"Vika, don't cry any more" - Lupita translates

Viktoria Komova's mother said : “The doctors told us that Vika should rest her injuries for at least eight months”  Picture courtesy of Komsomolskaya Pravda

Lupita translates here a 29th August interview with Viktoria Komova and her mother, Vera Kolesnikova, from Komsomolskaya Pravda.  There is a video at the link which is well worth a look.

All the people in Voronezh who were interested in sport, supported Vika Komova at the Olympics. They admired her skills, were saddened when an imperfect performance made her cry. We invited Viktoria and her mum and coach Vera Kolesnikova to our editorial offices, to ask what happened behind the scenes of the gymnastics’ competitions.

- Vika, tell us about the Olympic village. In which conditions did you live, did you often meet other athletes?

- I shared a room with Ksenia Afanasyeva. There were two beds in each room. Everything  was functional, no excesses. Most of the time we trained, we didn’t go to parties. Everything was beautiful at the Olympic village: Olympic rings, interesting statues – a monkey, a turtle. We took pictures of ourselves around them. Our gymnasts came to visit. They came to weigh themselves. Denis Ablyazin, also silver medallist, was told to lose weight, which he did quickly. After the Olympics, I met my idol Svetlana Khorkina at one of the TV shows. She told me: ‘Don’t cry any more. You’ll reach all your goals. Even so, the girls and you are stronger than the Americans ‘.

- Did you manage to visit London?

- No, I didn’t. Only after the competitions, we went to Tower Bridge, saw a little bit of Big Ben. All very quickly, the night before our departure, we had to pack our luggage, we didn’t sleep.

- Which competitions were the hardest at the Olympics?

- The most difficult was the first day, - intervenes Vika’s mum, Vera Kolesnikova. – It was a selection for the finals and it was important to move to the event finals. It was very stressing. For Vika and for myself.

- After the Olympics did your relationship with Aliya Mustafina change? Is the new Olympic champion very full of herself?

- Not at all. Aliya invited me for the September 1. We are good friends.

- Is she your best friend?

- No, my best friend is Masha Paseka. She’s very joyful, smiling, positive, we spent most of the time together. She never cries.

- Tell us how you received the Audi?

- First we were at the President’s reception, then all our team went to receive their cars. I found mine very quickly;  it took me less than one minute.

- You will soon turn 18. Are you going to have your driving licence?

- My brother and I wanted to attend driving lessons, but I’m going to Mallorca on September 4th and I don’t know when it will be possible. So far my dad will drive the car.

- Do you already know what you’ll study after school?

- Not yet. I still have to finish secondary school and pass the exam at the end of next year.

- Did you have time to rest?

- I only slept a little. I don’t have time; I have to go to different places all the time.

- Did you have to train?

- Right now, the gym at Shtukmann’s school is being refurbished. Recently we went to Taneev’s, where there is tennis, handball and gymnastics. It’s not that comfortable, of course.

- Coming back to the Olympics, do you remember why you didn’t answer to Douglas when she approached you?

- I was very concentrated, I didn’t hear anything. I thought it was my coach.

- Did you congratulate Aliya immediately?

- I congratulated her right after her performance. After the coaches, of course. They all gathered round her (smiles).

- You often made errors in your landings. How do you explain this? 

 - I felt pain in my legs, and on dismounts, my knees hurt. I was not allowed to land deeply.

- What kind of music do you like?

- Different kinds: hip hop, rap, sometimes joyful music, sometimes sad. Classical music is not my cup of tea.

- Do you know the words 'I don’t want to'?

- Yes, for instance, I don’t want to get up early.

- Have your likes changed?

- No, I like pizza like always. Even if now I often eat watermelon. I love it.

- What is your dream?

- I want to go to Moscow, to go for a walk unnoticed, with the girls that I haven’t  seen for a long time.