Interview with Azerbaijani Rhythmic Gymnast Anna Gurbanova

Interview with Anna Gurbanova - Interview with Azerbaijani rhythmic gymnast Anna Gurbanova, participant of the Anniversary 30th World Championship in Rhythmic Gymnastics. - Happy birthday, Anna! On such a joyous occasion it seems insufficient to discuss the ongoing events only, so I would like to ask you some personal questions, if you don't mind. - Could you tell us about your life as a gymnast? Describe your ordinary day? - Anna Gurbanova, Azerbaijani national team - Well, usually I get up at about 8 a.m., have breakfast at 8.30 and the choreography class starts at 9. - Right after that we have the first training, then comes the break and then another training. - And when does the training end? - We had to train real hard for the championship, so we practiced almost all day long, finished at about 8 or 9 p.m. - But I think we can relax a bit now and will have only one training session a day. - But it's so hard - to practice all day! Did you ever have the desire to abandon it all, to get some rest at last? Some sleep? There are some who complain, but I can't imagine any other life for me, even though I get tired sometimes. - I obtain complete satisfaction from my trainings, competitions. - I would never change it for anything in the world! You should live this life of gymnast through to the end and only then start building another one. - Is there any person whose example you would like to follow? Some ideal example? - No, not really. I achieve everything on my own... sometimes it doesn't work out but these are still my thoughts and my actions that define my way. - What do gymnasts eat? You probably are concerned with your weight?.. - Yes... some of us are slim by nature, so they can eat anything they want. - I'm not that lucky. I can't say that I restrain myself too much, I eat anything I want but within reasonable limits. - If I see that I need a diet I don't eat and drink in the evening - and everything is back to norm within a couple of days. How did you make the decision to become a rhythmic gymnast? All this beauty, all this apparent lightness is the fruit of unbearable toil. - For the most part, people don't realize that. - My parents sent me to a ballet studio when I was 5 years old. - The instructor told my mom that it wouldn't work 'cause I was too active, too fast, and advised her to send me to a rhythmic gymnastics studio. - My parents didn't have any great hopes about my sports future, but here I am! - Although I didn't have many of the necessary characteristics by nature, I managed to obtain them by constant training. - I'm in love with gymnastics and I can't imagine any other occupation for me. - And what are those necessary characteristics you mentioned? - Well, you should have straight feet, legs... Some have it by nature, some have to work on it. - It might be inappropriate to ask this on your birthday, but... the career of rhythmic gymnast can't be long. - At what age does it end? - Each gymnast decides for herself. Some stay for long, so leave the sport early because of injury or something else... - The average age is 23-24 years, only a few stay till 25. - Alma Den, famous gymnast, kept training until 28, but I don't think anyone now can make it. - This year brought fantastic success to Azerbaijan. It's the first time the team has won so many awards. - Yes, indeed. Alia has really broken the record - her own and Azerbaijan's. - And what about your results? Do you think they are good, or good be better? - I think I performed adequately, but, as they say, there are no limits for self-perfection. -