Ilya Grishunin: Desire, aspiration keys to victory
By Amina Nazarli
February is around the corner, and in the meantime the European Games are getting closer and closer. A grand event, to be held for the first time in history, will bring together 20 types of sports. Among them there will be all gymnastic disciplines, including rhythmic, acrobatic and aerobic gymnastics, women's and men's artistic gymnastics and trampolining.
In trampolining, Azerbaijan will be represented by 2 male and 2 female gymnasts. Following the games, they will perform individually and in synchro pairs.
The press service of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation presents interview with Ilya Grishunin - one of the possible participants of the 2015 European Games.
Question: How did you turn to gymnastics? Why did you
choose this sport?
Answer: I was brought to
gymnastics (trampolining) by my mother, I didn't choose it myself.
However, I got used to it and realized gradually that I cannot live
without it.
Q: Could you have a good performance in other
sport?
A: Sure. I think I would have been successful in
all types of sports. If a person has a sports talent, then he or
she has a potential to perform well in all sports. For example, I
like diving, gymnastics, boxing, football, hockey...
Q: What is the most important part of each
sport?
A: Desire and perseverance. Then comes the mode
and etc. There are different aspects. But the most important thing
is desire and aspiration. One has to wish to achieve something, and
most importantly to understand what exactly he wants to
achieve.
Q: How do you deal with the emotions on competition
days? Are there any special secrets of self-control?
A: In recent days, for some reasons I didn't care
about them at all. I guess I somehow have disconnected myself from
all the fears and think that I should not be afraid. The experience
is helpful.
Q: How dangerous is to be engaged in professional
sports, or it depends on the sport?
A: As they say, danger is lurking around every
bend, but if you ever get injured, the brain automatically will
analyze how to fall in a way that nothing will be damaged. The
survival instinct is triggered even when you do not think about
it.
Q: Do you have a sport's idol?
A: Yes, it's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, the Norwegian
biathlete. I just wonder how a forty year-old man can win the
Olympics. And the fact that he is a seven-time Olympic champion is
striking and inspiring at the same time.
Q: Tell us about your plans for near
future?
A: I want to win more medals. At least, I would
like to win the bronze medal at the European Games. At the World
Team Championships I would like to get qualified for the 2016
Olympic Games. These are my plans.
Q: What do the European Games mean for you and how do
you prepare for them?
A: For me it's a completely new competition. I'm
getting ready for the games very seriously, because for me it is
the most important event. Especially because it will be held at
home. Therefore, trainings are even 200 percent seriously.
Q: If stay a little bit away from the sport, do you have
any aspirations or dreams that you want to implement?
A: I love music. I compose club music mixing it on
computer. Unfortunately, I can not do it fully now because of lack
of time and other factors. I hope that in the future I will be able
to work in this direction.
Q: Are you able to combine successfully sport with
normal life?
A: Sometimes I just don’t feel like doing anything
as I have no power enough. Sometimes there is not enough time. But
one can and should allocate time to this.
Q: Tell us about your family.
A: I am married and I have a child. He is one and
half year old. They are good and wonderful. I love them. I want two
more children (laughing).
Q: What do your fans usually shout, and what do you want
to hear from them?
A: I would like to see no one shouting, because in
our sport it distracts us (laughing). During the football match,
one can shout something, we can be supported only by super
professional persons. I really liked the atmosphere at the World
Championships in the United States: the background music played
softly, the fans were all silent. This music helps us calm down
very much.