• Українська
  • Русский
  • English
Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Olena TVERDOKHLIB: "Kick boxing is the best way to pour out your emotions"

2 March, 1999 - 00:00

By Kyrylo STADNYCHENKO, special to The Day

As recently as ten years ago Ukrainians knew little about so-called exotic
sports. Kick boxing was no exclusion. No competitions, much less for women,
were held here. But time has passed, and the trainees of various sports
established then in Kyiv make now the news of the day.

One of them is Olena Tverdokhlib, the Absolute World and European Kick
Boxing Champion among professionals and amateurs. Perhaps, there is only
one title missing in her sports record, Olympic champion. But this is not
Olena's fault, for kickboxing is still not an Olympic sport. However, women's
boxing will probably make its debut in the 2004 Olympics. And Olena is
dreaming of Olympic gold, for in her weight category she is one of the
strongest athletes in the world.

"In my childhood, I tried many sports. As a high school student, I went
in for athletics, swimming, and handball. But I was not thrilled with the
team sports. In the case of individual bouts I am solely responsible for
the result, and [if I lose], then nobody can say that the team lost. Anyway,
it's more interesting to compete with your opponents face to face. In such
case I can see my mistakes very clearly. The result depends on your own
skills. I think I am egoistic in terms of sports. Perhaps, this is precisely
what helps me win in the ring."

"How did you come to kick-boxing, and why exactly did you chose this
sport?"

"I did well in school. But it didn't take much time. I needed to channel
my energies in a rational way. And kick boxing is the best way to pour
out your emotions. I can confirm that kick boxing has taught me self-discipline.
I began to handle many things with more responsibility."

"You picked a completely unladylike sport. What psychological changes
have you experienced after first entering the gym?"

"The sport taught me concentration and accuracy, which helped me to
graduate with honors from Shevchenko National University as a jurist. Currently
I work as a lawyer in Monomakh, a well-known firm."

"Don't the profits of the best sportswomen in the world allow you
to live without additional work?"

"Professional competitions do not take place often. Besides, the prize
money is pretty symbolic. And participation in amateur competitions requires
one's own funds. The only thing the organizers can provide free is to rent
a gymnasium for the competition. And you have to travel to the tournament
at your own expense."

"How do you combine your training with your work in the firm?"

"I need two or three hours a day. This is enough both for physical exercises
and technique. Usually, I train in the evening, after work. This makes
sense, for competitions are always held in the evening.

 

 

Issue: 
Rubric: