Ksenia Afanasyeva - Sports Express interview

Photo credit : Tatiana Dorogutina, Sports Express

This is a summary (not a comprehensive word by word translation) of an interview with top Russian gymnast, Ksenia Afanasyeva.  The original Russian language interview is available at http://summer.sport-express.ru/gymnastics/reviews/44509/

Olympic silver medalist, twice world champion Ksenia Afanasyeva told "SE" why she decided not to finish her gymnastics career after the London Olympics.

Ksenia Afanasyeva was going to retire from gymnastics after the Olympics in London. These Olympics were the second of her career, and she was much more successful there than at the Beijing Games of 2008.  Having come home empty handed from Beijing, she instead won a team silver in London.  Then, contrary to expectations, she stayed in the sport. Last year, she performed at the European Championships and Universiade, but after that she suffered some health problems. Now she is in Germany, rehabilitating after a third surgery on her ankle.

'The first operation took place last year, right after the Universiade, the second was in December. The third was almost two weeks ago. The problem is the same - a torn ligament. The doctor's first thoughts were not to do anything too complex, but after two such operations I still couldn't tumble.  So, after the Russian championships, I turned to Valentina and asked her to send me to Germany for consultation.  My doctor frankly admitted that he does not specialise in the operation that I still needed, and redirected me to another clinic.'

'You could not ask for the "complex" operation right away?'

'To be honest, how could I know?  I agreed with what the doctor suggested.  At the time of the second operation I asked whether it would be difficult to do the operation right, but the doctor said he would recommend this operation to his own daughter.'

'How was the third operation?'

'It has gone well.  At this clinic there is a very good rehab center where many famous sportsmen have been treated.  Dr. Buhorn, who did my third operation, specializes just on the ankle and works primarily with athletes.'

'How long will the recovery period be?'

'The timing is much less serious than the other operations.  Before this, it had been about eight months.  Dr. Buhorn has said that in three months I'll be able to tumble.  But he said he did not yet know about the inflammation of the bone.  For a very long time I was tumbling with an injured foot, so they found during the operation that the bone had become inflamed.  So now we are doing lymphatic drainage and physiotherapy.'

'You are going to return to sport after recovery?'

'After the first two operations, I really thought a lot about it. Now, to be honest, I mostly want to feel like a complete human being, who isn't upset by the constant pain in her leg. Although of course it has already been two years since I was injured, and during that time I have managed to get used to the pain.'

'What happened two years ago?'

'During the Russian Championships, just before the Olympics, I performed in the final floor exercise, doing two whips to a triple twist. I landed badly from the triple twist and from this moment started having problems with my foot.  I finished the exercise; probably because of the adrenaline I did not feel particularly acute pain.'

'How did you compete with such an injury at the Olympics?'

'Now I also ask myself this question! I still do not know.  I remember that there was pain, and about a month before the Olympics we talked with the coach.  We decided then that if I could not do floor, I would do beam.  Then I did shock-wave therapy, which dulled the pain. There were no other options. But I was able to tumble again - through pain, but the pain was bearable.'

'Why didn't you talk more about the seriousness of the injury?'

'I do not see much sense in talking about problems. I did not want to make excuses for a failure because of my injury.  Also, I doubt that my performance would be better if people knew I had a sore foot.  But to my coach I certainly complained.  Her ears must have buzzed!  But I understand that each person has their own problems, why should anyone worry about mine?  When I could tumble, I tumbled.  When I realized I could no longer do it, I spoke about it.'

'Before the Olympics, you said that this could be the last start of your professional career. Why, then, are you still in the sport?'

'First of all, I didn't want to return, but then the coaches discussed and persuaded me.  I thought it over ... And I decided to stay.'

'Do you regret it?'

'No. Of course, during rehab I will probably curse all professional sports, but I understand that sport is my life, and I still want to leave on a good note.'

'A silver medal at the Olympic Games wasn't a sufficiently good note?'

'Of course, it was a success! But it is not an individual medal.'

'How hard was it to return to training after London?'

'It was very hard.  I constantly had thoughts about the meaninglessness of these workouts.  I remember that the all-around qualification at the European Championships left me frustrated. And then I had a real hysteria. After the competition, I was crying, my mum and coaches calmed me as well as they could.  It was a tragedy: I ​​was preparing very seriously, I had diligently improved my unloved bars routine.  Perhaps, if I had not won gold on the floor, I would have left the gym.'

'Your mother was also involved in gymnastics?'

'Yes, she is a master of sports and now teaches gymnastics at the institute.  By the way, my mother was originally categorically opposed to me becoming a gymnast. She wanted me to study and just to be a normal girl. But they came to us in kindergarten to recruit. The coach, who led the selection, persuaded my mother.  At every stage, she and my grandmother gave me the choice of leaving the sport.  But after London, my mum kept quiet and said I needed to decide for myself whether to stop.  She is very worried about my health.  I showed her my leg and we discussed whether I could continue.  I am a woman, I want to have children, not end up in a wheelchair.  But if I feel strong enough to run and tumble, then of course I will continue to train.'

'Where do you see yourself after your athletic career?'

Ksenia replies that she is considering training as a psychologist or as a vet.  She is not sure about psychology - not sure she is ready to take on other people's problems.  On the other hand, the difficulty of being a vet is that animals cannot say what is wrong.  She loves animals and tells a story of how she rescued a stray dog, and eventually found its owners so it could go back home.  She feels sorry when she walks past the pet shop and sees animals in 'rotten little cells'.

'You do not see yourself in sports?'

'I can't say that I'm a very big sports fan.  I never wanted to be a coach because I don't want to spend my life in the gym. On the other hand, studies cost money ... in general, if I could finish my career with dignity, finish Veterinary Academy, and then open a clinic, I would probably be the happiest person on earth.'

Update 16 May - Ksenia has posted a video of the fateful floor exercise where she injured her ankle - http://youtu.be/5VPjKQuVU1g