Sergei Starkin - image from Sports Express
Sergei Starkin is part of a formidable father and son pairing for whom coaching gymnastics is a family affair. His father, Valery Starkin, will be well known to gymnastics fans as the sharp-eyed, white-haired Head Coach of the Burtasy School of Gymnastics in Penza, frequent home to the Russian National Championships. The School has grown in importance over recent years: the success of homegrown World Champion, the impressive and powerful Denis Ablyazin, gave the Club its profile; Valeri Starkin's astute management of this facility has gained recognition and support from the Ministry of Sport; the recent alignment of 2012 Olympic Champion Aliya Mustafina to personal coach Sergei Starkin has reinforced the club's reputation across WAG as well as MAG. There are even some who say that Valeri, with his strong ties within the Russian coaching hierarchy, long experience of management and influence, and links to Russia's most likely Rio medallists, might be next in line for the top job in Russian gymnastics, after the Rio Olympics.
Now read on (Google translate below, italics) as Elena Vaitsekhovskaya (her interviews with Leonid Arkayev and, previously, Alexander Alexandrov proved influential), interviews Sergei Starkin - whose dual role as coach to both Ablyazin and Mustafina is without precedent. There is interesting MAG content here, as well as WAG.
I will link to any better translations that become available.
He - Hereditary gymnastic coach. Grew up in the hall, just as children grow up in a circus arena filings. To the question, which is not enough to be a gymnast to first-class, short answer: "Total". In 20 years, first came to the legendary gymnastic base "Round Lake", ibid firmly assimilated gold from silver can sometimes be separated is not a bug, but only barely perceptible, imperceptible normal eye loss of balance. Therefore, it is to such an extent and valuable - gymnastic gold.
In 2014, his student Denis Ablyazin first became world champion - won the floor exercise in Nanning China. A few months later the group Starkin there is another athlete: coach asked for help London Olympic champion Aliya Mustafina.
* * *
- I perfectly know what it means to take an apprentice Olympic champion. A huge responsibility, but at the same time - no guarantee results.
- It is.
- In that case, what prompted you agree? You've probably seen that "gymnastic" state Mustafina has been steadily going downhill.
- Something he saw, heard a lot from others. At the same time knew that Alia really needs help. And when at the beginning of December, she approached me, probably just could not refuse. Mustafina really needs an assistant who could help explain, persuade, compel, sorry ...
- Excuse me, but for a large sports I would rather believe in what is called the coaching ambition than altruism.
- This is not altruism. Frankly, I believe that from such proposals do not give up. Such athletes as Mustafina, born once in a few decades. Work with them very interesting. Although I am fully aware that, under a lens I am. Least of all striving now something to someone to prove. I have no such amount of vanity. All I wanted to prove, as a coach, has already proved - Denis.
- Oh you?
- Well, almost all. We've really gold medal of silver is often different to the one tiny little step in the direction of ...
- ... Which sometimes breaks the athlete's psyche for life.
- It happens. I'm just talking now about something else. The fact that you can become the second, was not originally thinking about gold, due to objective reasons. And you can act so that everyone will understand: you're no worse than the one who became a champion ... Alia immediately clear goals outlined to me that would like to implement. She - a very smart girl, so left without a coach since the beginning knew very well what happens with it. Long enough to attempt to find a way out. In other words, the decision to apply to me she matured. For me, it has become absolutely unexpected request.
* * *
- Did you take some time to think?
- Of Course. First it was kind of lost, to be honest. The very process of combining work with two athletes of the caliber of Mustafina and Ablyazin - the first two numbers of our gymnastics - the situation is not ordinary. Therefore, for three days, I did not say anything. Just thought.
- What, if not secret?
- How to make working with Alija if I'll take it over, had no effect on my work with Dennis. Ablyazin, incidentally, was the first one whose opinion I asked. And immediately asked him to be as frank. Whether Denis mind, I probably would have said Mustafina "no."
- That is, the probability that a student can say "no", you are still allowed?
- Of Course. I think any athlete in this situation will begin to fear that may lose some share of coaching attention. We're on for many years a very close contact with Ablyazin and in the hall and outside it. And I was afraid to ruin the relationship. This, indeed, was the problem.
- Does not anyone of his colleagues in those three days, never said to you, 'You fool, stop, why do you need? "
- Behind said. But after I received the consent of Denis, in its decision no longer doubted. Alie at once said, if we start working together, it must be reversed. Beginning with the work in the gym and ending the life out of it. Success in modern gymnastics - a combination of a number of things. Lifestyle, not just a workout. Without changing the image, the result is not achieved. Especially one which wants to Alia.
- What do you mean by "way of life"?
- In my purely personal opinion gymnast whole life should be completely subordinated to the result. Mode, in which a person lives from day to day, sleeping, eating, fine athletic training. In this regard, we have to Ablyazin for several years all signs as detailed as possible.
* * *
- Sverhtalantlivye Many athletes are usually not only lazy but inwardly convinced that are capable of coping with any situation any problem. When Ablyazin only got a team, in my opinion it featured just such an attitude to many things. Lightweight, if not disregard.
- And so it was. But I still managed to explain to him that modern gymnastics is so complex and hard physically, that if we set a goal to become the first - and not in the country, of course - have to go to some kind of sacrifice.
- In words, sounds easy.
- In fact, to change the psychology of the athlete in such cases is extremely difficult. It was difficult and Denis. Figuratively speaking, at some point we had not gone ahead and moved separate shazhochkami. Take one step and see that it changes the outcome, Ablyazin already more likely to do the second. Well, after a few steps to persuade him not accounted for. Actually, this Dennis and different from many other athletes when understands that work is needed, then executes it very carefully to the end. It is necessary, for example, eat 180 grams of pasta, then it will be just 180 grams.
- Really have to control myself so harshly?
- Denis for a long time had a problem with weight. But she went after him develop an individual meal plan.
- And Mustafina this problem is also present?
- Yes I Am. Therefore, we have developed a similar, and for her. Let's try it.
- More than once I have heard from other coaches that Mustafina - very difficult in people. That's it?
- The fact that we have with Aliya really hard work has not yet begun, we are only beginning to approach it. But I know for sure: if I start to adapt to the nature of athletes, this will make it worse to her.
- Tell me, do you ever feel inner discomfort from what must be tough with the athletes, require them to concrete discipline?
- ... Yes I Am.
- What exactly do you bother?
- Can not always predict the response. Still, the main task of a coach - not to be tough and principled, and achieve the goal. If, in response to their actions coach gets complete rejection, it is - only his fault.
* * *
- Starting to work with Ablyazin from scratch, you were forced all the time to grow and develop in parallel with the athlete. There has never been scared to make a mistake?
- Sometimes. And still is. Nothing to do with anyone not even advise. At one time I got to the "round", helping his father. Therefore, and abroad in those years did not go, although the proposals were. Dad at the time was the director of the gymnastic center in Penza. When he left the training camp, some of the work fell on the mother. Then she began to fall on me. Although I confess honestly, in those years, and I had no idea that one day I will go up to the level of coaching, which now came out with Ablyazin. From the beginning I knew very well what to do to be born athlete, and how you should be a coach to be able to work with such an athlete. Now we are already out of Denis to a height where few coaches raised. Many things to us, no one even tried. That has to reach all your mind.
- Games in London was for you first?
- Yes I Am.
- And what left an impression?
- I can not say that they were perceived as a holiday. Although previously heard a lot about the Games in this vein.
- I would say, as a celebration of the Olympic Games can take except that those athletes and coaches who have no chance to fight for the medals.
- Perhaps you're right. I still remember the tension, which is not even hung in the air, and brings down on all sides, it was necessary to cross the threshold of the room. Get the bulb - she would be there broke out, without any wires. On the other hand, is about the same voltage, and I felt at the World Championships in Nanning, where Denis won the first gold. Simply Olympic medals were before. And caused some inexpressible emotions. Unrealistic.
* * *
- The maximum possible complexity to which you constantly strive to Ablyazin - this is a deliberate tactic, or in some situations, you can do without it?
- Simply, we set ourselves the task to fight for first place. If you look at the results of major competitions, it becomes obvious: for the second place in any final can fight any athlete. But the leader, as a rule, stands alone.
- How Epke Zonderland on the bar and Kohei Uchimura - in the all-around?
- Yes I Am. And Kenzo Shirai - the floor exercise, Korean Pu Wang Ce - vault, the Chinese Yang Yo - on the rings. Here we are with them and want to fight.
- The current level of complexity for this is enough?
- We have complicated this season combination in the floor exercise, but it is not enough. One of the vault Denis new. I would like to complicate and second jump, but it's out of the realm of fantasy. Prevent gaps of a technical nature, which we still can not be completely eliminated. And still: the aggregate of the basic complexity Ablyazin on this apparatus among the top three in the world. There are certain ideas and rings. Do not force nature. Do, say, "cross" upside down so that everyone gasped, Denis does not allow shoulder. And if you perform this element at the secondary level, it will not surprise anybody.
- What you can do now to surprise someone in the gym?
- Well, look: at the last World Cup base complexity combination Ablyazin on the carpet was 7.1, while Shirai - 7.4. After the competition was the traditional judicial investigation, where it was said that 7.4 - this is certainly good, but there is nothing good that all this complexity is achieved through the "screws".
- But for this not reduce the assessment?
- No. Nevertheless, the claim was announced. Ablyazin makes the carpet all the exercises, which is possible. I do not think that someone from the other gymnasts program is more diverse.
- A variety and originality somehow encouraged?
- Objectively - no.
- And why do they seek it?
- In the case of Ablyazin everything was much simpler: we just tried to include in the combination all that we can. Receive diversity.
- What is now a priority in your plans for the season?
- As close as possible to those programs that we Ablyazin and Mustafina will exhibit at the European Championships 2016. If we can do it in the fall, will be very good. Then we will have six months until the next spring and another three months - on the direct preparation for the Games in Rio. I do not think that the Olympic Games or World Championships - those competitions where you want to try something. There can not be wrong.
* * *
- Your colleagues in the coaching workshop often complain that the current generation of athletes is much less focused on sports purposes than the previous. Too many temptations around and too grown level of material prosperity. For you, this is a problem?
- No. Because I work with athletes, which we understand to what purpose are going.
- How big is your view distance, which will have to overcome Mustafina to catch up with the leaders?
- This distance is certainly there. But I think that we will be able to reduce it to a minimum fairly quickly. Alia - a truly unique athlete. All he can, technically adept and have a sufficiently wide range of qualities that do not actually limit the range of its capabilities. We have already identified some maximum program, which will try to implement. All limited only by the current state of health. The problem we are now jointly and decide. In my opinion - successfully. The next step will be the complexity of programs.
During the time that we work together Mustafina, I managed to make: a purely technical manner Alia training, as well as its way of thinking, closer to men than to women's. She is well developed motor memory. And a large number of repetitions to learn this or that element is not required.
- Does it matter?
- Very much. Gymnastics become too complex, it requires a very high concentration of each workout, and due to this accumulated stress. While we try to deal with it. For example, the elements that are actually executed at the limit of human capabilities, we are doing with Dennis in training only in excellent health and physical condition. And even then not always. The problem is surely simple: the body can make ultra-sophisticated vault five times in a row. But the brain can not sustain such a load.
* * *
- Of those who Ablyazin will compete at the Olympic Games in Rio, there are athletes who you admire?
- No. Let me explain why: if I just looked at these athletes from the side, as a novice coach, may be admired complexity, trying to figure out how they do it. And so - because we are all nearby, varimsya in a "mess." And we should not admire, and think about how to beat. Well, yes, I could admire Zonderland on the crossbar. But all too well aware of what to invest in one shell, and that - to be competitive on a few.
- Who is more formidable opponent - Japanese or Chinese?
- In what sense?
- Well, for example, in diving Chinese often begin to make mistakes unusual for them if the competition no longer go to their scenario.
- In the gym this also happens. And not only the Chinese, by the way. You know, it's easy not to make mistakes when you mad gap. Head athlete in this case is so disconnected from what is happening around, he just quietly working on the equipment. It has no external interference. It's quite another thing when the opponents sit on your heels, and you even lose the ability to think about anything other than that. For this reason, in fact, the case of most errors.
- Not so long ago, was a witness to the debate: can it be considered a full-fledged champion of the man who won only because others have fallen?
- It is not necessary to fall. You can be the strongest of all three heads of the entire four-year cycle, but the fall in the Olympic final and become the eighth. So what? Will you tell me that was stronger than all but fell? Well this is nonsense. To win, there should be no excuses at all. Either it is there or not.
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