Maya, have you mastered the new rules yet? What do you think of them?
– I definitely disagree with some things, but I hope that in general it will contribute to greater public interest and that synchronized swimming will become more understandable, as it did after changing the judging rules of the figure skating.
– Leveling, and it is inevitable after the adoption of new rules, it is always a story with a negative connotation.
– On the one hand, it is not very good, but on the other hand, the viewer will understand what is what and how one team differs from the other. In general, the rules are quite flexible. It is necessary to pass at least one start according to the new rules. While it is difficult to say something.
– And how do you find the news with the acrobatic group? It seems to me that everyone was expecting other changes in the program of the Games.
– This, of course, is a mockery. It was understood that mixed pairs would not appear on the Olympic program until 2028, but the acrobatic program as third in group competitions is absolutely superfluous. The load on the girls who stand in a duo will be enormous. That is not exactly correct.
— How do you explain the decision on the acrobatic group? Wouldn’t it be better to put the handset in a separate set?
– I am generally for the combined with all hands and all feet. I don’t understand why it was removed – a big step backwards. Highlight (acrobatic group – approx.) – the program is spectacular, people like the support.
– What are you preparing for at the moment or are you just putting programs?
– In our preparations, we are guided by the Russian Championship and the Friendship Games, then how it will be. In limbo, of course, we await the decision of the international federation and we work as usual.
Was there a moment of gloom over the suspension in the offseason?
– Actually, there were more sad thoughts during the season. My vacation was very eventful, which I am very happy about. Of course, there was no satisfaction from the season – it seems that you work the same amount, but there is no escape. And it’s difficult without emotional feedback. I was happy that we ended the season at least on a good note and that we “made” the programs.
What did you do during the offseason? Studies, new collaborations, maybe you have created your own company?
– In the summer, I entered the RANEPA master’s program in the Faculty of History – I only prepared for two months, I did not even hope, but I had a good teacher and I managed to prepare myself. As for the collaboration, she started a cooperation with a sportswear brand. I’m very happy with it. Russian brand, in development. Many thanks to my managers Anastasia Romanova and Sergey Rakhimov for helping the brand bring attention to me.
— The other marks did not apply. Maybe, I don’t know, a brand of gelatin!
– This has never happened before! But I’m still waiting! (Laughs)
— Where did the idea of entering the Faculty of History come from?
– I got a bachelor’s degree in journalism and at some point I realized that I didn’t like this job. I wanted to go to the faculty of nutrition, but it did not work out – I gave up on this situation.
– Your whole family is connected to the television.
– Yes, and this did not affect my attitude to this profession. I just realized that I was not very interested, although the first year I cried with joy – everything was new, everything was interesting. I swear by no means, I have this education and I know that I will not be lost.
– Would you like to try yourself as a commentator?
– That would be interesting.
What do you think is missing from the comments on synchronized swimming?
— Silence during programs. When the music is on and they start talking all the time all the time – that’s what I don’t like. At the same time, I understand that it is necessary to explain what is happening. A sense of proportion is important here, I think. Tatyana Anatolyevna Tarasova knows how to do it very well, commenting on figure skating. Marks only the most important, without interfering with the perception of the program.
– Returning to the first subject, you said that synchronized swimming can become more understandable, like a trick. Everyone is talking about programs. In synchronized swimming, only specialists do it. Because the programs remain incomprehensible to a wide range of viewers?
– Including. Also, half of our body is underwater and people think it’s not that spectacular and not that dangerous. A jump is flight, height, beauty, landing. Few people realize that the barracuda element also technically affects the program like a jump in figure skating. Your brush will spin the wrong way, the element is littered and you have a penalty.
That is why the “climax” is more understandable to the viewer – there are many supports, but even their danger and complexity are underestimated by people. They don’t understand that a fall on the head can happen, a shoulder dislocation can happen, like me.
“It seems to me that people don’t just consider it not dangerous, they just don’t think about it.
– I periodically get comments like “oh how beautiful”, “great sport, not dangerous – water is good for your health”. I tried to prove something for a while, but then I decided not to react: yes, yes, it’s not dangerous, the water is good for your health.
How do you explain this to the viewer?
– There should be more material, shows with educational programs during the program to explain what is happening.
– About educational programs. Some generally believe that synchronized swimming should not be called a sport. Have you encountered this?
– Sure. I also discovered that people don’t even know what it is.
– Perhaps for the sake of popularization it would be worthwhile to authorize two soloists and two duets from leading countries according to quotas. Then there would be an internal struggle at the international level, maybe there would be more news and comparisons, as figure skaters are constantly being compared.
– We would all be for it. And it would be great if several mixed pairs were also allowed from the country.
“And would you be willing to have a toxic discussion?”
– Why not? For me, it’s even encouraging.
Source : MatchTV
