Angelina Melnikova gave this interview to Alexandra Solovyeva and Timur Ganeev of Izvestia shortly before leaving for the European Championships. She talked about her goals for the competition, overcoming the lack of confidence, changing her routines, books and international friendships.
Q: What goals do you set for yourself for the European Championships?
A: I rarely set goals for myself. I have tasks. At this stage, my main task is consistency. To consistently go out and consistently perform my routine. I do a lot of elements in training, I go through my routines again and again – I want to perform the same way in competitions. I always want to compete new and difficult elements. Which ones – I prefer to keep it a secret until I’m able to show them on the competition floor. But, of course, it depends on my actual abilities and health in order not to get injured.
Q: But anyone has just bad days sometimes…
A: And I’m not an exception. But I know myself so well. For example, when I can’t do some element time after time, I know – I just need to leave it and switch to something else. And to come next morning with a fresh mind and do it.
Q: Some athletes need constant control and criticism from their coach. For others, it’s easier to motivate themselves. How would you describe your training style?
A: I definitely prefer to be left by myself. When I’m left alone, there’s an opportunity to dig into myself, to figure things out, to sit and think – this self-analysis really helps.
Q: You had a row of unsuccessful performances after the Rio Olympics. How did you manage to find the strength to come to competitions again and again?
A: After those unsuccessful performances, I had a dive in my motivation. But thanks to the help of my coaches and the support of my loved ones who never left me and kept working with me even when nothing went right, I always came back. Only because of that I didn’t lose my work rhythm.
Q: How did it happen that you first kept making mistakes at World Cups but then you triumphed in Birmingham and in Kazan? Did something change in your training strategy?
A: We didn’t make any special strategic changes, my work structure has long been established. It’s just that at some point, I was able to do it. And with that inspiration, new results kept coming. The most important thing ended up being the fact that I began feeling more confident. Nothing motivates you as much as the feeling of gratitude to the coaches, overwhelming you when you step onto the medal podium.
Q: You turned 18 years old on July 18. Did growing up help you to rethink the importance of the sport in your life?
A: No, I don’t feel that yet. For me, I’m staying the same as I was a few years ago. I was able to rethink something after those failures we talked about. And especially after the rise that followed them.
Q: What is your favorite gymnastics memory from the recent years?
A: I guess the victory on floor at the 2017 European Championships. I haven’t expected it at all because I started my competition there very unsuccessfully. And then, at the critical moment, when I’d already lost all hope, there’s such a burst of emotions. When you see your last name in the first place on the scoreboard – these are unbelievable feelings. The fact that I really liked the “Romeo and Juliette”-themed routine which I did at the time also played a role. Although I had to change the routine this year. With the difficult tumbling I’m doing now it would be very hard to do the old choreography. The routine that I’m doing now helps me compete more consistently and I like it no less.
Q: What do you like in floor routines the most?
A: My favorite element is a full twisting layout. Because it’s new. And I also like the feeling when I’m just twisting and flying [laughs]. I’d like an opportunity to do a routine to something cheerful and cool – like the songs by Maroon 5.
Q: What apparatus you can call your favorite?
A: Beam, even despite my complicated relationship with it in the past. Especially since I changed the routine and now it’s even more interesting for me to do. We took out the layout which added consistency to the routine and gave me more confidence. I even had a mental block because I kept falling on it. That’s why my coach and I decided to just remove it even though we had to replace it with a less difficult element.
Q: What did you think about the announcement of the four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles that she’s going to return to competitions already in July? And who do you think are your main competitors in Europe?
A: Our main competitors are always the Americans. We’re at about the same level as the European gymnasts. The one who will be more consistent will win. We have all the chances to win gold. We try to communicate with the foreign gymnasts at competitions even though we aren’t in close contact afterwards – I don’t like writing messages. For example, I usually talk to Morgan Hurd from the U.S.
Regarding Simone Biles, I really like her. She does her tumbling so well, her whole gymnastics is so airy. Of course, it will be interesting to see how she’ll start competing again after such a long break.
Q: Some say that “life imitates art”. Can you say the same about gymnastics?
A: The sports are a whole different world with something deeply personal, with its own charm. When you watch a really good movie or read a book you want to change your attitude towards life and towards gymnastics. That’s why it’s important for me to focus on self-development. I’m always drawing and reading – mostly foreign literature. I’m very inspired by the books of Ray Bradbury and Erich Maria Remarque. But at the same time, I first of all thin about the practices and the gym since it’s a huge part of my life.
Q: Did you watch the FIFA World Cup? Who did you cheer for?
A: Of course, I watched it, it was very interesting. I was cheering for Russia. In general, I was never a football fan but now the World Cup took place in our country. I was surprised when some people said that our team was “so-so” – I kept believing in them. In the end, our guys played great and our whole team was very happy for them.
Photo: Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation
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