posted on: http://www.sovsport.ru/news/text-item/551664 on 13 Septmeber 2012
Orignally written in Russian by I. Rasskazova
English translated and edited by catts

While talking to reporters of “Soviet Sport”, the first ever two-times Olympic champion in the individual competition of rhythmic gymnastics admitted that criticism of the Ukrainian national team coach, who often utters unflattering remarks on the Russian gymnasts … has helped her a lot.

Q: Zhenya, can you easily tell people what you think: friends, people who are close to you?
A: You cannot speak behind people’s back. It is an insult. People will then listen the unpleasant things from others. If something is not appropriate, you can always tell the person. I hope he will understand it correctly. I hope that the relationship does not get changed. It can only get better.

Q: And are you so mindful about criticism? When they tell you right in the face, “you’re not right.”
A: It can never be loveliness all the time. Though I would like to be the best among all. It is nice to hear nice things. But criticism makes a person stronger. And the critique must be extracted to become something positive. I had one situation that turned out likewise: I was reading an interview about Irina Deriugina, a trainer from Ukraine. It happened that she criticized specifically and directly. I can say thanks for such criticism. Because I was looking at my shortcomings, which she pointed out, and I tried to correct them.

Q: Do you agree that Deriugina is often bias. In the sense that she does not like the Russian national team gymnasts. Should it be treated as objective criticism?
A: Any criticism is something. We cannot say what she does is right. Likewise, we cannot say she is wrong. It’s her decision to say so. No one dares to condemn her. Each person says what he/she thinks. Of course, bad things happen. She said Inna Zhukova was like a grey mouse, and I – the ugly duck. However, the Olympics showed differently. But it is her opinion, and no one can judge. She has a wonderful school, wonderful girls.
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中文翻譯: 李悠悠

在接受“苏联体育“采访的时候，历史上第一位两次获得个人艺术体操项目金牌的卡娜耶娃谈到，乌克兰总教练的批评对她个人的帮助很大。
问：Zhenya，你会把你的心里的想法轻易告诉别人么？包括朋友，亲近的人？
答：不能背着一个人说关于他的想法，如果这个人通过第三方得知了这些话，他会觉得很受侮辱。如果我对某人感到不满，那么我会直接告诉他。我希望他能正确看待我的话。我希望我们的关系不会因此而改变，而会变得更好。

问：您如何看待对您的批评？如果有人当面指出——你做错了呢？
答：人无完人。人总是喜欢听舒服的话。但批评能让一个人变得更强壮。从每一个批评中都要尝试找到善意正面的东西。我曾遇到过这样一个情况：我看了一篇Irina Deriugina的采访。她对我说了一些很具体的批评的话。我要对她说特别的感谢。因为从这些批评中我看到了自己的不足，并且我开始尝试去改正它们。

问：您是否同意，Deriugina是一个很有偏见的人，对于俄罗斯代表队的运动员们她总是很刻薄。你认为她的批评客观吗？
答：任何批评都不是凭空的。我不能说她的行为是完全毫无指摘的。她说的都是她想说的话。没有任何人能为此而指责她。每个人有权利说自己想说的话。当然，这些话可能会很刺耳。比如她评价Inna Zhukova 说她是隻灰鼠，而我是一隻丑小鸭。但奥运会的结果显然给了她回击 (指北京奧運)。但这是她的观点，没人能评判它。她的学校非常棒，她的姑娘们 (選手) 也非常棒。