- Vera Shatalina: sisters Averina - a reliable
back our leaders.
- Arina and Dina Averina - a team - said Vera
Shatalina - Without one and another they reach nothing. And at this Grand Prix
it turned out: Dina made a mistake in a very complex element, and then Arina
acted brilliantly. The success of the girls - the work of the team. Dina made a
mistake but I did not scold - the program we have are very complicated. But I
can assure you that from the intended plan, we will not leave, we will
"finish off" the program.
- Tell me more about the sisters Averina. How
do they grow?
- First of all, I want to mention their
parents. Dina and Arina grew up in a very respectable family. Mom and Dad
invested a lot in their children - in school, in sports, their lives. Their
mother was a former gymnast and their dad was a former football player and is
now a businessman. The older sister was also involved in gymnastics. She learns
very perfectly, she already has higher education. So, very small family in
sport (laughs).
- Dina and Arina are very similar. What are
their differences?
- Dina is 100 percent athlete. It is very hard
going through mistakes, she does not like to lose. But at the same time - more
light. Arisha is more closed. I call them my daughter (laughs). Arina treats me
like a mother - can sometimes shake her nerves. Dina himself never allows.
- And who is the most powerful gymnast?
- In Moscow, Arina was stable, but the girls
are constantly changing the results. I do not even know which of them is
better. They are both good. Generally speaking, rarely something is dropped.
But there were things that did not go well.
- Dina and Arina are always together. Are they
somewhere without each other?
- No. They are twins who are very self-sufficient,
which do not need anyone. Let me tell you an interesting story. Once I told
them to walk. And they called me and said: "Vera, can we skate?" I
was so touched: because I did not see them, did not know what they are doing.
But they know it's traumatic!
- And you allowed them?
- Of course I allowed. It is better to let them
do it with my permission, than without it, right? So: Dina and Arina - always
together! Even if they go to bed they need to be together.
- You were the second coach of the legendary
Alina Kabaeva. At these competitions she handed sisters Averina special prize
for artistry.
- Alina's fate is not the last part, and I am
doubly delighted that she said that to Averina. I emphasize - Averina! Not one,
but two! This was a consolation for the heart. Alina herself has always been
very artistic, but for Averina, I often made remarks. Irina Viner said, if we
do not change the style of work we will not be able to add some artistry to the
girls - it will be very difficult. We were lucky with the director - Irina
Zenovka she's simply genius! When the girls grew up, Irina not only puts our
program, but also fulfils them. Thanks to the symbiosis of regular comments
from Irina and Irina Alexandrovna we regrouped. The stars were on our side, so
today we have a result.
- What are your immediate plans?
- In the Olympic season we have competitions
every week. But I want to keep girls.
- That means that, in the World Cup in Finland
Averina sisters will not go?
- I hope not. There will perform with our
leaders - Sasha Soldatova and Margarita Mamun. But I told Irina Alexandrovna
that they are always ready. Therefore, if someone cannot go or refuses to go or
something like that to somewhere - there we are.
- At the Olympic Games will top two athletes from
team Russia. There is a chance that in the Rio will perform one of the sisters
Averina?
- I do not know, I swear! Life is so arranged
that we do not know what will happen tomorrow. If it will be necessary for the
country - we are always ready to go. But this is a very big burden - both
physical and moral. And a big responsibility. And we want, first, patience and
health on our leaders - Yana Kudryavtseva, Rita Mamun, Sasha Soldatova. They
deserve to go to Rio! And we are here if they need. And ready to help.
- In a competition with the same team, does
sisters Averina stronger?
- Of course! We were always in the shade, we
were not interested, but today it happened that they were able to express
themselves in full voice. You know what I most pleased? In the Moscow Grand
Prix Arina was in the podium with Sasha Soldatova. And what's the difference
between the first and the second place? In the first you are able to raise the
Russian flag and sing the Russian national anthem! Irina Viner teaches us this.
I'm with her for 38 years - first as a pupil and now as an assistant. And I
absorbed this philosophy.
- Dina Averina - When Arisha acts, my heart
goes to the heel!
- I'm rarely satisfied with my performances -
said Dina Averina - A lot has happened. There is a lot of work. It is necessary
to correct mistakes, take the time to everything that did not work.
- Arina Averina performances at the Grand Prix
were very successful - she was the winner in the all-around and won the
individual championship with ribbon. What do you think about the success of the
sisters?
- When she speaks, my heart goes to the heel.
Arisha performed well all three days, and I'm very pleased that she was able to
perform so well.
- In the course of your career, which one of
you has performed better?
- We have no one better. We change every
competition. Here she was successful, then the next start should be mine
(laughs). We always support each other, no matter what.
- Which one is the older?
- Arisha, 20 minutes (laughs).
- Dina in this Grand Prix took sixth place in
the all-around. How do you assess your performances?
- I am very glad that I managed to get into the
top six gymnasts. We have had the Grand Prix and the small World Cup.
- Tell me when did you make mistakes?
- I lost my clubs at the end of the performance
and it is a gross error.
- How do you know that you will get a prize for
artistry from Alina Kabaeva?
- When it was rewarding all-rounders, they told
me to put on a swimsuit. I asked: Why? Maybe we should not? But we were told
that my sister and I will have a surprise. I could not understand why because I
took the sixth place. But we were given the prize by Alina Kabaeva, and I still
cannot believe it! (Laughs).
- Alina Kabaeva said she wanted to see the
competitions with someone similar to her. Do you think that you and your sister
are similar to her?
- If the prize was given to us, then perhaps we
really are somewhat similar (laughs).
- Vera Shatalina was the second coach of Alina
Kabaeva. It spurs that your mentor has trained an Olympic champion?
- Of course. Vera passed through Olympics,
countless World and European championships. We really like to train with her.
- Head coach Irina Viner said that you were not
taken seriously and you were her secret weapon until this year. Do you feel
that you put on a par with all the main favourites of the competition?
- Yes, it feels like we have already considered
worthy rivals (laughs).
- Arina Averina: I wanted to do everything for
two!
- I have something to work and it's hard -
admitted Arina Averina - Not everything I had today was perfect, although there
were no mistakes. Two medals - very nice (smiling).
- How much of free time do you have?
- I think the coach will give us a day or two
to rest - and then start working again.
- What type of performance you like more than
others?
- In those apparatus where I went to the finals
- clubs and ribbon. I do not think this are my most powerful apparatus, I did
not expect to be able to go to the finals. But it happened that I turned out to
be better than others.
- Your sister Dina Averina had one mistake
after another. At this point it appeared sports rage. Do you wanted to win for
two?
- Yes. I wanted to do everything for two!
- Before the performance with the ribbon, did
you know that you have taken the second place in the exercise with clubs?
- I did not know about it, even after the
performance. I do not even guess that'll be on the podium.
- You are now standing on a pedestal with
Margarita Mamun and Alexsandra Soldatova. Do you support each other?
- Of course, we wished each other success.
- What are your immediate plans?
- Our coach Vera Shatalina did not tell us yet.
Thank you to our translator person for this amazing job!
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