Kuzina, a multiple Russian diving champion, has admitted she wants to end her career after failing to qualify for the 2020 Olympics.

Multiple Russian Diving Champion Elizaveta Kuzina On the air of the show “Above Olympus” on , she recounted how, after an unsuccessful selection for the 2020 Olympic Games, she almost ended her career.

In June, at the BRICS Games, the 21-year-old Russian won the three-meter springboard diving and, together with Ilya Molchanov, won gold in the synchronized three-meter springboard.

– I have completely changed [в пандемию]my thought. I read a lot about inner self-confidence. I had no inner core. I can say for sure that I kept walking so tense. I began to really regret jumping into the water. This rarely happens to me. When I miss you very much, then I have such motivation to jump! I don’t want to stop training at all!

At the pre-Olympic World Cup in Japan in 2021, everything went well on the first two jumps. And here comes the third one! I go in, I do a lunge jump and I knock it down! And I fail like never before. Just for the score, I do it on my whole back! And I remember very well that the day before the competition I had a 10 out of 10 on this jump. There were no problems. And a lot of people started telling me that they were already talking about me, saying that she couldn’t do anything there. And it bothered me so much that I couldn’t cope with it. I thought that was it! We should probably put an end to it!

The coach says that we need to prepare and get ready for the Russian championship. There is still a chance because there is only one license. If you win the championship, you can qualify. I took third place there and missed the jump again. Everything was fine. And I realized that that was it! I just broke down. Since I can’t do it in competition a second time, that means something.

I was not accepted to the Olympics. I was just screaming: “That’s it, I’m not going anywhere, what do I need this for? I don’t want to jump, I don’t want to go anywhere! I don’t want training camps, no competitions!” And they start telling me that I have to go to the Spartakiad. But I understand that I don’t want to and I can’t. But I still went to the Spartakiad, of course. I won there, and I already did this jump. I was so happy! I think: “Wow! Finally! Really?”

I realized that these are really such difficulties and it is good not to stop. However, I would like to first go to at least the European Championships, the World Championships, and then try my luck at the Olympic Games. I really want to! I don’t want to end my career! Who knows? Maybe my peak will begin at 30. Yes, I still want to be some kind of athlete that people will remember, talk about and be proud of. I believe that what is mine will not leave me. My goal now is to improve my jumps, show another side of myself and reach an even better level. In general, I only think about it now,” Kuzina said on the air of the program “Above Olympus”. Diving” on .

The Paris Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11. Russian divers have not received neutral status from World Aquatics and have not been selected for the Olympics.

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