Photograph of Aliya Mustafina by Platon Shilikov, courtesy of Bolshoi Sport
As I mentioned early in May, Aliya features in a special interview/photo feature in this month's edition of the Alexei Nemov backed glossy magazine Bolshoi Sport. You can access a digital copy at http://www.bolshoisport.ru/issues (no 6 (93)) or buy hard copies at Zinio - http://ru.zinio.com/www/browse/product.jsp?rf=sch&productId=500305166
I will be trying to buy some copies of the magazine myself in the next few days.
The interview is very interesting - I have summarised most of the key points below.
I should add to this some exciting news that Veronika heard this morning on Russian TV (from videos currently geo-blocked in the UK) - Aliya has said that for Rio she is working on upgrades on vault (the Amanar, maybe?), bars and beam. Along with her double straight and turn combination on floor, that's a significant workload Aliya has set herself! She is very inspirational, and this is exciting news.
Now read on - the following interview summary is courtesy of Bolshoi Sport - please be careful to credit and link them if you copy the pictures or any of the text.
About injury
Already I am training at full strength. It still hurts, but not as much - there is nothing that can be done. The German doctors seem to have found the problem, prescribed medication and special exercises, but one can't completely get rid of the pain. In any case, I can do the things that I need to, try something new and prepare my programme.
About the European Games in Baku
I'll be back on the podium in Baku in June. My programme won't seriously differ from the one I presented at the World Championships in China- it won't be so easy to come up with something radically new. I will try to do some things more cleanly. Changes in the rules have reduced the complexity of my programme on the uneven bars, and we will have to seriously alter it.
About the American women
They are not like us, they are powerful, less artistic. But in modern gymnastics a lack of femininity does not reduce the marks. Yes, there is talk that our sport must again become beautiful, but these are only words. We will try to meet the modern realities, but choreography is my big strong point ('Aliya says 'trump' as if in a card game).
About the juniors
I get on with them well, I try to support them and help. I restrain myself, trying to be calm. One can not show that you are nervous, as the negative feeling can be passed to them.
About teammates
All the girls who spoke at the European championship are very funny. Masha Paseka wasn't supposed to go to the European Championships, and only came in at the last minute. Without having a chance to try out the arena and apparatus, she still managed to win. That's awesome. Dasha Spiridonova is a great person. Masha Kharenkova, who came second in the all-around, never gives up. She often likes to say something funny in training. I'm sure she has a great future. And Ksenia Afanasyeva is the Queen of the floor.
Then there is Vika Komova, who hasn't performed for a long time, and plans to be back on the podium in time for Baku. We often chat, discuss our return.
A new coach
I like working with Sergei Starkin. He speaks his mind and does what he says he will, always owns up to his mistakes, and thoroughly explains what we have to do and why it is necessary to do so. Sergei Valerivich made me promise that I would go to bed on time, not to drink cola. It does not bother me that my coach also works with Denis Ablyazin. From the beginning I knew that if Sergei V agreed to be my coach, he would do everything possible to share his efforts and make sure that no one is left unattended.
The end of her career
I still have time. I do not know how the rest of my life after sports will go, and I'm not thinking about it. I am concentrating on what's happening now.
About her car
I have a very ordinary car. Behind the wheel I feel pretty confident, but I'm still an inexperienced driver. But I drive carefully, and when I know the way, it's not scary. I am used to traffic jams.
About cats
In my Instagram there are photos of me with cats, but personally I do not have any. Unfortunately I can't have one because at Round Lake there is nobody to look after the cat, and at home Dad does not really want pets.