At the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships which have taken place in Baku recently the world champion of 2013, Anna Rizatdinova, representing Ukraine, took third place. She shared her impressions of the competition with journalists, including with the Vestnik Kavkaza correspondent.
- Tell about the atmosphere at the championship. What do you particularly remember?
- I want to mention the warm public. It was very comfortable and easy to perform. On the whole, the conditions are great. Perhaps no European championship yet has been carried out so well: huge platforms, huge halls, remarkable conditions of accommodation. Everything is made only so that the gymnasts can go out and perform well. Therefore I am happy. As you saw, the competition was literally five people in the three first positions. It went from 100 to 100. Therefore, of course, we strongly worried, but Ukraine rose to the third step, and it is natural, I am happy together with my team.
- Was it easier or harder for you to perform with the status of world champion?
- It's a big responsibility, and after the last World Championship which we held in Kiev the requirements of trainers from me rose very much, from the fans, as a whole, even from the audience. Probably it's better, because there is no limit to perfection, and any athlete needs to grow. I consider that my peak of form hasn't come yet. I can safely say that in Kiev I was at peak form, and this year, I hope, together with the trainers I will have all my strength so that at the World Championship in Turkey I'll demonstrate a very high, worthy result together with the trainers.
- What can you say about the competition with the Russian gymnasts?
- The Russian gymnasts are very strong. The struggle is very tough. One slight mistake can deprive you of a pedestal, deprive you of your dream for the sake of which you come to a hall every day and work. Just one trifle, one blot, and you're already behind a pedestal, because the competition is very strong.
- Were you surprised at what happened to Margarita Mamun, two losses of the hoop?
- I didn't see it because I was taking care of myself. And I didn't know what occurs, and learned only after the termination of competitions when already everything ended, and I saw that Rita was not on the pedestal. It is sport, nobody is insured from mistakes. It could have been anyone in her place.
- In rhythmic gymnastics the European championship is actually the equivalent to the World Cup, and it is possible to say that the leaders of the following Olympic cycle already are defined. You, Stanyuta, Kudryavtseva.
- Rita Mamun, Neta Rivkin. There is a large number of very high-class gymnasts. There still is no Korean Son Jun Dzhi, very strong girl from China. It is a fight for life or death. It is impossible to relax.
- That is, in the World Championship the pedestal can appear in general absolutely another?
- Sure. In our sport the most unexpected can happen. Especially at the world championships. Typically, those who predict a pedestal, sometimes don't even reach it.
- And what can you say concerning Marina Durudna and Gulsum Shafizade? For Gulsum the European championship is her first stage. You are already familiar with Marina.
- Unfortunately I didn't see how they performed because I was preparing for my performance. We are familiar with Marina. It is a pity that Lala didn't perform, because everyone supports her very much, everyone loves her, and as a whole, the Azerbaijani school is very strong, it's really a fact.
- Did you like Baku?
- I was here in 2007, 2009, also at the European Championships, and I want to note that the city has changed very much, it became more modern. I want to look not from a bus window, but already to walk and to look at this lovely city.
- Next year the European Games will take place in Baku. Do you plan to come and perform?
- Yes, of course I plan to, but in our sport we never how life will work out. We can have something unpredictable every day. But I want to come very much. Now I have a purpose to get to the European games next year, because it is a beautiful place. I think that the dream of any athlete is to performance in such conditions.
