Quadruple world champion in synchronized swimming Alexander Maltsev spoke to about the priorities of the season, impressions of the World Cup, leaving neutral status and coaching experience.
From the 2023 season, new rules apply to synchronized swimming which affect the method of calculating results, establishing programs and judging.
— How did you experience the period following the Fed Cup?
— We did a recovery camp in the Emirates, then returned to work and started to complicate the programs according to the new rules in order to have the required complexity. We decided not to miss the Russian Championship, because in the absence of the World and European Championships and the Olympic Games, this is one of the most important starts for us. After the Russian Championship, we will further refine the programs; at the BRICS Games, they will become even more complex.
— What impression did the World Cup make? Didn’t that make you angry because now you have to win like that (after the rules reform)?
“That’s more likely how it happened.” People who make decisions about our sport probably do so for good reasons, but the end result is unfortunate. Watching competitions of this quality is sad and uninteresting. And all this raises questions even among those who do not follow our sport very closely. It’s a shame. It is also a shame, because the children who came to synchronized swimming, inspired by our performances, now see with what performances they can win at the World Championships according to the new rules. They also have to initially do something that is not what they expected. We hope that the rules will be adapted after the Olympic Games. We have already made some changes, but they are not global and do not change the overall structure. So you really don’t have to count on anything.
— Did Vasilina Khondoshko’s performance contribute to this? For her, many are happy that there is a medal, but it was also a “statement”.
“And it was because of his performance that they made at least some changes, the same ones I talked about earlier.”
— Where do we get positive emotions from in this situation?
— We work, we have no time for depression and apathy. We are also trying to find in the new rules what will set us apart from others. But we still hope that the situation will return in the right direction. If things continue like this, the sport will die before our eyes.
— Theoretically, you could participate as a soloist in the World Championships in neutral status. Why didn’t you do that?
— Our leaders consulted with the Russian Olympic Committee, it was decided not to compete in conditions that violate the rights of the athlete, human rights – it would be necessary to completely neutralize yourself, renounce your country before and after the competitions you plan to participate in. compete.
— Based on what you saw at the World Championships, what did you like?
“There’s nothing to enjoy there with the new rules, other than maybe acrobatic group performances.” There is more freedom in some ways. The only view where you can watch something.
— Will you be part of a group at the BRICS and Friendship Games?
— We initially said that I would only be able to join the group this season if the team made the Olympics. At the BRICS Games, I have two solo programs, two mixed duets. The Friendship Games will take place in synchronized swimming only in Olympic disciplines.
— Do you think that with the new rules we can show the world our style this season?
– We will try. Despite the absurdity of the new rules, our programs are at least musical and at least somehow correspond to the image, we try not to move away from art, unlike what everyone saw at the Championships of World. We will try to maintain the highest level. Foreigners are constantly watching us, watching our programs, commenting on everything, making their own comments – what is good and what is bad in the productions and judgments. And when we and the group played, without yet looking for complexity, they wrote and said that the Russians do everything the old way and it’s time to move on to new rules.
– Have you moved?
– Yes. But you always have the feeling that it is another sport.
— What interesting things are happening in your life besides synchronized swimming?
– I’ve finished my studies. Defended his doctoral thesis. It is therefore the end of studies, but not of science: there will be a sequel. In addition, I train children and adolescents and I really enjoy it. I like it not only from the point of view of the result, but also from the point of view of the educational component.
– What kind of coach are you?
— I can be strict, but I try to be fair. I don’t exaggerate – I don’t shout, I try to train in a gentler form. But I don’t want to get completely into coaching yet. I plan to continue my career.
—Aren’t you upset about the Friendship Games? Mixed duos are still not on the program, even if you raised this issue during the Olympic meeting.
“I understood that they could already answer me: “you are not in the Olympic program, sorry. » Of course, it’s a shame. We tried to raise this issue earlier, especially through the media. There were no results.
— When the terrorist attack took place at Crocus City Hall, I remembered that we met at the nearby Crocus City mall and the first interview was recorded there. You no longer do shows there?
— “Crocus” is a big part of my story. So some people called to see if I was there the day of the terrorist attack. Upon arrival in Moscow, I trained with Maria Nikolaevna Maksimova and our performances at the “Theater on the Water” took place at Crocus City Mall. I played it almost every weekend and holiday. I have gained extensive experience in artistic swimming and improvisation. We played there until last year, although much less often – due to the pandemic we sharply reduced the number of performances. Last summer, everything stopped. And when the tragedy happened in Crocus, in a place that was practically mine, it was a personal tragedy.
The Russian Synchronized Swimming Championship will take place in Yekaterinburg from April 24 to 27. Live broadcasts of the tournament took place on the channels of the Match holding company and on the sites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
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Source : MatchTV
I’m John White and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. My specialty is covering sports news, which I’ve been doing for over 6 years now. During this time, I have worked as an author with Athletistic, a popular online news website focusing on sports topics.
