I have only just found this translation of a 2011 interview (no original source given) on the RGF website. In the light of the upcoming generation of Russian juniors who are beginning to make an impression (eg Stretovich, Dalolyan, Nagorny), whose training he has led alongside the personal coaches and specialists, Nikolai makes some useful observations about the Russian coaching system today, his own past experiences as a competitor, and what he sees are the challenges of his vital role.
Nikolay Kryukov: Character and principles
He has always been known for being forthright. And for his character and his principles which many feel are old-fashioned. When Nikolai Kryukov — the Chinese gymnasts called him the "Black Horse"— joined the team, there was no doubt there would be no horsing around. And not because medals were at stake. He just simply can't do things any other way.
"Hello, I am the coach"— that was how a note in a two-year old issue of Gimnastika began when the Olympic Champion and World All-Around Champion was tapped to be the head coach of the junior men's team. "I will take advice, learn and gain experience. I still want to do something with gymnastics", he said then. We did not doubt that he would do things the same way he did when he was competing — with a clear conscience. And so today we ask him: "Hello, coach, how are you doing?"
— Nikolai — do the words "born in the USSR" frighten you or make you feel good?
Those words provoke a lot of feelings. I was of an age when I was conscious of what was going on. It meant a lot. I remember the values the people had, how the people worked. With a clear conscience. I wanted to do the same thing. And I also wanted people whom fate has put around me now to approach things with the same attitude.
I am from a working family; we lived modestly and we barely got by, but mum and dad did everything they could so that my sister and I did not want for anything — they gave us all the very best. And my first coach, Mikhail Aronovich Genkin, told me right away, "Look, those are Olympic champions. Don't think they got here just like that. You have to sweat it here". So yes, born in the USSR… All of that together — my parents, the people around me and the existing values probably formed my character.
— Who was at Round Lake then, do you remember?
It was 1989. I saw Dima Bilozerchev, Valeriy Liukin, Vitaliy Marinich who is practically the head coach in the USA now, and Sergey Kharkov — all the workhorses in gymnastics. They showed great class in their work. I'll never forget how I watched Igor Korobchinskiy and Vitaliy Shcherbo train. They were competing in routines. Korobchinskiy would get on the apparatus and Leonid Arkayev would give him a 9.75. And Shcherbo would respond: "That's kind of weak. I'll do a 9.8". And Igor would say, "go ahead, try!" And Shcherbo would get up and do it. Perfectly. I was struck by that — how sure people could be of their own work and be sort of playing around, but so good! That was the pinnacle of class.
— You once said that in the Voronezh gym, you, when you were a boy, were impressed by Aleksandr Kolyvanov's medals. And you told the guys you were going to win just as many and the group laughed…
I think that desire came because of my dad. He taught me to be serious about sport since I was three. We ran together and did exercises together. Dad once dreamed of being a gymnast himself; he was always watching meets on TV. And when I won in Atlanta in 1996 he said, "I see myself in my son". So I probably had that goal in my blood — to become an Olympic champion. But I have to admit, I didn't always approach it steadfastly. My first year in gymnastics…. I ran out of the gym. They started stretching me and that hurt, so I said I was never going back.
— So who brought you back, your dad?
No, my coach. My parents argued with me about my not wanting to train, but I continued to tear up the invitations to go back that the school kept sending me. In the end, my coach came himself and suggested trying it again. And soon European Champion Kolyvanov came back with his medals. I still remember him coming in in his great-looking uniform that said "USSR" and had the state seal embroidered on it. I couldn't take my eyes off of that seal. And I decided: I'm going to have one of those, too. Before that, I felt like I was working for my parents. And so I'm trying to pass that on to my guys, now. So that they don't think about how much they're getting paid for what they are doing, but about doing it first and talking about pay later.
— Is it working?
To be honest, I'm still perfecting it and trying to figure out what I've been drafted into (smiles). Or what I've got myself into. And since a person is always perfecting himself, I try to live by the proverb: "Live 100 years, learn 100 years".
— Sport today is like a profession like any other and a person has the right to know how much he is getting paid for it. How do you try to teach your gymnasts what you said: that you have to respect the profession and respect yourself in it?
It all comes during the working process. For example, when we line up. I see that they aren't being receptive to some piece of information or they express their feelings in some other way, like, "Why do we have to do that? How much are they paying us for that?" And I say: "Guys, settle down, no-one is going to pay you anything if that's your reaction to it. Ask yourself another way. For example, what is the medal going to look like, how can I prepare my routines the right way so I'm not ashamed of the nerves and the effort it cost? Then your attitude will change". Because that medal is for life. But the money goes quickly. When you get a medal, you can hold on to that moment for life. And you have to remember that sport is creative work, it's not just pounding nails.
— It would be nice if all our coaches thought that way…
Coaches could think that way, if they had normal wages. But that's a different topic. Unfortunately, we can't do anything about that. That's the way the laws are. In the regions for example, coaches working at high levels still have to have beginner groups to make a normal living. A lot of them don't even want to be in the national team. They coach kids up to that level and that's it. I ask them, "Are you coming to training camp?""No.""Why not?""Because I have two other groups and I'd lose the money." And I ask, "So what are you working for then?" I know you can't feed a family on your enthusiasm. Let's come up with a solution with the directors of sports schools, so that they help talented coaches with initiative.
— What are you most concerned about?
The athletes who make the national team. I was shocked when I started. I had to hear them saying they were being forced to do busy work at Round Lake, swings and circles, and so on. Well, then bring us athletes who can already do them so we can teach them other things here. To be honest, I've spent the last year and a half teaching the guys the school of gymnastics. To straighten them up a bit. And when we have free time, we try to send them to school, because they get behind.
— Nikolay, what do you need this for? All of that?
You know, there's an answer that goes like this: Who, if not me? Yes, I'm the crazy one, I don't know what else you can call me. Maybe I'm the dumb one who will hammer away until the end. And I will until I understand there is no hope. And even if I do get to where I believe that, that's not what it's about; I'm the guy who finishes a job if I start it. And we'll see how this finishes.
— You were always a maximalist as a gymnast, and in work too…
Well, I'm changing (laughs). You have to. I mean, what if a gymnast just can't do a certain skill no matter what? I start thinking, well, how can we get around that and build the right technique? So I tell the guys, if you can't do a turn the correct way, try lifting your left arm a bit earlier and you'll get around. Did it work? Okay, then let's move ahead ...
Do I feel at home in this? I don't know, time will tell. I love my work. The pay is good and I have a roof over my head and my son is growing up. Everything is fine. I just have to give it my all and hopefully, things will happen with time. I want the guys' eyes to light up after they get on the awards podium. So they feel proud for the country they represent and for the work of the coaches who haven't left and who brought them to that success.
I don't have any reason to be proud of being a coach yet. It's still too early for that. There is still a lot of work to do. But I can praise the guys for those little successes that come along the way. Like the objective of winning the team medal at the European Youth Olympic Festival. And we achieved it.
Most of all, I want the support of the personal coaches. If I'm the only one fighting like a fish against the ice, I can't do anything. The coaches' eyes have to glow, too, so that they love their work both at Round Lake and at home. But for now, I come to training camps and pull the guys by their skin back into shape because most of them come back after a break at home in poor shape. When the coaches start competing among themselves, when they have a healthy rivalry, then we'll be able to take on the Chinese and anyone else.
— It's probably not easy to be in charge of people who are so much older?
Yes, I feel uncomfortable at times. I respect everyone and sometimes I have to admit that people with more experience are right. I was taught from early on to respect my elders and I try to do what I can to keep things from heating up. But now there are coaches in the team who are just a bit older than me, we even competed together. But it's not even about that. I am not persuasive enough in making decisions and I'm too much of a nice guy. So, sometimes, it's hard to tell some people some things, because I know I can't just say, "That's the way it will be. Full stop!" I get a sinking feeling right here (points to his heart). If I stick to my position, I get worried — why did I do that? And if I back down, I get upset with myself for not sticking to my position…
— Are you able to get away from gymnastics at home?
I try. I have a wonderful son who is growing up. Everyone is surprised by how much he gets around. He's like a rocket that never runs out of fuel. Sometimes, I forget about everything else when he and my wife come to visit Round Lake and he starts zooming around the gym. Will he become a gymnast? I'd like my son to grow up to be a good person and to be better than his dad in something. Maybe not in sport, maybe in something else. Maybe he'll just be smarter. That would be a good victory.
— The head coach also has to be a good teacher. Do you feel "lucky" to get to work with the junior team that is the hardest age to work with (13-18 years old)? Are you strict with the guys at camp?
I give them a bit more freedom then we had. I don't make a special effort to check them at lights out, because I know that if a guy is not sticking to the schedule, there's no stopping him. I just teach them my principles, let them know what I can forgive and what I can't. I let them know when it's time to stop horsing around and get serious. If I see that they are serious in workout, then I may close my eyes to some things. I might forgive them for going to bed late for example, and that happens sometimes. But, I repeat, that is if I know a guy lives for gymnastics and is trying to achieve something. And if not, then why keep him there? And when I do have to comment, and they let you know they don't like it, then I'm ready to put a cross over that gymnast.
But really I see my task to be to create a working atmosphere where everyone is friends, no matter the age. So each person feels like he has responsibility and duties, like they taught us in our time — so the team is one. Konstantin Kolesnikov and Dmitriy Trush and I grew up together and it was never like one was younger so we always sent him to the store for something.
— I've often heard athletes say it's easier to get along with younger coaches. So is your age an advantage in your work?
It's hard to say. Yes, there are some coaches who from the perspective of their age see that a kid is not taking them seriously, one of them might think: well, I'd better sit here calmly, it's not good for me to get upset. Things are more dynamic with the young specialists. As for me… I think the main thing is that there are coaches who understand me and support me. And the guys know what I've accomplished, and how many years I spent in sport so they are not so much afraid of me as respect me.
— What do you remember the most from competing for the national team?
The 96 Olympics in Atlanta. That is unforgettable. I still remember to this day how we jumped for joy after Sergey Kharkov did his high bar routine. Nemov was still left to go, but we knew we'd won! Aleksey did a great set and finished off the Chinese. I also remember worlds where we won, but that was not so big. Except for the fact we were able to surprise everyone, myself included. After all, no-one was counting on me.
— How did pommels become your best event?
It's probably my temperament. I am a maximalist in life, like you said. If something is hard, I have to prove it is possible. To myself, first of all, and then to everyone else.
— After the last worlds, Sergey Khorokhordin said, "We could use Kryukov here…" We can't handle this event. You say we're not working pommels right, so what's the right way? Technique? Will power?
Like this — face first. Without fear. Without any fear of falling. And do your routine with soul. The event is called a "horse", and it doesn't understand brute force; it can feel when you are performing and when you're just swinging circles on it.
— You probably don't even take a full week off for New Year's, but were you able to kick back during your younger days in sport?
Of course. And we naturally stayed up late sometimes. I remember how we jumped in the bushes once to avoid running into the head coach's aide. We were going to go to the other dormitory after lights out — the girls had invited us over. But we didn't make it; we ran right into the aide. It was getting dark and he came out of the dormitory and we ran as fast as we could and jumped in the bushes. We jumped in and lay there and almost gave ourselves away we were trying so hard not to laugh. He didn't find us. But we didn't visit the girls, either.
Sometimes, Nemov and I would put together dances. We'd drive up two cars and open the bonnets and turn on the same music. Aleksey was our DJ: he'd always be taping new songs, buying cassettes for the one good hit and put together mixed tapes to play. I started helping him out when he got his flat in Nakhabino. So, we would turn on the music in two cars and people would come over and relax…
— You're not interested in remembering Beijing 2008?
No. Beijing was like the opposite of Athens. There was both happiness and disappointment when I stood there blubbering in the stands. The Chinese saw me standing there watching the awards ceremony and started taking photos of me. I gestured to them that that was not necessary. It was clear then that the guys in the team, not all of them of course, but some of us didn't get along. They had their way of understanding things, and I had mine. And I stood there and cried. I knew it was my last competition. Preparation had been very, very difficult. It was psychologically hard, too. Because I could feel I couldn't handle the load anymore. I was finished in 2004. That was the unspoken end of my career. And then [head coach] Andrey Rodionenko called me and said: I've left you in…
I don't even want to think about the injuries I had to overcome. How much pain it took, how I had to think up new exercises…
And I don't like thinking about how I left Athens, either. When I had also given it everything — but I guess that's my fate in sport…Everyone was on my side and the guys said, "Leave him in, we'll cover for him, we'll do everything!". But Arkayev, he had his own view and he was the one who chose the team and he said, "Okay, go home". Maybe that was right, but on the other hand maybe he just didn't believe I would do better. And I wasn't the only one crying, the whole team was teared up. They came to see me off. The girls cried and even Aleksey let out a tear. I don't think that was an easy decision for Arkayev. There are some decisions people just can't accept. Now I know that myself. And I know that there should always be an explanation for why you did what you did and not something else.
I try not to hide my reasons for decision from the gymnasts. So they don't go around whispering, he put him in but not him. The one who is the best will go; the one who can't, won't. But not the one who is just best today, but over the course of a long time. We have gymnasts who jump up at the last minute and then, excuse my expression, take a dump in team competition…
— The Olympic year is coming up. What objectives have you given the younger guys and what do you wish for our main team?
Well, I want to tell my guys: next year is Europeans in France and it is a very important meet for them and the results will have a lot to do with making the main team. I want them to hit two birds with one stone — to work all out and to protect themselves from injury. They have to try.
And for the guys in the team in London: Guys! Don't be afraid to work. Don't just do your skills and leave. Do it so that after finishing a routine, your heart is happy.
Nikolay Kryukov: Character and principles
He has always been known for being forthright. And for his character and his principles which many feel are old-fashioned. When Nikolay Kryukov — the Chinese gymnasts called him the "Black Horse"— joined the team, there was no doubt there would be no horsing around. And not because medals were at stake. He just simply can't do things any other way.
"Hello, I am the coach"— that was how a note in a two-year old issue of Gimnastika began when the Olympic Champion and World All-Around Champion was tapped to be the head coach of the junior men's team. "I will take advice, learn and gain experience. I still want to do something with gymnastics", he said then. We did not doubt that he would do things the same way he did when he was competing — with a clear conscience. And so today we ask him: "Hello, coach, how are you doing?"
— Nikolay — do the words "born in the USSR" frighten you or make you feel good?
Those words provoke a lot of feelings. I was of an age when I was conscious of what was going on. It meant a lot. I remember the values the people had, how the people worked. With a clear conscience. I wanted to do the same thing. And I also wanted people whom fate has put around me now to approach things with the same attitude.
I am from a working family; we lived modestly and we barely got by, but mom and dad did everything they could so that my sister and I did not want for anything — they gave us all the very best. And my first coach, Mikhail Aronovich Genkin, told me right away, "Look, those are Olympic champions. Don't think they got here just like that. You have to sweat it here". So yes, born in the USSR… All of that together — my parents, the people around me and the existing values probably formed my character.
— Who was at Round Lake then, do you remember?
It was 1989. I saw Dima Bilozerchev, Valeriy Liukin, Vitaliy Marinich who is practically the head coach in the USA now, and Sergey Kharkov — all the workhorses in gymnastics. They showed great class in their work. I'll never forget how I watched Igor Korobchinskiy and Vitaliy Shcherbo train. They were competing in routines. Korobchinskiy would get on the apparatus and Leonid Arkayev would give him a 9.75. And Shcherbo would respond: "That's kind of weak. I'll do a 9.8". And Igor would say, "go ahead, try!" And Shcherbo would get up and do it. Perfectly. I was struck by that — how sure people could be of their own work and be sort of playing around, but so good! That was the pinnacle of class.
— You once said that once in the Voronezh gym, you, when you were a boy, were impressed by Aleksandr Kolyvanov's medals. And you told the guys you were going to win just as many and the group laughed…
I think that desire came because of my dad. He taught me to be serious about sport since I was three. We ran together and did exercises together. Dad once dreamed of being a gymnast himself; he was always watching meets on TV. And when I won in Atlanta in 1996 he said, "I see myself in my son". So I probably had that goal in my blood — to become an Olympic champion. But I have to admit, I didn't always approach it steadfastly. My first year in gymnastics…I ran out of the gym. They started stretching me and that hurt, so I said I was never going back.
— So who brought you back, your dad?
No, my coach. My parents argued with me about my not wanting to train, but I continued to tear up the invitations to go back that the school kept sending me. In the end, my coach came himself and suggested trying it again. And soon European Champion Kolyvanov came back with his medals. I still remember him coming in in his great-looking uniform that said "USSR" and had the state seal embroidered on it. I couldn't take my eyes off of that seal. And I decided: I'm going to have one of those, too. Before that, I felt like I was working for my parents. And so I'm trying to pass that on to my guys, now. So that they don't think about how much they're getting paid for what they are doing, but about doing it first and talking about pay later.
— Is it working?
To be honest, I'm still perfecting it and trying to figure out what I've been drafted into (smiles). Or what I've got myself into. And since a person is always perfecting himself, I try to live by the proverb: "Live 100 years, learn 100 years".
— Sport today is like a profession like any other and a person has the right to know how much he is getting paid for it. How do you try to teach your gymnasts what you said: that you have to respect the profession and respect yourself in it?
It all comes during the working process. For example, when we line up. I see that they aren't being receptive to some piece of information or they express their feelings in some other way, like, "Why do we have to do that? How much are they paying us for that?" And I say: "Guys, settle down, no-one is going to pay you anything if that's your reaction to it. Ask yourself another way. For example, what is the medal going to look like, how can I prepare my routines the right way so I'm not ashamed of the nerves and the effort it cost? Then your attitude will change". Because that medal is for life. But the money goes quickly. When you get a medal, you can hold on to that moment for life. And you have to remember that sport is creative work, it's not just pounding nails.
— It would be nice if all our coaches thought that way…
Coaches could think that way, if they had normal wages. But that's a different topic. Unfortunately, we can't do anything about that. That's the way the laws are. In the regions for example, coaches working at high levels still have to have beginner groups to make a normal living. A lot of them don't even want to be in the national team. They coach kids up to that level and that's it. I ask them, "Are you coming to training camp?""No.""Why not?""Because I have two other groups and I'd lose the money." And I ask, "So what are you working for then?" I know you can't feed a family on your enthusiasm. Let's come up with a solution with the directors of sports schools, so that they help talented coaches with initiative.
— What are you most concerned about?
The athletes who make the national team. I was shocked when I started. I had to hear them saying they were being forced to do busy work at Round Lake, swings and circles, and so on. Well, then bring us athletes who can already do them so we can teach them other things here. To be honest, I've spent the last year and a half teaching the guys the school of gymnastics. To straighten them up a bit. And when we have free time, we try to send them to school, because they get behind.
— Nikolay, what do you need this for? All of that?
You know, there's an answer that goes like this: Who, if not me? Yes, I'm the crazy one, I don't know what else you can call me. Maybe I'm the dumb one who will hammer away until the end. And I will until I understand there is no hope. And even if I do get to where I believe that, that's not what it's about; I'm the guy who finishes a job if I start it. And we'll see how this finishes.
— You were always a maximalist as a gymnast, and in work too…
Well, I'm changing (laughs). You have to. I mean, what if a gymnast just can't do a certain skill no matter what? I start thinking, well, how can we get around that and build the right technique? So I tell the guys, if you can't do a turn the correct way, try lifting your left arm a bit earlier and you'll get around. Did it work? Okay, then let's move ahead…
Do I feel at home in this? I don't know, time will tell. I love my work. The pay is good and I have a roof over my head and my son is growing up. Everything is fine. I just have to give it my all and hopefully, things will happen with time. I want the guys' eyes to light up after they get on the awards podium. So they feel proud for the country they represent and for the work of the coaches who haven't left and who brought them to that success.
I don't have any reason to be proud of being a coach yet. It's still too early for that. There is still a lot of work to do. But I can praise the guys for those little successes that come along the way. Like the objective of winning the team medal at the European Youth Olympic Festival. And we achieved it.
Most of all, I want the support of the personal coaches. If I'm the only one fighting like a fish against the ice, I can't do anything. The coaches' eyes have to glow, too, so that they love their work both at Round Lake and at home. But for now, I come to training camps and pull the guys by their skin back into shape because most of them come back after a break at home in poor shape. When the coaches start competing among themselves, when they have a healthy rivalry, then we'll be able to take on the Chinese and anyone else.
— It's probably not easy to be in charge of people who are so much older?
Yes, I feel uncomfortable at times. I respect everyone and sometimes I have to admit that people with more experience are right. I was taught from early on to respect my elders and I try to do what I can to keep things from heating up. But now there are coaches in the team who are just a bit older them me, we even competed together. But it's not even about that. I am not convincing enough in making decisions and I'm too much of a nice guy. So, sometimes, it's hard to tell some people some things, because I know I can't just say, "That's the way it will be. Period!" I get a sinking feeling right here (points to his heart). If I stick to my position, I get worried — why did I do that? And if I back down, I get upset with myself for not sticking to my position…
— Are you able to get away from gymnastics at home?
I try. I have a wonderful son who is growing up. Everyone is surprised by how much he gets around. He's like a rocket that never runs out of fuel. Sometimes, I forget about everything else when he and my wife come visit Round Lake and he starts zooming around the gym. Will he become a gymnast? I'd like my son to grow up to be a good person and to be better than his dad in something. Maybe not in sport, maybe in something else. Maybe he'll just be smarter. That would be a good victory.
— The head coach also has to be a good teacher. Do you feel "lucky" to get to work with the junior team that is the hardest age to work with (13-18 years old)? Are you strict with the guys at camp?
I give them a bit more freedom then we had. I don't make a special effort to check them at lights out, because I know that if a guy is not sticking to the schedule, there's no stopping him. I just teach them my principles, let them know what I can forgive and what I can't. I let them know when it's time to stop horsing around and get serious. If I see that they are serious in workout, then I may close my eyes to some things. I might forgive them for going to bed late for example, and that happens sometimes. But, I repeat, that is if I know a guy lives for gymnastics and is trying to achieve something. And if not, then why keep him there? And when I do have to comment, and they let you know they don't like it, then I'm ready to put a cross over that gymnast.
But really I see my task to be to create a working atmosphere where everyone is friends, no matter the age. So each person feels like he has responsibility and duties, like they taught us in our time — so the team is one. Konstantin Kolesnikov and Dmitriy Trush and I grew up together and it was never like one was younger so we always sent him to the store for something.
— I've often heard athletes say it's easier to get along with younger coaches. So is your age an advantage in your work?
It's hard to say. Yes, there are some coaches who from the perspective of their age see that a kid is not taking them seriously, one of them might think: well, I'd better sit here calmly, it's not good for me to get upset. Things are more dynamic with the young specialists. As fas as me… I think the main thing is that there are coaches who understand me and support me. And the guys know what I've accomplished, and how many years I spent in sport so they are not so much afraid of me as they respect me.
— What do you remember the most from competing for the national team?
The 96 Olympics in Atlanta. That is unforgettable. I still remember to this day how we jumped for joy after Sergey Kharkov did his high bar routine. Nemov was still left to go, but we knew we'd won! Aleksey did a great set and finished off the Chinese. I also remember worlds where we won, but that was not so big. Except for the fact we were able to surprise everyone, myself included. After all, no-one was counting on me.
— How did pommels become your best event?
It's probably my temperament. I am a maximalist in life, like you said. If something is hard, I have to prove it is possible. To myself, first of all, and then to everyone else.
— After the last worlds, Sergey Khorokhordin said, "We could use Kryukov here…" We can't handle this event. You say we're not working pommels right, so what's the right way? Technique? Will power?
Like this — face first. Without fear. Without any fear of falling. And do your routine with soul. The event is called a "horse", and it doesn't understand brute force; it can feel when you are performing and when you're just swinging circles on it.
— You probably don't even take a full week off for New Year's, but were you able to kick back when in your younger days in sport?
Of course. And we naturally stayed up late sometimes. I remember how we jumped in the bushes once to avoid running into the head coach's aide. We were going to go to the other dormitory after lights out — the girls had invited us over. But we didn't make it; we ran right into the aide. It was getting dark and he came out o the dormitory and we ran as fast as we could and jumped in the bushes. We jumped in and lay there and almost gave ourselves away we were trying so hard not to laugh. But he didn't find us. But we didn't visit the girls, either.
Sometimes, Nemov and I would put together dances. We'd drive up two cars and open the bonnets and turn on the same music. Aleksey was our DJ: he'd always be taping new songs, buying cassettes for the one good hit and put together mixed tapes to play. I started helping him out when he got his flat in Nakhabino. So, we would turn on the music in two cars and people would come over and relax…
— You're not interested in remembering Beijing-2008?
No. Beijing was like the opposite of Athens. There was both happiness and disappointment when I stood there blubbering in the stands. The Chinese saw me standing there watching the awards ceremony and started taking photos of me. I gestured to them that that was not necessary. It was clear then that the guys in the team, not all of them of course, but some of us didn't get along. They had their way of understanding things, and I had mine. And I stood there and cried. I knew it was my last meet. Preparation had been very, very difficult. It was psychologically hard, too. Because I could feel that I couldn't handle the load anymore. I was finished in 2004. That was the unspoken end of my career. And then [head coach] Andrey Rodionenko called me and said: I've left you in…
I don't even want to think about the injuries I had to overcome. How much pain it took, how I had to think up new exercises…
And I don't like thinking about how I left Athens, either. When I had also given it everything — but I guess that's my fate in sport ... Everyone was on my side and the guys said, "Leave him in, we'll cover for him, we'll do everything!". But Arkayev, he had his own view and he was the one who chose the team and he said, "Okay, go home". Maybe that was right, but on the other hand maybe he just didn't believe I would do better. And I wasn't the only one crying, the whole team was teared up. They came to see me off. The girls cried and even Aleksey let out a tear.
I don't think that was an easy decision for Arkayev. There are some decisions people just can't accept. Now I know that myself. And I know that there should always be an explanation for why you did what you did and not something else.
I try not to hide my reasons for decision from the gymnasts. So they don't go around whispering, he put him in but not him. The one who is the best will go; the one who can't, won't. But not the one who is just best today, but over the course of a long time. We have gymnasts who jump up at the last minute and then, excuse my expression, take a dump in team competition ...
— The Olympic year is coming up. What objectives have you given the younger guys and what do you wish for our main team?
Well, I want to tell my guys: next year is Europeans in France and it is a very important meet for them and the results will have a lot to do with making the main team. I want them to hit two birds with one stone — to work all out and to protect themselves from injury. They have to try.
And for the guys in the team in London: Guys! Don't be afraid to work. Don't just do your skills and leave. Do it so that after finishing a routine, your heart is happy.
The link to the translation is http://www.sportgymrus.ru/Admin/GetFile.ashx?get=1&id=15640
Nikolai's pommels at the 2006 World Chamoionships, where his team won a silver medal : http://youtu.be/h2snPk6qLR4