Emin Garibov did a Q&A with Match TV, answering “naive” questions that gymnasts get a lot, such as why so many gymnasts are short and how many pull-ups a gymnast can do. With some questions, Garibov disproves stereotypes that are common among the general public and with some, he falls victim to the stereotypes, like in the question about the Korbut flip.
Q: Why are most gymnasts short?
A: It’s natural selection by the sport. Many say that gymnastics stunts your growth. That’s a myth! Short gymnasts have shorter muscles and limbs that work as levers. That allows them to do elements that require power and strength easier. The twisting is faster and so is the reaction. There are some tall gymnasts but they’re an exception. There are very few of them. Usually, tall gymnasts can’t be all-arounders, they are specialists on a certain event – on pommel horse or high bar, where good amplitude is required. Their height helps on those events.
Q: Do gymnasts do the Korbut flip in training?
A: This element has been banned for a long time. I doubt any men did the Korbut flip but for women, it’s banned because it’s a very dangerous element. Maybe, some tried it just for themselves, but not at a regular practice or preparation for competitions.
Q: Do all gymnasts have a six-pack?
A: Without exception. Gymnastics is the only sport that develops all groups of muscles. Gymnasts can be fat only during the non-competition season. We’re never been punished for extra weight. Everyone decides for themselves what is the weight they’re comfortable working in. I don’t know how it is in other countries, though. If you gain weight and can’t work with it, then you don’t progress and just focus on losing extra kilos in order to get back to the regular training. Extra weight сan lead to additional injuries.
Q: Are the legs of a gymnast weaker than the arms?
A: That depends. If a gymnast specializes in leg events, then he will have stronger legs. But everything needs to be balanced. In the weightlifting gym, we work on both arms and legs to the same extent. You can’t develop something more. On each event, you need strong legs and arms. Everything has to be proportionate.
Q: What do artistic gymnasts think about rhythmic gymnastics and which sport do they consider more difficult?
A: Artistic and rhythmic gymnastics are connected sports, so we think positively about it. Regarding which sport is more difficult, it’s like asking what is tastier – an apple or a pear. My personal opinion is that artistic gymnastics is more difficult. Perhaps, some will disagree. there are six events in artistic gymnastics for men and four for women. In rhythmic gymnastics, there’s one floor and a set of athletic and dance elements.
Q: Do gymnasts get afraid during dismounts or vaults?
A: Only fools don’t get afraid. The fear is always there. But, generally, you are afraid when you’re learning new elements, trying to do them for the first time and not understanding how to do them correctly. Of course, there’s no fear during a well-trained routine. You already understand what your body is supposed to do.
Q: Are the gymnast’s performances affected by external factors – in which country, which arena, and on which apparatuses the competition takes place?
A: Absolutely. The apparatuses and arenas are different everywhere. To adapt, the teams always come to competitions in advance. For that, there’s a day of podium training. This is when all the teams imitate the competition before the qualification starts. Podium training gives an opportunity to test the apparatuses before the competition.
Q: On which event a judge has the most opportunities to give a gymnast a higher or a lower score depending on their personal attitudes towards the athlete?
A: Our sport is partially subjective. But this doesn’t really happen in gymnastics. Right now, a lot of work is being done with the judges. Everything is strictly regulated. If one of the judges gives a score that’s too high or too low, the event supervisors who oversee the judges can give that judge a yellow card. If unfair scoring happens again, the judge is removed from the competition. So, scoring too high or too low on purpose became less possible.
Q: Does every gymnast have a situation in their career when they think they were unfairly judged?
A: I think so. Everyone had such moments. It’s just human factor. Sometimes, a gymnast things they did better than they were scored. Although, the opposite also happened – you think you did badly but it was scored well. It all happens because during the routine, a gymnast can’t compare their experience about performing the elements to the outside picture – how they are seen by the judges.
Q: How many pull-ups a gymnast can do?
A: When they first meet you, people really like to ask: “Oh, a gymnast! How many pull-ups can you do?” But we don’t count maximum pull-ups in training. That happens only in the beginning, when kids come to classes, and start doing pull-ups in order to become stronger. Professional gymnasts don’t do that anymore. I guess, we can do like 30 pull-ups.
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