“I haven’t swum yet. I’ll leave when I get tired of the water. Gurbanberdieva on the future of sport, Olympics discussions and double standards

The first day of the Russian synchronized swimming championship Maya Gurbanberdieva in a duet with Alexander Maltsev, she won gold in the technical program. This season, she will also perform at the BRICS Games, after which she will focus on her health.

— Maya, you missed the Federation Cup, how do you feel now?

— Last year I had to miss two and a half months due to a back injury, but unfortunately it was not enough for a full recovery, but I am still ready to fight. We worked with Alexander (Maltsev) and Gana Vladimirovna (Maksimova, coach – Editor’s note: ), the preparation turned out to be forced, but we still decided to participate in the Russian Championship.

—Is this an old injury or did this all happen unexpectedly?

“It was quite abrupt and unexpected for me, it all happened in October last year, the problem is quite serious. After the BRICS Games, I will go for rehabilitation and recovery.

“You won’t have the Friendship Games.”

— Yes, unfortunately we were never included in their program. We have already gotten used to this idea and react quite calmly. We are preparing for competitions that are close to our hearts.

— Alexander Maltsev even raised this issue at the Olympic meeting. Do you even feel listened to?

“At first we were very upset by this decision, there was outrage, then acceptance came. There are competitions – the Russian Championship, the BRICS Games, which we are looking forward to and for which we are preparing very hard.

— I was always interested in what kind of relationship you have with Olesya Platonova (the second partner of Alexander Maltsev. — Rating from ), judging by the karaoke video, it is very good.

– We are very close friends. You could say we grew up in the same pool, I’ve known her since she was six. At some point she changed to my coach Tatyana Yuryevna Apanasenko and we became even closer. It’s clear that there were misunderstandings, like everyone else, but we resolved the problem and now we can’t turn the tide.

– You are very different!

“But opposites come together.” She is definitely calmer, gentler, and I am more explosive and impulsive.

– How do you live? Is there enough income? However, you have fewer starts than the same swimmers.

– There is nothing to add. There is a monthly salary and cash prizes. Yes, there are not so many of them and they are not as big as in swimming or gymnastics, but this is quite enough for us. We almost always had the same amounts, except for international departures. Of course I want more. But that doesn’t depend on us.

— Does participating in the show help psychologically and financially?

– Especially psychologically. It’s a good emotional charge. At the end of 2023, we were in different cities, it’s a new audience, new places, an interesting experience. You are not competing with anyone, you are simply playing for your own enjoyment. On such trips, you will see the sparkling eyes of children and answer their questions. It does my soul good and I become more motivated to continue.

— Have you watched the World Cup?

— In extracts. Especially leaders – those who ended up on the pedestal and those who didn’t. It is difficult to comment on anything; the new rules add to the absurdity.

– But you can comment on the absurdity.

– I think everything has already been said. Our sport has become even more subjective.

— So they wanted to add objectivity, but they added subjectivity? They renamed it artistic – there was less artistic talent.

“I don’t think they realize what they’ve done.” All their actions lead to the total destruction of synchronized swimming.

— Do you want to go over all that when there is such a mess in the rules?

— To be honest, the desire to enter the international scene in this circus of the absurd has somewhat faded.

— Could there be a problem with the arbitration?

– Enough.

“But it seems to me that Svetlana Kolesnichenko will make as many screws as she wants and they will be the best in the world.” Objectively the best.

“I don’t doubt it at all, but looking at the World Championships, where a lot of things were also obvious, there were still a lot of questions for the refereeing.

— Why do you still stay in sport? You have a television family, you also received a proper education. There is surely an opportunity to try to follow this path.

– I didn’t swim enough. I’m going to swim until the water makes me sick. The main thing is that your health allows it. I love what I do, even despite the new rules.

— Does your environment advise you to stop exercising?

– No. Another thing is that when a health problem arises, an injury occurs, they can ask: “Maybe this is enough?” They just worry about their health. And everyone supports my choice and my love for my work.

— What are you planning for your vacation this year? Are you going to conquer the peaks again?

— I was going to a mountaineering camp, with the intention of climbing Kazbek and obtaining a Russian mountaineering certificate. Unfortunately, the injury will not allow me to do this, because there is a long rehabilitation ahead. You need to put your health in order – then there will be results and mountains.

—Are you going to watch the Olympics?

– Yes. Interestingly, these will be the first Synchronized Swimming Games under the new rules. Today it is even difficult to predict anything.

— What do you think of the discussion about participating in the Olympic Games in neutral status?

– I can only speak for myself. I have no right to judge anyone and I don’t want to. The sporting life is short, especially in certain sports. But I myself would categorically refuse.

— Despite the fact that there have been no Olympic Games in your career?

– Even despite that. Because for me all the manipulations to obtain a neutral status are humiliating. I want to see my country’s flag standing on a pedestal and listen to my anthem.

— Who do you think will become the first men’s Olympic champion?

– But I do not know. From what I understand, the Italians do not play Giorgio Minisini in their team. Now it’s hard to even imagine. I think the Americans will put Bill May on the team. There is no understanding about China. Let’s look at the facts.

— China is booming these days. I’m talking about their swimmers, representatives of your aquatic family. What do you think if this had happened at the Russian team’s training camp, what would have happened?

“I think we would have done everything to prevent him from reaching the Olympics in that situation.” I don’t know how this will all evolve, but the thoughts are ambiguous and we see that double standards appear everywhere. Athletes from other countries are treated more loyally than Russian athletes.

— Maybe we just don’t know how to protect our interests within the CAS? No one denies the existence of questions regarding the legal support of Valieva’s case.

“It is difficult for me to objectively assess the situation; I didn’t delve into this story, I didn’t do an in-depth analysis. But I probably agree that we need to be bolder and tougher in terms of protecting our athletes.

— By the way, have you received any messages from figure skating fans after giving an interview about their sport?

— There were a few comments after last year’s interview. But I won’t say they were offensive or super toxic. I understood that there would be a reaction, and I took it calmly.

— Would you like to work as a commentator at the Friendship Games, especially since you won’t be playing?

“It would be an interesting new experience.”

— We talked about your vision of the synchronized swimming commentary. Now that the rules are completely different, should this affect the commenting style? It is impossible at present to talk only about synchronicity, the height of the supports, the beauty of swimsuits, while mathematics fully plays its role.

— I have always been in favor of people being able to watch the program and putting most of the commentary on video rebroadcast. But now, really, a lot of explanation is needed. So yes, stage directions during the program are now essential.

—Have you fully mastered the rules yet? Or are there still many unclear moments?

— In fact, questions remain; Sometimes you need to consult how to write an item on the coach’s card. So we ourselves are still adapting.

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