“I plan to compete in 2024, but we’ll see what happens next.” Interview with Kolesnichenko

The most successful active Russian athlete, three-time Olympic champion Svetlana Kolesnichenko was left without a Games in Paris, but does not yet intend to end her career – at least, this will not happen in 2024. From December 10, the synchronized swimmer will perform with Maya Doroshko at the international competitions of the Federation Cup in Kazan, where she will present new programs staged according to the new rules of the aquatic world.

— Svetlana, as I understand it, two new duo programs will debut at the Federation Cup. Will you be surprised?

— As far as possible under the new rules. This is now an exclusive story. But now I look at our new duet programs, and it seems to me that they are quite interesting, although according to the new rules, in general, everything turns out to be as dry and even sad as possible.

— Not yet used to it?

— The acceptance stage was reached last year. It was then that they began to carry out these programs, on which they worked in parallel with those presented at the Russian Championship. We simply decided to show them not in April, but at the end of the year. So, during this time, the stage of acceptance has been passed, as well as the stage of humility and refusal. In this respect, we are hostages of the situation. We set ourselves the task of adding something interesting to the story proposed by the regulations. I hope we were able to add style to the programs, highlight the style and convey the subject of our productions. Our task is not to stupidly show technical elements, but to preserve the beauty of synchronized swimming in current conditions and rules.

— Which species suffers the most from the new rules?

— In a solo, you don’t even have time to breathe. Here is the timing: 2 minutes 15 seconds, you must have time to establish seven connections. We want to make the program as complex as possible, so the solo is like this: “connection – inspiration – connection – inspiration – connection – inspiration”. Eventually the gills will grow (laughs).

“We can joke endlessly about gills, but such a load is detrimental to our health.” And it seriously hits…

“This is why we have rebuilt the training program to adapt it to the new rules. There is now more work on holding your breath and your endurance. And I had to adapt to it too.

— Are there any restrictions on music?

– We do not have. I’ve heard about figure skaters and their history, but we haven’t encountered anything like this.

***

“When we spoke to you in the spring, you were almost the only one who believed in a miracle. But now our synchronized swimming is officially without the Olympics.

– No miracle happened. I’m just the type of person who doesn’t get discouraged. And what’s more, I have everything: Olympic gold and world championship gold. Of course, I would like to go to the third Olympic Games, but I can say that I am not upset. I have accepted this and am preparing for the Friendship Games.

— From what I understand, you are not joining the group yet. This means a little more free time. How do you spend it?

— We work in Moscow, so the schedule is from nine in the morning to six in the evening in the pool. I have little strength left, we work without glasses, I come home and only have the energy to lie down on the bed. You can’t even see the TV because you can’t open your eyes.

— Are you participating in the “Olympic Champions Show”?

— In Moscow and Saint Petersburg. After Kazan we will play in other cities. We managed to travel to Ulan-Ude and Krasnoyarsk based on fairy tales – I really enjoyed it.

— What motivates you to stay in sport?

— Everyone asked me: “Won’t Sveta leave?” She clearly answered: “I will definitely participate in 2024”, but we will see. I haven’t swum enough yet. I come to work and I enjoy it. I want to compete under the new rules, I want to participate in the BRICS Games and the Friendship Games, and maybe then there will be a World Championship for us in Singapore.

Our preparation has not changed, the work is as intense as it would be if we were preparing for the Olympic Games.

— You didn’t want to change your citizenship?

— This question has never been raised. I didn’t think about it for a second.

— What needs to happen for you to stay after 2024?

– Let’s see. Ideally, we would be allowed to participate in the World Cup in Singapore without restrictions on the flag and anthem.

— Do you watch international competitions?

“I watched the entire World Cup calmly. Many people who sincerely love synchronized swimming did not understand why the strongest teams became seventh, for example. But the rules have changed and we too, looking from the outside, draw some conclusions. The Chinese team, from what I understand, lost the gold in one event because they filled in the cards incorrectly according to the program.

I saw how men behaved in groups – many teams included them on the team. Bill May competed and even won silver. Synchronized swimming is developing as best it can. This is probably a fertile time for betting. Previously, everything was more or less clear depending on the top 3. But I hope that when we return, there will be no more questions for the winner.

— Have you gotten used to the avalanche of hatred from football fans when you brought up the salary issue?

“This time I didn’t say it so harshly.” But in general, of course, I understand that football is a national sport with a large number of supporters and sponsors.

— Would you like to comment on the latest figure skating news?

– It’s a very dangerous job (laughs). What are you talking about? There is a mountain behind them.

— Would you tolerate it if your fans and those of Romashina, for example, argued like in the figurine?

— I just wouldn’t go on social media! Skateboarders, of course, are more publicized, they are more present on social networks, which means that the risk of being confronted with hatred is higher. And so, I read the channel “Peretrem” (hosted by Alexandra Patskevich, Romashina, Vlad Chigireva) and learn all the news from there.

– There is also a “Water Match”, Svetlana!

– I’m signed! I read these two channels and find out all the latest news. That’s all I need.

— I know this isn’t your story, but during the suspension period, would you like to work on your personal brand, PR and social media?

— I still don’t want to do that, I don’t even have a Telegram channel. I don’t get any pleasure from it. I won’t be able to publish content every day: I won’t have enough time. Blogging isn’t really my thing.

Now I live on a schedule: I come back from training, lie down to rest, walked with the dogs, read something and it’s time to sleep. In the morning I get up and go to training. Like Groundhog Day. I can also watch a movie; now the divers have a film coming out. I would love to see it.

— If they made a film about your duet with Romashina, would it be a drama or a comedy?

– Tragi-comedy! Where it’s both sad and funny. But still drama. With a happy ending, of course.