Azernews.Az

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.