An interview by Sergei Lisin for Sports Express
Google translate.
"The young gymnasts have more experience now." Listunova on preparing for the European Championships qualifiers.
Gymnast Listunova spoke about her preparations for the European Championships qualifiers.
Sergei Lisin
The Olympic champion is ready to return to the international arena after World Gymnastics lifted sanctions.
On May 18, World Gymnastics reinstated Russia's flag at international competitions. This immediately opened the door for Viktoria Listunova to compete at the World Challenge Cup and World Championships, which will be held in the Netherlands this fall. However, eligibility for the continental championship remained in question, with European Gymnastics expected to make a decision. She didn't have to wait long—on the morning of May 24, news broke that the European federation had also accepted Russian athletes under the flag.
For Viktoria, this means that she, the last Russian European champion in the individual all-around, has the opportunity to travel to Zagreb from August 8-17 for the continental championship. However, to do so, she must first qualify for the national championships, which will be held in Kaluga at the end of June. She spoke with Sport-Express about her current situation in her life.
How did you react to the news about the flag's return: first from World Gymnastics, and then from the European Federation?
Of course, it was very unexpected, starting with the first news—about being allowed to compete at World Gymnastics. We were told that it would be a one-time event, and then they'd let us in. But I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. We'd just arrived at the training center, training had begun, and the coaches were telling us that the news had come out about being allowed to compete under the flag. And then came the news about being allowed to compete under the European Federation, which wasn't as difficult for me as it had been with neutral status. I submitted my application and waited and waited and waited to see if it would be approved. And then I received the rejection letter, and correspondence began, and more waiting. It was more nerve-wracking back then. Now it's much calmer.
When the news broke about being accepted to World Gymnastics competitions—these are the "challenges" that are still on the calendar—didn't you start thinking about where else you could compete?
"The focus was already on the Russian Championships; it's one of the most important competitions, and all our energy and motivation are focused there. And after the Russian Championships, the federation and coaching council will decide where to send everyone. Of course, I and the other athletes will do everything possible to secure spots on the European team, and then the World Championships."
Prioritizing clean execution
— What are your plans for the competition in Kaluga? What's your current status?
— My preparation is going well, I'm getting into competitive shape. I'll do everything I can to make the team.
— What exactly will you be doing at the Russian Championships? What events?
Most likely, only two events—uneven bars and beam. The main focus is on these two events. We're currently looking for ways to refine the beam routine so that nothing bothers us and doesn't provoke injuries.
— You're not working on the vault and floor?
— I am. We're trying to gradually increase the load and not forget about them.
When you talk about changing your beam routine, are you talking about the dismount or elements within the routine?
— Mainly about the dismount; we'll most likely be changing it. We're currently considering various options.
— Speaking of numbers, at the Russian Cup on uneven bars, you had a baseline of 6.5. Will that remain, or have you found a way to add a tenth or two?
— Of course, it can be made more challenging, but right now, the priority is clean execution, the second mark. I'm trying to work on my dismount to solve the problem with the leg spread during the twist.
— Same question about beam—have you calculated the baseline yet?
— Right now, I don't have a clear understanding. I first need to figure out what exactly I can do and what I can add. You can calculate anything, but the important thing is that you can actually perform it consistently enough to compete with that set of elements. First, you need to put together a routine that you can actually perform—that would already be a certain success.
There's a certain amount of nervousness.
— Speaking of Europe: it's a cruel irony that you won the previous European Championships in Basel in 2021, where we last competed under the flag. On the current team, only you and Angelina Melnikova have experience competing under the flag. Has that experience worn off in five years?
— I think the younger girls who've competed in World Cup stages and were in Indonesia for the World Championships have more fresh experience now. That's definitely fresh experience. It's not that they have more, but mine has been purely internal for the last five years. So, it's all over again.
— "A new start" is always nerve-wracking.
— Of course, there's nervousness. There's added responsibility, people are pinning their hopes on me, and at the competition, your experience won't matter. You simply have to show your best, because it's not just about your own result, but also about the team's—qualifying for the World Championships and then the Olympics. In that sense, yes, there's nervousness. But we work, we try, we slog away at it.
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