Aliya Mustafina: 'Masha is very determined'

From Aliya Mustafina on Instagram: 'thanks for the invitation' she says to Alexei Nemov

A brief interview with Sovietski Sport is summarised here.  Original interview is at http://www.sovsport.ru/news/text-item/712772

Olympic gymnastics champion Aliya Mustafina today went to a party organised by famous gymnast Alexei Nemov, entitled "Sochi-Moscow-Rio".  Alexei handed out some awards, sponsored by the magazine 'Grand Sport'.  It took place in the Veshny Arts Centre.

- Aliya, soon you are going to Germany for a check up on your ankle. How do you feel now?

- Walking does not hurt, it only hurts when I tumble.  I really would like the doctors to figure out what is going on with my foot, and why I cannot load it. And how to treat it  ...

- As I understand it the European Championships did not disappoint you in any way, despite the fact that you lost to Downie on the bars?

- No, no disappointment.  I did not show a routine of the highest difficulty, and just performed as well as I could.  I did OK, and didn't fall anywhere, so I see no reason to get upset. For the World Championships on bars, I will try to prepare a programme to compete at a World level.

- As far as I know, the coaches discouraged you from traveling to Sofia, but you still decided to go. With injury.

- I myself wanted to perform, I'm not used to missing out if I can compete at all.  Besides, I knew it was important to help the young girls, who were on the podium for the first time.

- Maria Kharenkova became European champion on the balance beam, beating Iordache.  Nobody expected it, including Masha herself.

- Well, why would no one have expected it?  For example, I knew that Masha has a strong programme, a good "start value".  If she does everything clean, she may well fight Iordache. Masha is still a little girl, she just came onto the team, she's only fifteen years old, but she is very determined.  I think she has a good future. Her bars are a little weak, but it will be possible to improve.