Mikhail Malkin: You're flying like a rocket during performances

Second place at the FIG World Cup in Baku became the first major achievement of Azerbaijani gymnast Mikhail Malkin, he said in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.

Mikhail Malkin was born in Baku, he always trained in Baku gymnastics school. I was born in Baku. When I was 5 years old, I was jumping so much, played around and danced at home, so my grandmother decided to sent me to acrobatics school. When I started training, I just didn't want to stop. Then I changed several types of gymnastics. And after some time I was sent to acrobatics national team," he said.

"Tumbling World Cup was my first competition and I reached the finals. After that I almost always reached the finals of any tournament. And now, not only I reached the finals, but I also got the silver medal, and it's wonderful," he added. 

Mikhail Malkin admitted that he prefers to perform on adrenaline. "Adrenaline always hits you during the competitions. When you're called, you just can't stop it. You're flying like a rocket," he said.

The first World Cup in Trampoline and Tumbling of the new Olympic cycle takes place at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku on February 18-19. The competition is attended by 85 gymnasts from 15 countries. Their performances are evaluated under the new rules, which came into force in 2017. The qualifications are held on Febraury 18th, the finals will be held on February 19th.