The original author: Tonkacheeva Oksana (Russian)
The English text was translated and edited by catts
INSIDER LOOK OF THE OLYMPIC CHAMPION – HER VIEW ON THE UNIVERSITY GAME, COMPETITIONS AND BEHIND THE SCENES
The University Games in Belgrade ended with the Russian national team confidently taking first place on the medals list. Our athletes won 76 medals altogether, in which 27 are gold. The RG competition was won by the Olympic champion Evgenia Kanaeva. Today we bring you her Belgrade "abstract".
Expecting a debut
It is the first time in my career to take part in the University Games in Belgrade. When the competitions are new, you always have special feelings for them. It is not just about excitement – which is there of course, but also about how much sensation is at all the important moments. Here it is, a new boundary for you, and you should take all opportunities to give your best …
I flied to Belgrade after finishing my second year study at the Omsk physical culture institute, and thus the University Games has turned out to be my first competition for almost a month. Therefore, the stimulus to go and impress was considerable. Later, I realized the University Games is a ‘more-than-serious’ competition. Generally, for me, there is no tournament in which it is impossible to give my best. I have been brought up this way since childhood, and the head trainer of the national team Irina Aleksandrovna Viner never underestimates the status of any competition. Indeed, the University Games is almost like an Olympic Games. Perhaps in terms of nerve, tension and importance for the athletes, it is not quite at the level of the Olympic Games. But, take note, the word ‘solemn’ sounds similar … And both competitions take place every four years. And the competitors are the same as those with whom I performed on the OG carpet. Anna Bessonova, for example …
Day one: acquaintance to the University Game
… Upon arrival, we were taken to the athlete village from the airport. Although it does not appear to be as big as the one in Beijing (it does not have restaurant or cafe as the one for the OG, and thus we need to go off elsewhere for meals), there is a festival atmosphere. The space, flags, beautiful sportswear … buses with delegations shuttling here and there … However, my mood of having fun and going on holiday vanished very quickly. When we arrived, after getting our bags, we at once went for training. I adapted to training/competition mode immediately. Surprisingly, later, many people asked me, ‘how do you like the city? How is the country?’ I could not give any answer as I was not able to wander around the city or look at anything interesting. Such chance just did not come.
Many people may not believe but our lives are always like this: you get up in the morning, train, then you eat something, have a rest, and it is already time to get ready to perform. During the time of competition, you plunge yourself so deeply that as long as the competition lasts, nothing else is exciting or interesting at all. For me, Belgrade is like … the bus, the sports hall, training, hotel, a dream. I was there for 3 days, but all the time it was about competition … Perhaps I will upset someone by admitting that I did not pay much attention on how our national team members were doing. I was later told by the journalists that my medals have helped the national team to go top on the medals list …
) 所以跳過Rope，只比球、環跟彩帶。跑題一下，一堆人認為Zhenya一帆風順的，She won everything at such young age！但背後的辛酸又有誰能理解。我沒像其他人這樣是看著她長大，但就光這樣跟她的比賽一年，已不知為她流了多少淚，擔了多少心。每當再回首今年這些心驚膽顫憂心忡忡的過程，淚水還是止不住，寫到這我的眼眶又濕了……
Zhenya Kanaeva Gymnasium 