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Aliya Garayeva: You can win only if you hold on yourself (INTERVIEW) (PHOTO)

Society Materials 24 September 2010 12:37 (UTC +04:00)
Azerbaijani gymnast Aliya Garayeva gained the third individual bronze at the 30th World Championship in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Moscow in the individual exercises with a hoop, ball and ribbon. Garayeva has four bronze awards in the team active. She told about the meaning of these victories, her feelings and experiences in an interview with Trend.
Aliya Garayeva: You can win only if you hold on yourself (INTERVIEW) (PHOTO)

Russia, Moscow, Sept. 24 / Trend E.Krishtalev /

Azerbaijani gymnast Aliya Garayeva gained the third individual bronze at the 30th World Championship in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Moscow in the individual exercises with a hoop, ball and ribbon. Garayeva has four bronze awards in the team active. She told about the meaning of these victories, her feelings and experiences in an interview with Trend.

Trend: Did you expect before the final that the Azerbaijani flag will be raised above the Olympic arena three times?

Garayeva:  I really wanted to perform well, and now I'm very glad that I could attain such heights. I was very excited on the morning of the fourth day of the competition, because my performances had direct relation to the performance of the Azerbaijani team. I was afraid to put the girls in a spot. Now I am glad that I achieved success and the Azerbaijani team occupied the third place. I was calm a little in the evening, as I performed only for myself in the finals and it helped to perform well. I did what was supposed to do, and everything turned out good. It is very nice to stand on the podium and see the flag of your country rising above the hall. Today it was nice triple.

Q.: What are your impressions of the jubilee World Cup?

A.:  I like how the championship goes on, the level of organization and Moscow itself. Also, things are going very well for me. I am very grateful to the organizers and coaches for the work that they have done for both us and the championship.

Q.: Isn't it hard for you to compete with rivals, given that you are training well together and know each other?

A.: No one competes with anyone. The main struggle is struggle with yourself. We are not fighting a full-time duel and sometimes do not watch the performance of colleagues either. Outside the carpet, we have the most cordial relations with girls from Russia and Belarus and worry about each other. You can win only if you hold on yourself. Judges evaluate our performances and gave points. I repeat the most important thing is to defeat yourself, and then you can win everyone.

Q.: You relaxed on Thursday and won two individual bronze in exercises with ball and ribbon as a result. What prevented you to well perform on Tuesday, when you won only one bronze medal in exercises with a hoop?

A.: It was the first day of finals, and I felt the pressure of team competitions. I really wanted to perform well in qualifying, because its points were reflected in the championship in the team standings. This excitement hindered me to perform well in the first final with a rope. But then I realized that I can not retreat and have nothing to fear. I was able to overcome myself, taking the bronze medal with a hoop.

Q.: You showed excellent result for 28 points in exercises with ribbon and your fans thought you step away from the silver. What you experienced in this moment? Did you hope for the second place?

A.: I expect to be the first and get the gold every time when I step on the mat. It is impossible to perform without the spirit of the winner in any sport. I really was very satisfied with my exercise with ribbon and demonstrated that I could. This performance, may be, was better than what I have so far demonstrated in Moscow. It showed the complexity of the elements, and mood, soul, and incredible support of the fans - all this has allowed to perform on the mat with courage. But Daria Dmitrieva from Russia, who performed the last, was able to beat everyone in this kind of exercises, and became a champion.

Q.: You have mentioned the fans, who have supported you all these days. Does it help to perform well or, conversely, noise and hiss of the tribune hinder to focus on?

A.: No, it helps me a lot when I hear the fans. This is particularly felt in Moscow and I had an impression that I am in Baku. I want to thank everyone, who supported us in the tribunes, including the Russian girls, because we train together.

Q.: What did the consultant of the Azerbaijan team, the head of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, Irina Viner, tell you after two bronze performances?

A.: She praised us, saying we were great. After my exercise with ribbon she said that she once again saw real Aliya Garayeva. My performance with ball was a little worse, and, in my opinion, there performed Garayeva Alya ...

Q: All-round events are ahead. You have four bronze medals - three individual and one team. Will we expect the fifth?

A.:  Let's dream and hope. I feel good and went out on the optimal form, catching the condition in which it is very comfortable to perform. I hope it will not leave me.

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