Maria Paseka took a break from training in the beginning of 2020 but is now considering a comeback. She resumed training at her home gym and talked about her plans to the media.
Q: Valentina Aleksandrovna Rodionenko said you’re coming back. Is it really true?
A: You know, I want to, of course. But I can’t say that it’ll happen 100% because, after all, I’m not 18 or 19 years old, I’m 26. It’s actually really hard. I’ve been training hard for three days – not like before when I would come and… slack off, I guess. And it’s actually hard. My joints are aching as if I were a grandma, I’m serious. But it’s really nice that Valentina Aleksandrovna is waiting for me. I didn’t even know they were waiting for me. So, we’ll see. I don’t want to say that I’m definitely coming back because if it won’t work out, I will be a bit embarrassed in front of my fans.
Q: So, right now, you’re in a recovery mode, right? Is it too early to talk about competitions?
A: Yes, for now I’m training and recovering. Regarding competitions – no, they’re out of question for now.
Q: Are you restoring vault?
A: Yes. Yesterday, I did a layout on vault. If we’re evaluating it on a 10-point scale, for now, it’s 2 or 3 points.
Q: What made you think about coming back to the sport? Perhaps, watching the Tokyo Olympics?
A: Actually, yes. You know, I can tell you that I actually wanted to go to Tokyo. I expected to go there to compete for a gold medal but, unfortunately, at some point, I had too many competitions. I used to compete for the team and had fewer individual competitions. But at that moment, I had seven or eight competitions and it was hard for me both mentally and physically. My back bothered me, it was hard. Competition after competition, the same event at each of them. I was going nuts. So, I got very tired. Especially, at the World Cup in Australia where I finished eighth. For me, it was unbelievable – Paseka can be eighth? [laughs] It was really hard for me. Following all this, I had a slump, I literally gave up and took a break. Overall, I’m happy that I managed to get to the Olympic Games – in London and Rio. But, you know, when you’ve had a taste of it, it’s hard to stop. You want the very same medal which you’ve been constantly chasing.
Q: Do you regret not going to Tokyo?
A: Well, not quite… I’m sincerely happy for the girls. And I actually planned to retire after Tokyo. But I performed at the Nemov Show in Tolyatti recently and there were pictures of Paris on the screen. And, you know, it got me thinking – perhaps, it’s a sign?
Q: When you took a break, there were claims that it was pointless for you to continue since you only do one event. But, at the same time, there was Lilia Akhaimova on the gold-winning Tokyo team who also had only one event, your signature – vault. Was this hard for you? After all, you could have been there.
A: At first, I was really upset, it’s true. Indeed, I could’ve competed there and retire in peace. But I was emotional. Then I calmed down and though – what if I was actually there? It’s not for sure that things would have ended this way. Perhaps, had I been there, we wouldn’t have placed first. Perhaps, Simone wouldn’t have made a mistake and everything would have been different. As Marina Gennadyevna [Ulyankina] tells me – and it’s true – whatever happens is for the best. It was meant to be this way.
Q: Were you very surprised when Simone made a mistake on vault?
A: I read an interview – I want to emphasize that I’m saying it based on other sources – that Japan prohibited importing some drugs that she needs. I might agree with it to a degree because there should be a fair competition without any drugs. But, at the same time, as an athlete, I felt really sorry for her because I know full well what it means to make a mistake at a competition. She did 1.5-twists instead of 2.5, it’s very stressful.
Q: You’re saying that the competition should be fair. So, using psychoactive drugs, even with such a disease as Simone has, can give some advantages?
A: I don’t really know much about it. It’s just that in the past, people said that Simone has…
Q: ADHD.
A: Yes, yes. I once saw a feature about a boy, I think he lives in Moscow, with the same condition. And he wasn’t prescribed any medications.* But, I’ll say it again, I’m not a doctor and I can’t say for sure that there’s something wrong with Simone. It would be wrong of me. But many said this.
Q: You watched the women’s team final, of course.
A: Sure, how could I miss it? I’m sincerely happy for Gelya Melnikova. After the lockdown, she hasn’t missed a single competition. She really tried hard, she fought. After the Rio Olympics where she wasn’t able to even make one final, I told her, “You will get what you’re supposed to, just don’t get upset, it’s only your first Olympics. Be happy that you made it because not everyone can.” And everything worked out for her in the end. It’s a bit easier for the young girls. I’m really happy for them but they need to forget these Olympic Games now and keep working.
Q: I know what you mean. After the team final, I talked to Valentina Aleksandrovna about Vlada Urazova and Vika Listunova and she said that Paris will be their Olympics. I even argued with her, said that their Olympics were here.
A: No, it’s too early. The girls got really lucky with these Olympics – they didn’t feel what it is, didn’t feel what we felt in London and Rio. Especially in London, there were the loudest crowds. There, we would talk standing at the same distance as you and I now and we couldn’t hear each other. The hum, noise, fans yelling, emotions – these were the true Olympics. Tokyo was a verification competition.
Q: I felt that you would make such a comparison.
A: But it’s true. I think that the crowd noise would have scared them. Because when I heard it all in London before the competition, I became pale. Ksyusha Afanasyeva was slapping me and saying, “Paseka, wake up, I’m begging you!” We were on vault and I stood there white as a sheet.
Q: Regarding Gelya, it felt like almost everything in Tokyo was against her. And this situation with changing the floor music.
A: Oh yes. I was late to learn these news – I went to my dacha for the summer, the internet wasn’t working well there. And when I learned about the situation, I was afraid that Gelya wouldn’t do floor at all. It’s actually a very scary situation right before such an important competition.
Q: Talking about your comeback, do I understand it correctly that Paris-2024 is your goal?
A: Yes, it is a goal, actually. But I just can’t say for sure, as I used to, that I will definitely go and definitely for the win. I’m actually afraid now, the self-preservation instinct is working. When you’re young, you go and do something without much thinking. It’s a bit different now. Even the body becomes a bit different – especially after my back surgery. It’s all fine now but it feels different.
Q: But you want to go to Paris, right?
A: Well… Yes, I want to, of course. But, I guess, it’s my last push. Actually last. If I won’t be able to do it, then it will be over.
Q: Over after Paris?
A: After Paris – definitely over. It would be impossible to continue.
Q: If your training goes well, when do you need to start competing?
A: I think… Can you imagine, I forgot the order of our competitions? I think, the first one should be the Russian Championships. But I definitely won’t compete this year, no-no-no. I need to make my back and abs really strong, condition them well. After all, at competitions, a layout on vault won’t be enough.
*The situation with the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in Russia is dire. Most people with ADHD aren’t diagnosed and those who are diagnosed cannot access any ADHD drugs because they are all illegal in Russia.
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