Elena Eremina gave an interview about her gymnastics career and comeback to elite gymnastics after a break.
Q: At what age did you start gymnastics?
A: At three years old. But I first started in rhythmic gymnastics, I went there for about 3 or 4 months. As a kid, I was quite plump and such a body type was not suitable for rhythmic gymnastics. Due to various reasons, I left that class. A bit later, my first coach was recruiting kids for artistic gymnastics. I was invited there and since then, I’m doing artisitc gymnastics.
Q: Is it correct to say that gymnastics is an early-development sport in which athletes should already show results at 14-15 years old?
A: Partially. I can say that artistic gymnastics is an early-development sport for girls, because, in general, you have to have results already at 15y years old. You peak at 16 and you’ll continue doing what you’ve learned until the end of your career. Later, you either improve the technique or change the composition. Many girls leave the sport quite early. For guys, it’s the opposite, they only approach the peak by the time they’re 20 years old, so that’s why they can continue doing gymnastics for a long time. For them, everything’s starting at 20-25, while many girls already retire by 25.
Q: When do you have time to study with such a busy schedule?
A: When you’re doing elite sports, the studies, naturally, get sidelines because you simply can’t manage to combine them. But I think it’s all in your hands and, of course, it’s necessary to study. You have to try to combine it somehow. I managed. It was very hard when I was in school. I graduated high school and am now in the fourth year of university. I try to combine it [with the sport]. Studying is very important, I like learning, but it’s very-very hard to combine it with the sport. Many choose just the sport, but not me.
Q: At the 2017 European Championships, you became second on bars and fourth in the all-around. Were you upset that you didn’t manage to win two medals there?
A: It seems like it was recently but, at the same time, four years have passed already. Now it feels like it was a long time ago. Yes, I got upset then, I cried a lot and was anxious because I made major errors. Without those errors, I would have been able to medal [in the all-around]. Naturally, I got very upset. I was happy with the silver on bars, of course, but I was incredibly distressed because of the all-around results.
Q: A few months later at the World Championships, you won two medals. Was that the most successful competition of your career?
A: Yes, the 2017 World Championships in Montreal were a successful competition for me, an important one and my favorite. I had been preparing for it for a long time. Half a year after the European Championships, I had been overcoming myself and enduring a lot. This was my most successful major competition. Of course, I could have achieved more there but, after all, it was my first World Championships. And I was the only one out of the whole team to win two medals. Overall, for me, this competition was very successful.
Q: Were you very nervous then? After all, it was your first World Championships?
A: I was quite nervous. I think you get nervous before every competition but I was well prepared them. I had well-composed routines and I was about 90% confident in them. Of course, I was incredibly nervous, but I managed.
Q: How strong is the competition on the national team now?
A: I haven’t been on the national team for two years now, so I can’t talk about the competition, I don’t know everything. Judging by their results, I can say that there’s competition but not a lot. I think there used to be more competition in the past. Now, it’s among 4 or 5 athletes, so that’s why I think it’s not very serious.
Q: How are people selected for the national team? What one needs to do to make it?
A: You have to have good routines. You have to compete them at the Russian Championships and, preferably, place first. Then you get noticed and invited. If you’re a well-known athlete already but not on the national team, you have to prove once again that you’re capable of being on the national team and deserve a place there. So, you have to have strong routines and show results. Only after that, you’ll be invited to the national team.
Q: In 2018, you had a serious injury. How did the recovery process go?
A: Unfortunately, in 2018, right after the successful competition season and the World Championships, I had to have quite a serious spinal surgery. I think it was necessary because there was serious pain and damage. I’d never though that I would get to surgery, especially a spinal one. It was serious but, unfortunately, it happened this way. The recovery process was incredibly long. I would say that it’s only ending now, three years later. It was the hardest period of my life. It’s very hard to think about it because I’ve been through a lot.
Q: How are you feeling now?
A: Now is the best I’ve felt throughout the whole post-surgery recovery period. This is the time I’m finding harmony with myself, when my mind starts hearing my body. And it is all connected, which is important, since I had a complete restart both mentally and physically. Only now, i’m feeling some sort of a balance in my body, but many things are still very difficult for me. Now I’m trying to set my mind to right and necessary thoughts.
Q: What do you pay special attention to in training?
A: Physical conditioning because I’d rested for a long time. I took a break from gymnastics over the summer. So, now, I’m recovering again and putting special attention to physical conditioning, so that later I can move to apparatuses.
Q: Which apparatus feels the easiest for you?
A: As experience has shown, bars and beam. I guess these are among my favorite events. But since I’m a World medalist on bars, I’ll call this one my favorite. Although, I like floor too, because I like dancing. Generally, I’m an all-arounder, but I also used to have strong routines on individual events. I’m saying “used to” because I’m currently not at the level I was at in the past.
Q: Do you plan to go to the 2024 Olympics?
A: I’m not making any plans regarding that. After the surgery, I don’t think about the future, because it happened so suddenly that it crossed out all my hopes and goals. That’s why I don’t make any plans now. I’ll say that I have a wish to go to the Olympics but I can’t guarantee anything at the moment. I want to come back to the elite sport and try it again, and then we’ll see what happens. Of course, I have this goal in my head, but it’s only in my thoughts for now. We’ll see how things go.
Q: When does the selection for the Paris Games start?
A: Most likely, it’s already happening. The selection for the Olympics doesn’t happen a month or two before its start, it lasts the whole quad. That is, now the three years start during which [the coaches] watch the gymnasts and start designing routines. During the three years, the team is formed and a year or half a year before the start, it’s already clear who will compete at the Games, who won’t, and who is still in contention and has a chance to go to the Olympics.
Q: And until what age most female gymnasts continue their career?
A: Until 23-25 years old. Of course, there are some who are competing at 26 and 30 years old, but they’re already not at the previous level. For some, the peak is over by 20 years old, for some – by 24. After that, people retire. It’s either because of injuries or some other reasons, they’re different for everyone.
Q: Did you watch the Tokyo Olympics? What were the most memorable moments?
A: Yes, of course, I watched the Olympics and rooted for our girls, for Gelya Melnikova. The team gold for our gymnasts was memorable, of course. It was a very unexpected and happy situation for our sport.
Q: What did you think about the fact that in rhythmic gymnastics, an Israeli gymnast who had a major mistake won the first place in Tokyo?
A: I try to watch other sports as well, including rhythmic gymnastics. Regarding this situation, I can’t comment because I don’t know the sport well enough. I don’t have a right to evaluate the performances of our or foreign gymnasts Perhaps, the Israeli athlete was stronger even with this major mistake or perhaps she wasn’t. I don’t comment on the matter. Of course, for us, our girls will always be the best, but in this situation, I can’t objectively evaluate anyone.
Q: What do you think about making changes to the judging system? What would you propose?
A: My coach Vera Iosifovna Kiryashova is an international Brevet judge. She constantly suggests changes and proposals regarding the new rules. Vera Iosifovna is trying to create good and beautiful gymnastics. I learn a lot from her and have my own thoughts. But I can’t propose anything because the fate of judging is not affected by my voice.
Photo: Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation
