This week, it’s been announced that Aliya Mustafina started working with the junior Russian national WAG team as one of the coaches. In an interview to the Russian Olympic Committee, she talked about her new job.
A: Yes, I’m working with the junior team. I can’t yet talk about it in details because I’ve only started a couple of days ago.
Q: The team is at a training camp at Round Lake. What exactly are you doing there?
A: Helping, giving advice. You can say I do everything. At the moment, there aren’t that many gymnasts at Round Lake. Proper work will start during the next camp.
Q: Athletes of what age are you working with?
A: Mostly, it’s girls born in 2007 and 2008 but there are a few from 2006 as well.
Q: Which experienced coaches will you work with?
A: Evgeny Anatolyevich Grebyonkin [the head coach of the junior team] will come to the next camp. But it doesn’t mean I’m now working completely on my own. I definitely ask Anatoly Fyodorovich Rodionenko for advice.
Q: At the same time, you’re on the reserve national team, that is, you’re an active athlete, right?
A: I’m not talking about it or commenting on it.
Q: How were you preparing for coaching? How were you led towards it?
A: I graduated from the Institute of Physical Culture where I studied gymnastics coaching. In addition, I spent quite a few years in this sport, so there was hardly “leading towards it” or “teaching” me…
Q: But being an athlete and working as a coach are different things.
A: Absolutely. But I tried doing this before. I helped and gave advice to younger girls with which I trained and competed together.
Q: What are your first impressions from this new job?
A: Too little time has passed to talk about it. I need to go through at least a couple of camps. The only thing was that not all coaches and gymnasts were able to come to Round Lake for various reasons. The rest left only positive impressions.
Q: How is the camp going considering the coronavirus restrictions?
A: It’s all very strict at Round Lake. We don’t leave the camp’s territory. When arriving, we all have to be tested and can only start training if the tests are negative.
Q: Aren’t you bored inside?
A: Those who are looking for useful things to do will find them. There’s internet, so you can work and learn.
