Interview for Komsomolskaya Pravda (Part3)
21 Oct 2008- Major sport – this isn’t just about victories, but also pain and injury, psychological breakdowns, and so forth. Do you think about this? – Certainly I think about it. I’ve had injuries, but God has mercy. I’ve only twisted a few ankles. I had more frequent injuries in gymnastics. I always listen to my body. If I feel pain or any twinges in my muscles, my coach and I will stop working or switch to a different group of muscles. Vitaly Afanasevich Petrov (incidentally, the former coach of Sergey Bubka) never drives me to injury.
- You’re not yet writing a book, like Sveta Korkina? – No. But the project exists.
- When we presented the order “Sports Glory of Russia” to you, I asked what your dearest dream was. And you suddenly replied, in complete seriousness, that you wanted to ride on a dolphin… – This was in 2004. I could only see Dolphins on TV – from where else in Volgograd? And then suddenly, out of the blue, a theatre with dolphins came to our town. I went and have been inspired by them ever since. I just fell in love! They are such nice, sincere animals. I wanted to stroke, to touch… And now twice I’ve swum with them. Granted, not in Russia.
- A dream come true. Is there yet another dream, a fresh one, as they say? – I’ve probably left dreams behind in childhood. For me to get what I want, I have to brutally plow. So I don’t dream, but set goals for myself. When I reach one, I go on to the next.
- How do your parents feel about your success? – Naturally they are happy. Dad is very proud. Only they say: take care of your health, because sport is not eternal, and you still have to have children. That’s what my mom always says.
- By the way, about children… – …I don’t know. None are expected so far.
- Well, you were seen with a very impressive, albeit young, man in Volgograd… – And what, I’m not alive? Of course I have a young man. I don’t know yet when I’ll have a child. But I dream about having a husband and children… Just like normal people.
- Apparently, this is quite serious? – Yes.
- And you, Lena, believe that luck has always been with you? – I believe that everyone has it. Some take advantage of it, and some do not. Because the person lying on the sofa will never see luck, the lazy are never lucky. But the man who is seeking something, falls, gets back up, and overcomes himself – he is always lucky. He always gets what he wants. I think I’ve proven it. Because many who have known me since childhood say: Yes, Lena, you have achieved everything through your work.
Vladimir KOZIN
