The European Rhythmic Gymnastics
Championships in Budapest was celebrated in May, twins from the city of
Zavolzhye, region of Nizhny Novgorod - Arina
and Dina Averina won six gold medals. Arina became the best in the exercises
with ball and clubs, Dina was the first with hoop and ribbon. In addition, the
sisters brought the Russian team to success in all-around. After that deafening
success, the fans are waiting for Dina and Arina at the World Championships in
Italy, which will be held in Pesaro, at the end of August this year. Sisters
also dream together to be at the World Championship and again together to rise
to the first step of the pedestal.
And in a short pause between training and
competitions, Arina and Dina found time to talk with "openrov"
and was told who was their example in childhood, whether there is a rivalry
between twins and how they are confused by Viner-Usmanova.
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| Photo by Oleg Naumov |
- Even the strict head coach of the
Russian team Irina Viner-Usmanova called a benefit your performances at the
European Championships. Are the sisters Averina happy with everything?
Dina: On the first day of the
competition, I made a mistake in the exercises with hoop, though, but then I
corrected in the final. And on the second day, my ribbon performance wasn’t
very clean (in both disciplines, Dina eventually became the winner). But in the
exercises with the clubs I liked everything, but I became only the second,
losing to my sister (laughs). That’s
women’s logic : I’m not pleased by the routines that made me win, while on the
contrary I’m satisfied with the one that brought me silver.
Arina: But I am more satisfied with my
performance than my sister (smiles). Of course, there were moments on which we
should work in training, but in general everything worked out.
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| Photo by Oleg Naumov |
- By the way, how did you choose the apparatus which you wanted to compete with?
Dina: Irina Alexandrovna gave us the
right to determine who will perform in what performances. Arina chose ball and
clubs, and I preferred clubs and hoop. And ribbon was entrusted to me because
Arina had a little injury, and she said that it would be difficult for her to
perform this exercise.
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| Photo by Kate Ianiuk |
- In the internal discussion of the performance with clubs Arina bypassed her sister, taking the gold. But later Dina said in an interview that her sister's victory was even more welcome. Competition between you does not exist?
Arina: Dina and I are not competitors.
For us the main thing is see in the first place of the pedestal an athlete who
acts under the Russian flag and with the surname "Averina".
Dina: Now we have stopped the competition
between us, but when we were children, we competed only with each other! And
all the time I took offense at my sister if she did something better than me
(smiles). But it also helped to us - we constantly dragged along one another.
And now there really is no rivalry between us, and I'm happy for Arina more
than for myself, as she is for me.
- Personally, I find you very difficult
to distinguish (2). I am sure that the fans and, probably, the judges at the
competitions perceive you as one. Many twins are annoyed by this attitude. And
how do you feel about this?
Arina: We've always liked to be perceived
as one. In our childhood, when we were particularly alike, we were confused by
everyone except the closest ones, but we never felt umconfortable. Now my
sister and I have become different, and we are distinguished by many. In the
Russian team, everyone knows exactly who is Dina, and who is Arina.
Dina: We have a very different style of
speaking, so if, for example, Irina Aleksandrovna suddenly does not distinguish
us in person, she will immediately understand who is who by the movements on
the carpet. The judges confuse us so far, but we don’t compete to the other’s
place because we could even get disqualified for 2 years (smiles).
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| Photo by championship's photographers |
- It seems you have different characters too. Dina smiles, laughs, but Arina is serious all the time. Or are you just reacting to unfamiliar guys like that?
AA: You know, we are not good in a
conversation with guys, we do not talk with them (smiles). And it's not that we
like the same boy, Dina and I do not want to get into an embarrassing
situation. We simply do not have time for anything, except training and
competition.
- I am always surprised by the gymnasts
endurance. Quite young girls who do not think about anything - in your
childhood, did you understand the sacrifices you are making when you chose
professional sports?
Arina: Of course we understood, because
we had before us the example of our elder sister Polina. She also did rhythmic
gymnastics, but then she chose to study. Polina is a very smart girl, she
graduated from school with honors. And Dina and I did not study so well to give
up the sport (laughs).
Dina: And you know, we liked training
since childhood! We fell asleep and woke up with thoughts about how to go in
for gymnastics. Arina and I dreamed of European Championships, World
Championships, the Olympic Games and always set ourselves up for hard work.
Arina: And we were very lucky with the
coaches. In the Trans-Volga region, we trained with Larisa Viktorovna Belova
(mother and first coach of the 2000 Olympic champion Irina Belova - author's
note). She taught us a lot. And when we moved to Novogorsk and began to train
in the Russian national team, we found very quickly a common language with Vera
Nikolaevna Shatalina, under whose guidance we are training now.
Dina: And, of course, the work with Irina
Alexandrovna Viner-Usmanova gave us a lot. It looks serious and strict on TV,
and in communication with sportsmen she is ready to explain and show everything
a thousand times. She is very wise. But it is better not to argue with her
(laughs).
- Now your childhood dreams come true.
The European Championship was triumphant, in the queue - the World Cup in
Italy, where the fans are waiting for the Averina twins. But Irina
Viner-Usmanova immediately after the continental championship said that you
have not yet guaranteed your performance at the World Cup in Pesaro, which will
be held in August. Is she too strict?
Arina: Before the World Cup is still a
lot of time, and most importantly - a lot of starts. Grand Prix in Israel, the
World Cup in Berlin and Kazan. My sister and I will have to prove that we are
the best. And we have a serious competitor - Sasha Soldatova (two-time world
champion - author's note). Three Grandmasters will compete at the Grand Prix
and the World Cups, but only two will go to the World Cup. And Dina and I wish
to be together in Italy at the end of August.
Dina: My sister and I do not like to be
apart. When we are not together, we are bored and is very unusual. Even if we
are bored with each other, we should still be around!
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| Photo by Ulrich Fassbender |
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