'Aliya has a complete set - I only have silver and bronze' - Interview with Rio-bound gymnast Maria Paseka

Maria Paseka, courtesy of the RGF

Interview by Mikhail Chesalin

I have a dream - an Olympic gold medal

- Maria, you missed the European Championships, because the coaching staff decided to give you a rest.  What was the problem and is everything OK now?

- At Russian Championships, I hurt my back, so during Europeans I had to go to hospital to relieve the pain.  But now everything is in order.

- You were unhappy with your result in the Russia Cup?

- Because I fell on the vault. You already know that even at Europeans, I can't win with a fall.  At Russia Cup I won because of my D score advantage, but I was unhappy with my execution.

- What went wrong?

- I'm just not yet in optimal shape. I'm in good shape, but not in the way you have to be before Worlds, Olympics or Europe. But for Rio, everything will be all right.

- Four years ago, you went to your first Olympics as almost a novice with hardly any titles to your name.  Now you are one of the leaders of the Russian national team - is this a pressure?

-  To be honest, nothing has changed.  I feel about the same.

- Your pre-Olympic emotions and expectations are no different from those that you experienced in 2012?

- I do not really remember. I was so euphoric after my successful performances that I probably only woke up again in 2014 (smiles).

- Last year you won Worlds, European Championships, the Universiade. Do you feel that you are making progress?

- Yes, I do. But that was 2015. Well done, I have taken my congratulations and now that's all over. Next year, next season - that's quite another matter. Now you need to think as though you have nothing, start all over again from scratch.

- In the world championship Russian team finished fourth in the team competition. Why did it happen and what to do to get into the top three?

I remember that the first time she was all pale, and I Ksenia Afanasyeva bother. Olympics do not compare with the world championships and Evropy.- We must not fall, that's all. We had a fall on the uneven bars and balance beam - that rob us of a place in the top three. You just need to perform at their level, then we are in the top three.

- What can you advise a friend on the team, who go to the Olympics for the first time?

- The main thing - do not worry when you exit the platform. I remember the very first time was all pale and I Ksenia Afanasyeva bother. Olympics do not compare with the world and European championships - it is something special. When the audience shout, there is impossible to hear something. We need only listen to themselves. And no need to worry.

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- You're at the Olympic Games and Universiade more than once were part of one big team of Russia. Do keep in touch with the representatives of other sports?

- We talk, for example, girls who are engaged in artistic gymnastics. But they base elsewhere. Someone have friends from swimming. But mostly we communicate with our boys. At the Universiade talked with the brother of Seda, which is engaged in combat sports. We have long been friends, he knows us all. We have not seen each other, walk up together. He came, rooting for us. But again, we talked and dispersed - such that all the time, no.

- In Brazil, a lot of problems: favela, Zika virus - not afraid to fly?

I, like any athlete has a dream - a gold medal of the Olympics. Aliya here is a complete set, and yet I have only silver and bronza.- Honestly, I'm afraid. More bite someone ... is terrible. I do not understand, why spend the Olympics in such countries. What if something really happens? It would be better spent in Moscow. Or in Sochi again (smiles).

- Your preparation before the Olympics somehow change?

- No, the preparation practically unchanged. The only thing - a greater emphasis placed on the fact that we do not fall. If we fall, you can either continue or stop, but if coordination is not considered. We try to work so that it was no fall, no misfires, no errors. At the Olympics because all can solve one hundredth.

- What do expect from yourself at the Olympics in Brazil?

- I do not want to think. I do not know. I, like any athlete has a dream - a gold medal of the Olympics. Aliya here has a complete set (laughs), I do not only silver and bronze. I would like to gold, of course. But it all they want. So I will train hard, and then we'll see what happens.

Source: "Cup" version of Report an error

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