AMINA ZARIPOVA ANNOUNCES HER RETIREMENT

September 25th 1998

Click here for the Italian version

Amina does not say it, but it's clear, she's joking and at the end she must admit it. After the question "Gymnast or ex gymnasts?" she answers: "Ex gymnast". Is it a certain decision, without more changes of mind?
"I can't say it surely, yet, because when I'm in a good mood and overall when I look at the others girl, I'd really like to go on, but when I'm in a bad mood I really do not feel I can go on".
And in general, how is your mood?
"Honestly, I must recognize that for me it is quiet heavy and I think I'll give up…"
Which are the major difficulties for you?
"To mantain an exact weight, because food's sacrifices are more and more untenable".
You are 22 years old, how long have you been in rhythmic gymnastics?
"Since I was 10, but I do not feel the years' weight".
While we are waiting for an official notice of retirement, can you make a budget?
"Of course I'm very happy for my career, during which I won six gold medals, three at the World Championships and three at the European Championships, even if not in the All-Around, but in the specialities. However, the most important thing for me is that I feel I am the same person that I was at the beginning, my human gifts haven't changed, like many other people who reach the success in their work. I am still a simple girl".
How is your personality like?
"I am very kind, generous. As an athlete, during difficult moments I can concentrate and I can give the best, and I like this in my personality. As a person I've noticed that I am always pleasant to everyone. Maybe because I am very friendly and understanding".
It is difficult to say "stop" and change your life…
"Yes, because I've lived most of my life in gymnastics, gymnastics itself is my family, it is really hard to stop".
How does a top-level gymnast live the life of a common girl?
"I can show you the example of my life saying that practically I haven't lived the life of an usual girl, because I've spent almost all of it in a gym, always following high aims and every day I had to reach an exact goal. Surely entertainments have been really a few".
Do gymnasts live problems too big for their age?
"…well, maybe it's true, when I was young I haven't done all the things that the other children did, I haven't been thoughtless as the other teen-ager, however I am grateful to sport, to RSG, because I think it has prepared me to face life. I'll explain you: now that I am 22 years old I have to take many decisions and I feel I'm ready. Sport teaches lots of things, above all it teaches the practical things of life, and in this moment of changes for me, I am not afraid, I feel I'm indipendent and in every moment, also in the difficult ones, I think I'll know how to go on, maybe clenching my teeth, but surely without any fear".
What are your programmes for the future?
"I've been invited by the Russian television as a conductress. I already comment RSG competitions and I feel it like my new profession, and they have submitted me to screen-tests in networks, too. In my opinion it went quite well adn I would like to go on in this area, that will also allow me to go on without going away from RSG world".
How was RSG like when you've started and what kind of RSG do you leave now?
"In comparison to when I've started it has got a great development in technique, it has changed a lot, but this thing, right on the basis of technical elements, has brought the "old" gymnasts to stop earlier. I think it is a contradiction, because our sport, that privileges expressiveness and the aesthetics, should be for young women, not for teenagers, because an older girl, with more life experiences, with her movements and through the music can pass on her feelings. Instead, with the techinque's development, the older gymnasts have had to stop 'cause nowadays it is too hard to train , to mantain the right physics condition. I think it would be right to have different groups of ages, younger and older, with separates results, to give the possibility to the older gymnasts to compete also after the twenty years old. It's sad that these gymnasts have to retire, because surely with their experience and maturity they could express strong emotions and the audience will appreciate them without any doubt".
Which are your most beautiful memories?
"All my life in gymnastics, I couldn't choose one particular moment".
But was there something bad?
"Of course, but there have been more positive things and I soon forget negative things".
Any regret?
"Not to have won an Olimpic medal".
What about friends?
"The girls that live with me at the Centre, but for me they are not only friends, they are like sisters".
And what about the other gymnasts?
"I've got friends in many Countries, for example Ekaterina Serebrianskaia; I'm also a friend of Elena Vitrivhenko, even if lately our friendship is ruining itself, once we were closer, more intimate".
Which are the most frightening adversaries?
"I've nevere been afraid of anybody, because first of all I had to overcome myself and before competitions this was my unique worry and my unique aim. I have never thought about adversaries".
But you thought about judges…
"Truly, I've never liked them, but I've always tried to give the best of me for the audience, I did not think about their judgment. For me it has always be important to remain the same person. My coach, Irina Viner, has always taught me that the higher you climb, the more aims you reach in your career, the more modest you have to be with people around you".
Will you be a judge?
"Maybe".
Tell us about your family…
"When I was ten years old I moved from my family to Irina Viner's, who has been like a mother for me and actually I call her mum, such as I call granny her mother. I've got one brother and one sister living in Uzbekistan. My parents are pensioners, I barely see them, usually they come to Moscow once a year".