“At some point I realized I either had to finish or change something.” Timoshinina about a new attitude to a career

Diving World Championships Julia Timoshina at the start of a difficult season for her, she scored a hat-trick by winning three gold medals. We talked about the psychological reset, injuries and the chances of making it to the Olympics.

“I’m more than satisfied, I didn’t even expect to win three gold medals,” says Yulia. “Now it’s even hard to believe. Once I had four gold medals, but I was younger and it was easier. It’s been a tough season in terms of injuries. He there was not a single gathering that nothing hurt. I get up in the morning and can’t unfold, although there was no hint. Before the Russian championship, my hand “flew out” during training – I couldn’t jump for a week Can you imagine not jumping for a week before a competition You start to get nervous, worry – everyone is training and if you jump , you will fly away for another week.

There were problems with the shoulders. We started with Anya (Konanykhina) to train a lot of compulsory jumps and at one point my shoulder hurt so much that I had to go to the doctor. I was told that now it will hurt me all my life – the operation will not help, there are no ligaments, but something more with the bones.

There are no international departures, but you force yourself to jump. And yet you cannot. Three gold medals will stimulate me in this regard.

– Have you used up all the supplies of teips on you and Anya, or is there something else left?

– I think he’s staying. We have a lot of people who need it.

– Has it become more interesting to perform in the Russian Championship?

– Not really. But now I have such a period in my life that I learned to appreciate performance. The competitions began to bring positives. I’m not 18 anymore, like the girls on the team. And now I can say that I love what I do.

Why didn’t you have fun before? Too bothered?

– Yes. In addition, my family is athletic. They always expected something from me, my mother put pressure on me, there were failures at international competitions – one way or another, at the European Championship, I did not reached the final. And when one after another leaves, it is difficult to get out of this state. It only gets worse. But during the Olympic season, I started working with a psychologist and my jumps improved a lot. I feel more confident and that makes me feel good.

– Someone recently said he was his own psychologist. Didn’t you believe before that it would help either?

– Many do not believe. It’s their business. I believed, but I was afraid, I didn’t know how to turn. At some point, I realized I couldn’t take it anymore. Either I finish or I change something. My friend Lena Chernykh advised me to consult a psychologist, a specialist who was not part of the national team.

Are you jealous of people who don’t care?

– No. I’m not like that at all. I have everything clear, I have a plan. Even a vacation is important to plan, not this “let’s take it and go”. I am not one of those. And I love that I have it.

– Has the story of the lack of international departures affected you financially?

– I can’t say that everything is bad, the federation makes its prize money, the Ministry of Sports supports it. We used to have good prizes only at the World Series, the rest of the competitions didn’t bring in so much money.

– There was no idea to look for personal sponsors, to embark on a fitness model? ..

“Maybe one day, but not yet. Even if it would be difficult to combine, one day I will. While I managed to get my master’s degree, I studied to become a coach. I don’t want to give up, but for now I can say that I wouldn’t want to train my children, as was the case with me. My parents are aware of this. And now I’m very happy that my mother and I were able to build a healthy relationship, she jumped on her own and knows what it’s like. And I am no longer a child to insult myself.

– Do you miss international competitions?

– In terms of atmosphere, I miss it. Traveling, chatting with other people, it was more diverse.

— What do you need to do now to make everything more diverse again in your calendar?

– Last year we had more competitions, more events. It will also include the Kremlin Cup, the Friendship Games, but all this after the Russian championship and that’s not so important. Moreover, the Kremlin Cup after the holidays, so what shape will someone be – questions.

– Are you spending your holidays by the sea or going to the mountains?

– Last year we went with Zhenya (Kuznetsov) to Dombay. I liked it a lot there. Now we plan to go to Sochi and then to Türkiye.

Do you believe in participating in the Olympic Games?

“I don’t think about it anymore. It’s very hard to believe when everyone says we can’t make it. They will allow us – we are all fit, we will go. Otherwise… I think everyone is ready for such a decision.

Watch live broadcasts of the Russian Diving Championship from June 24 to 29 on the Match outfit TV channels, as well as on the sportbox.ru and matchtv.ru websites.