“I went to strength training, I cried before and after each session.” Mukhametzyanova explains why she ended her career

Diana Mukhametzyanova, winner of the Youth Olympic Games and the Junior Grand Prix Final in pair skating, has retired from sports. This was recently announced by the mother of the figure skater.

Diana had many tries after her success in the world junior realm, but almost a year ago she started all over again – in a new group of coaches, without a partner. The girl was happy to skate under the guidance of Pavel Slyusarenko, because the coach believed in her and inspired her to develop. However, six months later, Diana realized she no longer saw herself in the sport.

“I jumped and felt that I felt no joy, like before”

How has your life been over the past few months? I remember when we spoke after your time in Pavel Slyusarenko’s group, you were full of enthusiasm, delighted with the new trainers, elaborate jumps and stunts. All that remained was to find a new partner.

Yes, November was different. I actively worked on my form and waited for new opportunities. Around the beginning of March (when the season was coming to an end), Artem Gritsaenko arrived in Perm. Initially, to another girl, who herself wrote to him and invited him to audition. But it turns out that by the time Artem arrived, the girl had already been matched with another boy.

– The coaches logically suggested that we try together. We both immediately agreed and started riding. They threw and jumped, found new lifts, slowly got used to each other.

– What happened next?

– In mid-April, the whole team went on vacation for almost a month. It was the first such long vacation in my life. My family and I had a great time in Sochi, then with dad we went to Tashkent. Finally, we visited our native Kazan (for a few days), and from there I went to Perm. On the train, I realized that the old enthusiasm was gone. To return to training and in general to play sports completely fell ill.

I skated for ten days, but it was very hard. I went straight to strength training, I cried before and after each lesson.

Artem arrived a little later, because he was taking exams, then we rode for several days, and I finally understood that I didn’t want to and couldn’t. I came to Pavel Sergeevich and said I was done. He asked, “Have you thought it through?” You match me as an athlete. I replied that the desire was gone, and without it nothing would definitely work. The coach said he is still in touch if I decide to come back.

But I didn’t want to. As a result, at the end of May, I packed my bags, left the apartment and left for my native country. She spent almost the whole summer in Kazan, rested, went with her sister to St. Petersburg for three days.

– However, I want to understand the reason for your decision. The desire to leave the sport to which you have devoted many years could only be born on the road in a few hours.

— The trip to Uzbekistan was largely influenced by it. Dad knows a lot there, and he took me to different factories where they make clothes. I have been interested in this field for a long time and it was there, in Asia, when I saw beauty live, that I wanted to develop in this direction. Although in general I am more attracted to catering.

In any case, sport has ceased to occupy first place in the heart. I jumped up and felt that I didn’t feel any joy like before. Every day it became more difficult.

– Previously, you spoke very warmly about Pavel Slyusarenko and the mood in his group. Has anything changed during the months of collaboration?

– No, what are you! Everything was great – the training program, the attitude of all the teachers towards me and the atmosphere in the team. My departure has nothing to do with the last coaching staff. I am only grateful to them.

– Even when I recovered after the holidays, they gave me time to lose weight. Pavel Sergeevich (Slyusarenko) asked during the parting: “Is it certainly not because of the weight struggle?” He was ready to wait for me to lose weight gently. She replied that it was something else. My decision is personal, comes from within and is not related to fitness, skill, competition prospects, etc. I just lost the urge to ride.

Has anyone tried to dissuade you?

Pavel Sergeevich was very surprised by my announcement, but thanks to him! – correctly perceived. Artem too. I told him as soon as I arrived that most likely I would finish. Probably he was rude, but he can’t influence my decision. The partner only asked me to tell him in time what choice I would make, so that he understood. Was honest with him. Now Artem is skating with a new girl – Liza Osokina. I believe they will succeed.

– If I understand correctly, the end of a career is your only decision. Was his family united?

– When I told my mother about my feelings shortly after my return to Perm, she dissuaded me. She advised: “Come on, you’re going to ride again, think again! After all, you will end up and change your mind, you will regret it later.

A few days later, she told her mother that she had already thought things through and decided. My father and my sisters immediately supported me. It was more difficult for mom to accept the situation, but over time she reconciled.

“All dietary efforts have been in vain”

– As a farewell, your mother wrote about psychological violence, which was very present in your sporting life. What are we talking about exactly?

– It all started when I was six years old and moved on to a coach, with whom I studied before leaving as a couple. They constantly gave me feedback, and in the next coaching group – too.

I have always been grown up, even as a child. It is my misfortune – that nature has not endowed thinness. But she fought and tried. I don’t want to express the details of unpleasant conversations and I usually remember them. This has been the case for most of my adult life.

Only Pavel Sergeevich (Slyusarenko) did not have violence. Maybe because at the age of 18 I had already learned to control my weight and looked good during training in Perm.

– Did the former coaches who criticized you try to help the doctors? For example, with a nutritionist, an endocrinologist? Perhaps specialized specialists have drawn up an individual nutritional program for you?

– It was in the group of Arina Andreevna Ushakova. All of us – collections – underwent a medical examination: they checked our height and weight, our body index. In the medical center they found a nutritionist, thanks to whom I lost one and a half kilograms. Then we turned to another nutritionist, we worked with her almost until she was kicked out of Nina Moser’s school.

Treatment helped, but not always. The fact is that my body gets used to food very quickly and I can’t eat the same thing. And the doctor recommended it. I remember being praised for losing weight, the weight was normal for a while and then started to increase. It was a tough time for me: I seemed to be doing everything the doctor told me to, and the results on the scale showed that I was doing nothing.

That is, all dietary efforts became futile, and I finally broke up with a nutritionist. This is one of the reasons for the disagreement with the coaches.

— And how did the Perm coaches help you stay in shape?

“They never pressured me with this question. There were 200-300 grams extra, but I quickly knocked it all out. The only thing after the holidays was not in good shape – she relaxed during the rest. But immediately began to work on weight loss. I was only gently directed, there was no impact.

– How did you psychologically overcome the problems described?

“My mother has always helped me. She gave valuable advice, supported in everything. My mother is a sports psychologist, advises figure skaters, gymnasts and divers. In the summer she worked with the football team, now she took the hockey team.

Therefore, answering your next question in parallel, I will explain the essence of my mother’s words: after the experience with me, she now knows how not to take care of athletes. Mom understood a lot of things precisely as a professional psychologist.

“I think you’ll see me in the New Year’s performances”

– What are your life plans?

— In the near future I will go to Moscow. There, I am studying at university to become a coach. Maybe later I will get an education in another field that I decide to focus on. At the same time, I will start to work, to look for myself.

Over the summer, I rested well, recovered, and easily gave up the sport of my life. Absolutely no sadness, I don’t miss, as is often the case.

The only thing I would like to do in figure skating is ice shows. I’ve never tried it so I’m curious. Friends have already told how to apply to producers, how the auditions are conducted. I think you will see me in New Year’s performances. Or maybe even earlier where they will invite. I will also be happy to skate, to share my knowledge. But once in a while, so that it doesn’t take a long time.

– What is your favorite program from your own repertoire?

– “Chess” and a short on the music of “Crack of Doom” (season 2019/20). Pasquale Camerlengo directed these programs for Ilya and me, and with them we made our Grand Prix debut.

“The most valuable competition?”

– The Junior Grand Prix Final in Turin, where we won silver (December 2019. – “”).

– Which of the people you met on your sporting career evokes the warmest memories for you?

All the coaches I’ve worked with. Everyone gave me experience, contributed to my development and medals that I managed to win. By the way, we parted normally with Arina Ushakova: my mother called and thanked for everything.

I really appreciate the team of Pavel Sergeevich Slyusarenko for accepting me at a difficult time, believing in me and creating a friendly atmosphere!

I am grateful to all my partners – even the ones I just rode with. Ilya and I won valuable junior titles and to this day we communicate well. I hope to meet in person in Moscow in the near future.