Nellie Kim has visited Minsk in the course of its preparation for the European Games. She has been named one of the ambassadors of the Games and also participated in the drawing of lots. She talked to Sport Panorama about Belorussian gymnastics and European Games.
Q: Congratulations on being chosen as an ambassador of the 2019 European Games!
A: Honestly, it was a pleasant surprise which, of course, made me really happy. I accepted this offer without hesitation. For me, it’s a great honor and responsibility. I think I will be able to manage this pleasant mission.
Q: Can we say that Minsk-Arena [where gymnastics competitions will take place at the European Games] and gymnastics are made for each other?
A: No doubt. It’s one of the best sports complexes in the world, I’m saying it without any doubts. In my whole life, I’ve only seen one or two arenas which had two full sets of equipment and two floors for women’s and men’s competitions. The arena is very functional, the participants have a place to warm up, there are many training gyms.
Q: Can you say a few words about the performance of the Belorussian women’s team at the European Games test event?
A: There are quite decent girls. Alistratava competed not as well as we expected, especially on bars. But even the most decorated gymnasts are not safe from declines. Anastasia showed good routines at the European Championships in Szczecin. I’m sure that by the time of the competitions in June she will get in good shape again which will allow her to represent her country well at the multi-sport competition.
Q: What do you think about Valery Kolodinsky becoming the new head coach of the women’s team?
A: He proved by the results of his pupils that he can prepare World Champions. Under his guidance, Elena Piskun conquered this summit twice. A great athlete from Bobruysk who had no equals on vault in 1993 and who celebrated victory on bars in 1996. Valery is a very technically knowledgeable coach.
Q: But technical training is not everything…
A: Of course, psychological compatibility with the team is important as well. Creating a warm working environment in the communication between the athletes and the coaches and between the coaches themselves is one of the main goals of the new leadership on the way to new achievements. If all that will be done, they can work. If not, then, alas. Even great coaches who weren’t able to create a good climate on the team failed. Of course, I wish Valery Kolodynsky the best.
Q: Judging by the results of our WAG gymnasts at major competitions, we probably shouldn’t expect big victories from the women…
A: True, hoping for immediate top results from the Belorussian senior women’s team would be too optimistic. That is why, in my opinion, the head coach should work on building a preparation system that will allow a new generation of gymnasts to make a statement at the Olympic Games in Paris or Los Angeles. The girls that we have now are good at a certain level but it’s hard to plan for medals at Worlds or victories at continental championships for now. Although Anastasia Alistratava’s fourth place gives hope.
Q: You visit the capital often, what did you think about the city this time?
A: It’s clean, convenient, very logically planned. When talking to me, almost all visitors praise Pobediteley Avenue, which people here informally call an athletic avenue. Constructions for both fans of healthy lifestyle and professionals were built here in order to host various big competitions. The buildings that host sports federation are also eye-pleasing, I haven’t seen anything like that in other countries. Nowadays, when hosting international competitions, it’s very important to create proper conditions for the athletes. There’s a high demand for large-scale complexes that not only have a large arena for the competition itself but also spacious warm-up halls. It’s important that the hotels are nearby and the athletes don’t need to waste time on commuting to practices and competitions. Everything’s near and that’s very good.
Q: The city is gradually transforming for the European Games…
A: Minsk has always been very beautiful. But now, when it’s decorated with the posters inviting spectators to the European Games, with the images of the mascot – beautiful fox cub Lesik – it’s even better. Although, if more posters and banners could be added, especially on the way from the airport to the city, it would be even more interesting. The streets of the capital please the eye because of their cleanliness. You can see that the municipality is cleaning them up and by the time of the European Games, Minsk will be even more attractive.
Q: Sad news recently came from Grodno where a famous coach Renald Knysh who brought Olga Korbut to fame passed away.
A: Indeed, very sad news. Of course, this is a loss for our artistic gymnastics school. It’s very upsetting and painful when such great coaches leave us. A few years ago Viktor Khomutov died, now Renald Knysh passed away… Great mentors in their gymnastics knowledge who were fulfilling their fantasies in the sport.
Q: Artistic gymnastics have also been touched by major scandals. An example is the case of a US team doctor Larry Nassar who has been sentenced to 175 years for abuse of athletes.
A: Unfortunately, the whole gymnastics world is having a hard moment right now. But we have to get through this to get better. It’s good that we’re talking about the issues with the specialists who behave inappropriately, for example, allow themselves all sorts of liberties, including yelling at their pupils or hitting them. After all, the times have changed. We don’t live in Victorian England where children were all flogged for any offense. It’s necessary to look for new approaches. But there’s another side as well. Each of such blatant cases needs to be considered as delicately as possible, rendering a verdict when indisputable evidence is collected. This is especially true for competent specialists who proved their place in the sport. You can’t, figuratively speaking, take a scythe and start to mow everything on the gymnastics field indiscriminately. This can lead to irreversible consequences.
Q: It’s clear that in recent years the heart of artistic gymnastics is beating outside of Europe…
A: Let’s meet in about four years, before the Games in Paris. I’m sure you won’t be saying this then. What is happening in the US when male coaches are frankly afraid of working with girls is a big blow to our sport. Practically all coaches from the former USSR, while keeping their clubs in the country across the ocean, nevertheless, signed contracts with gymnastics federations from other countries and are generously sharing their secrets. So, I’m sure the European countries haven’t yet said their last words in our sport. And, of course, you shouldn’t discount the representatives of the Asian continent.
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