Romashina: “I could have chosen ballroom dancing, I probably didn’t like my partner very much”

Seven-time Olympic synchronized swimming champion Svetlana Romachina said that at one point she made an unfavorable choice about ballroom dancing because she didn’t really like her partner.

Romashina is the most successful synchronized swimmer in history.

— As a child, in addition to synchronized swimming, I did ballroom dancing, but it was a big load and I had to choose. It was hard, I really liked dancing, but I chose synchronized swimming. Then it seemed to me that this was just a solo program, where I would play alone, no one would bother me, no one would work with my feet next to me. I didn’t understand then that it could be a duo or a group where you would have to push someone to get support.

I guess I didn’t like my partner very much yet, because boys are not always as responsible as girls, and since childhood I was a child who had to do everything right – join the rhythm, but here the boy had to calculate when to join. I already had the role of commander. Ultimately, I chose synchronized swimming, then ended up in pairs and groups, where I also had to count “five, six, seven, eight” to get everyone in on time. When people ask me if you would go down this path again, I always say “yes”. I would have succeeded with great pleasure, ”said Romashina, speaking at the Knowledge Society conference.

— Do you want this path for your daughter?

– That’s another question. My husband is currently opposed to my daughter taking up synchronized swimming, even though she goes to the pool and knows how to swim. But she wants to become a ballerina. She has already seen the performances of synchronized swimmers more than once, and I periodically show her Russian classical ballet – it is the best that can be, there is no better Russian ballet in the world. If she chooses synchronized swimming, I will support her. But when I went to class a few times, they dragged her into the splits, and it hurt, she said, “Mom, I’m not going there anymore.” We must accept his choice. She studied music notation and grew up as a creative child. Love creativity.