you switch your life with life of ordinary moscow teen?
No, i’m more satisfied with my life.
Your b-day is 30th of September.How you will celebrate it?
I don’t know yet. Will see later, maybe i will be on the base.
You already had so many presents Is there something you want or you have everything?
Err, i don’t know. I have everything i wanted. But i like surprises, doesn’t matter what it is. I just like surprises.
I think the gold medal wasn’t surprise for you?
Mmm,no.
About her sister:
Yes, she’s gymnast too,but now she training only for herself. Not professionally. And yes, people told that she is one hundred more talented than me. But she couldn’t cope with growing up and with workloads and that it will be not easy.
And how you was able to cope with it?
I think it’s in the temper, from early age i had done things, not what i wanted, but what needed to do.But Nelly was doing usually what she wanted.
If you came to beginners ,6 year old girls, what would you say to them?
I would say that if they doing it- they must love it,they must do everything necessary for it, no matter what.
What do you think is the percentage of people who stay in AG after 5-6 years?
Many kids leave when begins an adult gymnastics, when begins adult competitions, when program is harder. Many afraid it… Because it’s became hard. And who is stays after all, they will become a winner.
Was there time when you almost has left or you has left completely?
Yeah, i even quit it, after youth european championship.I didn’t go in gym more than two weeks. Then coach call me and said come, i came back and stayed.
So basically you can’t live without it?
Yes.
What about now?
Well, i had thoughts that i need to go to train something, but then i remember that i spent 3 years at Krugloe, all these at least three in day trainings, that i didn’t saw my parents etc… So i need a rest.
A good question: What is your temper?
A stubborn and hard-nosed tatar one like your dad’s or russian one like your mom’s?
Everybody saying that like my dad’s. Well in sport yes , i’m very stubborn, but in real life it’s more like mom’s - very calm, carefree.
What did your mom said after injury or after wins?Enough, quit it or what a good girl you are?
No, she says what a good girl i am.The most important, when i tore ACL, well dad’s words i already knew, that i must recover or at least try.
But i more were afraid about mom’s words,that she will tell me to quit AG,that she will not cope with it, she my mom after all, she was very worried. But no, she didn’t say any of it. Strangely, she suffered it very easy.
If your mom will tell you to choose, she or AG?
I’ll explain to her that i can’t choose between them.
Terrific response! On this we’ll end this interview, thank you Alya