The 2022 European Championship, which ended in Tel Aviv on June 19, handed out twelve awards to the tournament hosts, including five gold, four silver and three bronze. The Israeli team won the main victory in the individual program on Saturday, June 18 in the all-around – it won against individual athletes Daria Atamanova. The next day, Daria added three silver coins to the piggy bank: in a hoop, maces and a ribbon.
These medals were celebrated with his athlete Ayelet Zusman coach of Tokyo Olympic champion Lina Ashram. Celebrated with Ayelet and Lina herself, already an assistant coach. Considering that the Israeli team missed the last World Cup, there was cause for celebration – Zusman’s students won the all-around in the second main tournament in a row: first the Tokyo Olympics, then the World Championship. at home.
At the same time, Atamanova, despite confident performances at the start of the season, did not take part in the last starts. Boryana Kalein (Bulgaria) and Sofia Rafaelli (Italy) were more considered for the role of continental championship favourites. However, Israel has the all-around gold, Kalain is second and Rafaelli is only fourth. With the emotions of Atamanova’s medals, we started a conversation with Ayelet and Daria herself.
“Ayelet, is this victory unexpected?
Zusman: – I’m really really happy. I just don’t believe it. Daria hasn’t performed in the last competitions, but she came here and showed herself from the best side, she was very focused on every exercise. I am very proud of her, of my team, of the coaches who helped me a lot.
– Dasha, four days of competition are behind you, which was the most difficult?
Atamanova: – I think it’s the last one.
– Fatigue?
– There was no fatigue, we were preparing for it, we knew that the four days would be tense.
– Did the all-around gold add liability on the day of the final, when you have already entered them into European champion status?
– I don’t think about it, I just try to do everything the best I can.
– Was it difficult to return to competitive mode after winning the all-around?
– I think that’s what an athlete should be able to do without a problem.
– Ayelet, why did Daria miss the last starts?
Zusman: – She got injured, so we missed quite a few stages in Pamplona (Spain) and Portimão (Portugal). In Pesaro (Italy), we had initially not planned to go there, because this stage is too tight with regard to the calendar of the European Championship. So, because of Daria’s injury, I sent other gymnasts to Pamplona and Portimao to have time to recover. And I am very happy that even after such a long break from competition, Daria showed her sporting character, her ability to fight. I wasn’t sure she could do it, but she did.
– Daria, were you worried about whether you would have time to get in shape that would be enough for the European Championship?
Atamanova: There was excitement, of course. But when there is a goal, then you do everything in your power. Thanks to everyone who helped me.
“Ayelet, did I understand correctly that one of those who helped was Lina Ashram, who is already working with you as a coach?
Zusman: – Yes, Lina works with us, among other things she transfers her energy and her ability to believe in herself to the girls. She is very helpful.
– How did she come to this decision to stay in the gym as a coach?
“Immediately after Linoy ended her career, she switched to this role. And even before that, when she was still on stage, she sometimes behaved like a coach – she worked with Daria, for example. She also helped at the club level, with children from seven to eight years old. It doesn’t matter if she works with children or older gymnasts, like Daria. She will be a good coach.
– How did you and Lina decide to end her career?
– We made this decision together, she reached the maximum in gymnastics, became an Olympic champion. We couldn’t even imagine such a thing. But no matter how the Olympics ended for Lina, if she became second or third there, we would still have made the decision to finish, because her sports career was very impressive anyway.
– A year ago, during the pre-Olympic European Championships in Varna, you told me that it was difficult for Lina to motivate herself for another year indoors due to the postponement of the Games to 2021. Now, after a while, do you think this year influenced the outcome of the Games?
“I think it was good for Lina. This time helped her to add level and as a result everything ended perfectly.
– You are now entering a new Olympic cycle with Lina as an assistant and Daria Atamanova as a rising star in the individual program. What can you say about the new rules which will be in force before the Paris Games?
– I think they are very good. Now, no one knows how the fight will end, because no one knows what will happen on the mat. It is impossible to predict what a particular gymnast will demonstrate – a complete set of the elements she has planned, otherwise she will lose two points. In my opinion, it is more objective.
“Objectively?” But what about branding for art, which many don’t understand?
“I meant D for body and apparatus difficulties. Artistry is more subjective, but I can say that when a gymnast combines elements and emotions, she gets a good mark. So art is subjective, yes, but not too much.
As a trainer, I work with all the components of the exercise, I like the art, I like the dance part, because I compose the exercises and I like when it’s interesting to be at the gym, because it’s my life, from morning to night. Without artistic talent in the exercises, it will not be so interesting.
– In Russia, they began to perform according to their own rules of rhythmic gymnastics, have you heard of this?
Yes, and they are very difficult. In Russia, the gymnasts are of a very high level, and they can do a lot, for them it is probably normal. But I don’t have a definitive opinion on that.
Source : MatchTV
