Irina Nadiuk was preparing Nazar Chepurnyi for the Tokyo Olympics – Ukraine’s star at the 2019 Junior Worlds turned senior in 2020, right in time for Tokyo. However, with the Games’ postponement and Chepurnyi’s untimely injuries, she ended up going to the Olympics with another student of hers – Illia Kovtun. Kovtun is the 2020 junior European AA champion and 2021 European AA medalist. He doesn’t have much of a chance for a medal in the all-around final, the only individual final he qualified to, but this should be a great experience to prepare him for future big competition.
Prior to the Games, Nadiuk talked to Tablo.ua about her and Kovtun going to their first Olympics.
Q: Tell me, how long was your road to the Olympics?
A: Before, I never set personal goals regarding the Olympic Games, especially the 2020 ones. My older gymnasts didn’t have potential for such a big competition. And Nazar Chepurnyi who was born in 2002 could have made it to the Games in 2020 but he was injured and after surgery, it took him a long time to recover. Illia Kovtun was too young. My goal was to work selflessly and help the whole Ukrainian national team prepare for the national championships, international competitions, and the Olympics. But it so happened that the 2020 Games were postponed until 2021 and gymnasts born in 2003 were allowed to compete here. Ilyukha and I had the goal to help the older gymnasts prepare for the biggest competition of their life but also to continue focus on our own improvements and achieving our goals.
Q: How important the Games are for you as a coach and for Illia as an athlete?
A: For me, personally, the Olympic Games aren’t the end of the world. In my work as a personal coach and as a senior coach of the Ukrainian national team, I’ve been to all the junior competitions that brought medals – from the nationals, to the European Championships, Worlds, EOYF, and Youth Olympics. I already have gymnasts winning medals at senior European Championships and World Cups. Now together with my athletes I need to get to medals at senior Worlds and Olympics. I guess, with all the routine work, I haven’t quite realized yet that my gymnast who I’ve been working with for 14 years made the Ukrainian team despite all the difficulties. Thanks to productive and systematic work! First of all, I’m happy for my student, I’m proud of him. For me, he’s already a winner. Of course, it’s stressful and full of responsibility for Illia. As soon as he learned that he’d be eligible for these Olympics, he set a goal for himself to not just help older gymnasts on the national team but also create a decent level of competition for him. It’s a very important competition for Illia.
Q: How is the preparation going now?
A: Illia is working hard, according to the plan. There were some changes but, it seems, we are managing them well. Right now we’re mostly going through routines in morning practices and work on specific elements and connections in the afternoon practices. Most national team gymnasts train with Illia and do the same training loads in order to help him and support him. The team spirit is very strong among our guys and they always work hard together and motivate each other.
Q: What about being stressed before the competition?
A: Stressed? Sure, like before every serious step in life. We’re humans, not robots! But we support each other, we’re supported by the whole team, by our families. This way, it becomes easier to deal with the stress and responsibility.
Q: What aims are you setting for Illia at the Olympics?
A: Aims? To try himself, to support the other guys on the team by doing his best. That is, to compete like he trained and ready, to give his maximum and to compete well. And then it’s God’s will.
Q: Is competing at the Olympic Games a big step forward for him?
A: Absolutely. He deserves it, he reached the Olympics through his calluses, his sweat and blood, fair and square. The Olympics are every athlete’s dream and for Illia it became a goal in 2020. With God’s help, he will be able to realize his maximum at this competition.
