Russian consumer bank VTB, sponsors of Russian gymnastics, have a nice interview with Viktoria Komova on their web pages where she affirms her desire to continue competing as long as possible, and says how hard it has been overcoming the psychological and physical effects of the injury and illness that have dogged her since 1992. There are some lovely pictures of Vika - I am showing a selection here. The Google translate is particularly poor, but I have lifted some of the highlights. I will link to more comprehensive translations if they become available.
I hope we can see Viktoria return as an all arounder - I think that is where her strength lies.
- Viktoria says she has the potential to add to her D scores, if not by half a point then at least by a few tenths. There is a possible new connection on bars. She mentions Kovacs flights as a possible development for women's UB - the Chinese are already doing this, but she herself is too tall to attempt it. And she has a good 'stock' of elements in her routines already.
- She remembers her mistake on vault in the all around, but doesn't beat herself up about it. She just uses it as learning, to help her improve her performance next time. What hurts more are the injuries she has suffered. After the Olympics, on the 28th December, she sprained an ankle. After her recovery, on the first day back in the gym, she was jogging and hurt the ankle again, ending up in plaster and on crutches. Coming back from that was so difficult - every night in bed, she would imagine going for a run in the morning, and turning the ankle again. She says it was scary and it was impossible to escape the fear for a long time.
- She says she wants to go to the next Olympics and keep competing as long as possible - as long as she has strength.
- The interviewer raises the case of Oksana Chusovitina who has now been competing since 1992 [note - the original erroneously says 'Fabrichnova' and mentions the 1992 Olympics - but of course we know they mean Chusovitina and that she began at world level in Indianapolis 1991/Goodwill Games 1990]. Vika wasn't even born in 1992! Viktoria says this is unique but if she still had the strength, why not?
- It was especially hard for her last year when, having recovered from her injury, she was ready to compete at the Russia Cup - and looking forward to the experience! Four days before the trip, she had packed her suitcase ... And then came down with meningitis, serious meningitis. So then she had to go into hospital ...
- She says that the Youth Olympics, where she won three gold medals, were a highlight for her and she was particularly delighted when (multiple World and Olympic champion pole vaulter) Elena Isinbayeva sought her out to congratulate her on her performances. She couldn't believe that Isinbayeva had watched her and wanted to congratulate her - it was a moment she will never forget. She saw Elena from a distance at the post-Olympics reception in the Kremlin, but didn't approach her, she imagines that Elena will now have forgotten about her ...
Born January 30, 1995 in Voronezh. Three-time Olympic champion Youth Games in Singapore, two-time silver medalist in London, World Champion 2011 on the uneven bars, European champion, 2012. Member of the Russian national team in gymnastics.
Source : http://vtbrussia.ru/sport/gymnastic/viktoriya-komova-navernoe-isinbaeva-menya-uzhe-sovsem-zabyla-/?utm_source=vk.com&utm_medium=public&utm_campaign=public
Good luck Vika - we will look forward to seeing you compete in Baku at the European Games in June.
Whether or not she will fully comeback I cannot say, but she truly is gem that we should cherish. Looking back to the Hungarian meet just last year, her simple routines with C and B elements were so gorgeous and more enjoyable to watch then many top level routines today. Across the board on all of the apparatus she just exudes beauty in the way she works.
ReplyDeleteWe're all pulling for you Vika, Good Luck! #Rio2016
Viktoria Komova is the best gymnast in the world. I'm sorry, but I would rather see Komova perform C, D and E elements beautifully and perfectly technical than Simone Biles' difficult but undisciplined gymnastics.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Simone's form is better than most elites, including Russians (see Aliya's twisting form, Nabs' scary vault form, etc.). Why you people are obsessed with picking on Simone, I will never understand.
DeleteSimone has never done a triple twist or a 3.5 twist tumbling pass. Only a half-out...Until we see her triple twist, then we cannot compare her form to Mustafina...Nabieva is retired (basically) and her double yerchenko is solid. Besides, I was talking about Viktoria Komova.
DeleteSeriously, Simones twisting may be better than most but that doesn't mean her leaps and especially her beam work is excellently executed. Komova, Mustafina and Ross all have 10x better form in that regards than Biles. As to why people pick on Biles so much is probably because she is the face of gymnastics right now.
DeleteI like to watch Vika and Simone. Trashing a great gymnast as a way to compliment another is sooooo classy.
Delete"but I would rather see Komova perform C, D and E elements beautifully and perfectly technical than Simone Biles' difficult but undisciplined gymnastics."
DeleteComparing two gymnasts is now equal to "bashing" and not classy according to these replies. Second, Biles has bad form on her layout with leg separation due to a slight knee bend. Third, Mustafina's twisting form is just one thing compare to Biles.
"Comparing two gymnasts is now equal to "bashing" and not classy according to these replies."
DeleteWow, Anon, talk about epically missing the point.
"Second, Biles has bad form on her layout with leg separation due to a slight knee bend."
...You can't be serious. See, this is why the original commenter is getting blowback (as they should). Besides, this article is about Komova, who never once competed against Biles. No need to drag Simone into this. Komova is a lovely gymnast and irrelevant and untrue slights towards other gymnasts don't need to be made to confirm that.
Things are getting a bit heated here. It is OK to make comparisons of the relative merits of gymnasts providing they are made in a fair and considered way.
DeletePlease could you all avoid labelling others' behaviour as 'bashing' etc, otherwise the thread will end up being about the comments and not the gymnastics, or worse will become personal.
Oh God.. this interview makes me think about the movie Peaceful Warrior.
ReplyDeleteFor that,I wish her to find the right coach and persons who help her enough to connect hersef again with the biggest love of her life.Her talented movements,routines .
You are a warrior Vika.We all are waiting you.
Best wishes!!
I hope Komova can make a World/Olympic team one day again. I Honestly don't think she will ever get back to 2012 form again but I still think she can be an All Arounder for Team Russia AND if she would focus on UB and BB she can absolutely challenge for medals there.
ReplyDeleteI'm wishing her the best. :) I've never been the biggest Komova fan but I always cheer for a gymnast making an earnest attempt to return to form. My hope is that fans will stop expecting her to pull off some miracle (the competitive AA ship has long since sailed) and just appreciate if/when she does come back as an event specialist with solid difficulty and good, consistent execution. So far she hasn't really shown that, but it's not too late to return as a reliable senior team member. I think...
ReplyDeleteI do find the trend of commenters trashing or passive-aggressively insulting other gymnasts in order to elevate another to be rather disturbing, if inevitable. It's catty, disrespectful and downright childish. Seriously, if you want to compare two gymnasts that's not a necessarily a bad thing, but there are ways to go about things and then there are ways to about things. -_-