Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Rhythmic gymnastics is one of the many disciplines that are included in the European Games in Baku this summer. Two individual gymnasts and a group team will represent Azerbaijan in this sport.

Gulsum Shafizade, a candidate for participation in the games talked how she has come to the sport, her sport plans and much more in an interview to the Azerbaijan Gymnastic Federation.

Question: How did you turn to gymnastics? Why did you choose this sport?

Answer: First, my sister was involved in rhythmic gymnastics and later my mother decided to send me to the gym, as I was a very active and restless child. In a nutshell, it was my mother's choice.

Q: Could you have a good performance in other sport?
A: Probably not. Since childhood my life has been very closely linked with rhythmic gymnastics, so I can not imagine myself in any other sport.

Q: What is the most important thing in any sport?
A: I believe that the most important thing is hard work, patience and faith. One must work hard every day, during each training and to overcome laziness and fatigue. One must be patient and understand that everything takes time. He or she should also believe in him/herself, his or her coach and that everything will be good.

Q: How do you deal with the emotions on competition days? Are there any special secrets of self-control?
A: Each athlete feels the excitement before performance. But for me, it is a little bit different. Being at the backstage, I'm a little worried, but when I go out on the carpet and hear fans' screaming - all the fears disappear and I perform with a great pleasure. What about the secrets of self-control - everyone has own secrets, and of course, I have them too. But then, they are secrets (laughing).

Q: How dangerous is to be engaged in professional sports, or it depends on the sport?
A: I can not say that gymnastics is a very traumatic sport, but almost everyone who is professionally engaged in sports has injuries.

Q: Do you have a sport's idol?
A: My idol is Daria Dmitrieva who won the silver medal of the London Olympic Games.

Q: Tell us about your plans for near future.
A: I do not like to plan ahead - time will tell. But I can say that the most important competitions of the year are the European Championships, the European Games and the World Cup, where there will be qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. I would like to represent my country worthily at these competitions.

Q: What do European Games mean for you and how do you prepare for them?
A: European Games is one of the most important events in the history of world sport, and our responsibility grows twice, as they are being held for the first time and in our country.

Q: If stay a little bit away from the sport - do you have any aspirations or dreams that you want to implement?
A: Yes, of course I have, after all, life after sport should also be interesting.

Q: Are you able to combine sport with normal life?
A: No, but I'm not complaining (laughing).

Q: Tell us about your family.
A: I have a very close-knit family - mother, sister and me. My mother is a military, sister is a coach at the national team in rhythmic gymnastics.

Q: What do your fans usually shout, and want do you want to hear from them?
A: Before leaving the carpet, I am totally focused on my performance, and to be honest, I hear only one cries. After the performance, I begin to distinguish between words their chanting "Azerbaijan! Azerbaijan!" which gives me the creeps.

Q: What would you like to tell them?
A: Thank you for who you are!

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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