“Our own emotions are our main opponent”

Ukrainian rhythmic gymnastics national team held an open pre-Olympic practice session. The female athletes will compete for medals on August 9 through 12, 2012.

Ukrainian gymnasts held their last practice session before the Olympics in the pavilion of the International Exhibition Center on August 2, 2012. By the way, this building is slated by the government to host the 2013 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship. Coaches and judges were pleased with the athletes’ level of training. “We are going to fight and hope that the girls will harness all their strength and succeed completely. The Ukrainian team’s greatest objective is to get in the top 10 after all-around and group events,” we were told by Iryna Deriuhina, the senior coach of the Ukrainian rhythmic gymnastics national team and vice president of the Gymnastics Federation of Ukraine. “Looks are not as important as the will to win and cha­racter. And here, the girls’ mood is alright, all the gymnasts are in top shape,” summed up the coach.

Eight athletes will represent Ukrai­ne in London. Anna Rizatdinova is the first number of the national team, while Alina Maksymenko is the second. “I once again realized today that my performance is stable. However, anything can happen in London, because the nerves are, of course, strained as I carry a huge responsibility,” Rizatdinova says and then adds: “This is my first Olympics, and I really hope it will not be the last. I know how to do a turn that nobody in the world does... We have to fight. It ne­ver changes in sport.” Maksymenko agreed they will have to fight excitement first and foremost. Despite it all, the athletes are upbeat. “My first opponent is myself. I will have to cope with excitement and emotion so that they would not harm my perfor­mance and prevent me from showing everything I can. All gymnasts who will parti­cipate in the Olympics are worthy opponents, and all of us deserve medals,” Maksymenko summed up.