An interview by Oksana Tonkacheeva with personal coach to Russia's leading male and female gymnasts, Denis Ablyazin and Aliya Mustafina.
Summary below (not word for word) -
Next week we'll have the European Championships. Denis Ablyazin will compete - but not, on this occasion, Aliya Mustafina.
- It wasn't just my decision to train Aliya - it wasn't as if Aliya out of the blue knocked on my door and just asked me to work with her. There was a meeting of head coach Andrei Rodionenko, the head coach of the women's team Evgeny Grebyonkin, and Aliya's father. Everything had to be carefully weighed up - working with an athlete like Mustafina is primarily a responsibility - I thought long and hard.
- First, I had to explain to Aliya that there would be conditions, and that if she were not ready to fulfill them, we could not even begin. I have had to make changes myself, not just inside the gym, but outside of it. The result that we are all expecting from her requires maximum concentration and a certain discipline. In other words, now her entire life will be subordinated to the goal. Self discipline is vital - you can't just 'sit on the horse and gallop off'.
- (In response to a question about Aliya's famous temperament.) I asked Aliya to think carefully before making a decision. To which she replied that as far as she was concerned she had decided everything long ago. Why did I decide to take this on? Well, first of all, a desire to help Aliya achieve the objectives she has set for herself. And secondly, any coach would be interested in working with such a high level athlete. Such talents as Mustafina are rare - it's a great experience to work with her, you can improve your own skills.
- We don't have much time before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. But to fulfill all our plans - to add difficulty to the routines and to find the right physical and emotional balance - is quite realistic.
- Before I found Denis, I had worked with girl gymnasts for ten years. When Leonid Arkayev was head coach, I even had a chance to bring gymnasts to Round Lake. I learned about the training system.
In my opinion, you need four or five months to bring Aliya to full form. And about her character, by the way ... there is no problem. You just have to try to engage in dialogue, to explain every action, why you need to do one thing and not another. The principle of "I'm the boss - do what I say" does not work here. Aliya is a mature woman, an athlete, and if she has understanding of what she must do then there is no need to use force.
- I work to the same principles with Ablyazin. Working with such high level gymnasts is not only about learning the technical subtleties. We have to find a common language. In the hall, and beyond. If you begin to treat the athlete as an object, he will immediately notice it. I am present in their lives as much as they need. For example, sometimes on a day off we can dine together, to talk about something in an informal atmosphere ...
- The first person with whom I consulted on this issue before making a decision, was Denis. Whatever changes may occur in my life, they should not be reflected in my work with him. Therefore, if he had said "no", I would have said the same thing to Aliya. He immediately reacted positively to this idea. I tried to schedule training so that the gymnasts do not overlap and each receives his share of individual attention. It is not easy, to be honest. Do I sleep at night? I'm so tired that I just drop off.