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Incredible Women. Incredible Lifestyle.

KASAA LIFE

YANA BATYRSHINA STRONG FIGURES KASAA COUTURE KASAA GROUP RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS_edited_edited

C O V E R S T O R Y

WITH

YANA BATYRSHINA

ONE MORNING

Just prior to the Alina Kabaeva Charitable Foundation's Sky Grace 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament, which will take place in Beijing in the middle of December this year, KASAA had a meeting with the show's chief commentator, legendary Yana Batyrshina. During her sporting career, she earned 180 medals, including a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, 7 gold medals at the World Championship, 5 top awards at the European Championship, and over 40 cups. She took over as head coach of the Brazilian rhythmic gymnastics team at the age of twenty.

Last month Yana, a television host and Strong Figures festival ambassador, gave us a tour of her beautiful city while we chatted about her family, her sports career, the keys to good health, and a lot more.

This interview is dedicated to all the parents of future champions and those who are on their way to vying for their medals.

Photography ALEXANDRA CHERNAVSKAYA

YANA BATYRSHINA STRONG FIGURES KASAA COUTURE KASAA GROUP RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS

KASAA LIFE: Yana, we and our readers are wondering how you balance your nutrition plan to stay in great health and shape with such a busy work schedule. Does your plan cover your family members?

YANA BATYRSHINA: We strive to eat properly, with the help of nutritionists and a fitness coach.

I can state that my entire family follows a healthy diet and lifestyle. This is extremely critical and required. Despite our lean shape, my husband and I are in middle age, and taking care of ourselves is a necessity. Our metabolism is already different at our age. Every excursion to a restaurant or other form of relaxation entails 5–6 days of rigorous limitations to allow everything to reset and get back in shape. Weight loss is not as rapid as it was 20 years ago. Our older daughter is a ballet dancer and likewise maintains control because her work needs it. The younger one is into sports and keeps track of her nutrition herself as well. Even our son, who is only 5.5 years old, doesn't have burgers, carbonated drinks, chips, or french fries on his menu. It is important to remind parents that teenagehood is a challenging age; if your kids neglect the diet regime, it will be difficult to get back to it and lose weight later.

We have a cheat meal once a week, and then we work hard to get in shape. In order to preserve our current shape and maintain our quality of life, we must control our diet and refrain from abusing forbidden, unhealthy foods.

KASAA LIFE: What does Yana Batyrshina’s breakfast look like?

YANA BATYRSHINA: My breakfast is a cottage cheese casserole or cottage pancakes with sour cream. Less often: scrambled eggs or omelets. Mostly dairy products for breakfast, and definitely coffee. I love coffee, but I drink it once a day and only in the morning.

KL: Any daily sports rituals?

YB: Three sessions per week with a coach are sufficient for me. And I like it best in the afternoon.

KL: An essential component of a successful start to Yana Batyrshina’s day.

YB: A necessary component of a good day is my family, the flow of all that energy they bring, and heart-to-heart interactions that energize me.

KL: Let's talk about rhythmic gymnastics. How and why did you choose this particular sport?

YB: I didn't choose this sport. The parents had nothing to do with gymnastics. I was a very active kid. I remember the day my coach scouted me as if it were yesterday. One day in Tashkent, when I was 5 years old, my dad collected me from kindergarten. We were standing at a bus stop while I ran and jumped around him. Suddenly a woman came up to us and asked her first question to dad: "How old is your "little goat"?" Dad replied that she'd be five soon.

A woman introduced herself; she turned out to be a rhythmic gymnast coach. Bring your daughter to my class, she told dad.

The rhythmic gymnastics school was within walking distance from our house. That same day, at a family council, the parents decided that their daughter would enroll in the class of that woman, although at that time they had little idea what rhythmic gymnastics was. The most important thing is that it is a sport that would be good for health, and the evenings of their daughter would be busy.

Immediately at the first training session, I did the splits and did a bridge; the coach had never seen anything like this and said that I had to practice with such skills.

Who knew that this sudden meeting at the bus station would subsequently turn out to be my destiny and my first coach, Valentina Andreevna Chernova? We have been communicating with her for a long time now. I love her very much, and I am very grateful for everything. Remembering that day at the bus stop and later on my classes at her school, she says that I was such an active, lovely little girl. (Smiles).

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KL: Have you been able to combine school and sports?

YB: Everything seemed to work out at first. Primary school and gymnastics were both straightforward activities that I enjoyed and could easily combine. Our coach used to have mini-competitions for her gymnasts, such as who could do the most and highest jumps, the deepest splits, and so on. As awards, the coach would give us chocolates and lollipops. It was fantastic motivation. Of course, I thoroughly appreciated it. I won almost every competition. And, of course, I used to bring home a small package of candy after each tournament. (Smiles).

When I made the Uzbekistan national team and later the USSR junior squad, things became considerably more problematic. Especially since I had to train in Moscow while still studying in Tashkent. We used to train in Moscow for three months nonstop before being sent to Tashkent for two weeks of holiday. Instead of taking vacations, I used to go straight to school and pass with flying colors. Was it challenging for me? Surprisingly, no way. I was interested in all topics at school as well as reaching new heights in sports. Everything was simple and fascinating for me.

Because the 7-8 school year was more tough, I was sent to the Olympic Reserve Sports School in Moscow. Our routine there consisted of six days at the base, followed by one-on-one tutoring with the teacher on the seventh day.

The 9th and 10th grades, which were not in elementary school, became considerably harder. I have always had a highly responsible attitude toward my education and have used every spare moment to prepare for classes and tests. Therefore, I consistently received perfect scores.

KL: What's the hardest thing about professional sports?

YB: Routine is the most challenging aspect. Wake up at 7 a.m., choreography at 8 a.m., and the first training session used to start at 10 a.m., which lasted until 2 p.m. The second training session used to begin at 4 p.m. and lasted until 8 p.m. Every single day. It was challenging at times, especially during the three months of intense competition training. When I used to wake up in the morning, I pondered when it would all end. I enjoyed competitions since they involved emotions, city excursions, and new places. But every time we used to get back to the base, my routine resumed. There were numerous restrictions, such as not seeing your friends or your parents. A lot of hard physical and mental labor. To be successful, an athlete must succeed in all they do.

When I think back on the past, I'm not sure how I overcame everything and got through it. If I could turn back time, would I choose rhythmic gymnastics? Of certainly!

KL: What qualities do you need to develop to become a champion?

YB: Hard work is required. Responsibility. You can be extremely talented while accomplishing little. Focus on the target. Set a goal and work towards it. Have you met your objective? Install another, and so on. The objective is not the end result of your road, but rather the continuation of your path. Sports can never come to an end. This is motivation to keep working. Trainers and parents establish all other characteristics.

KL: How does Yana Batyrshina’s weekend look like?

YB: My happiest and favorite weekends are spent with my family. We can watch a movie, eat at a restaurant, catch up with friends, and go for a walk. (Smiles).

KL: Support is essential for great success. Who supports and inspires you?

YB: My parents are my guardian angels. They sacrificed themselves and went to Moscow for my sake, from Tashkent. Imagine the USSR collapsing in 1992; nobody needs you, not even in Moscow or Tashkent. They came for their little girl's sake, even though they were unemployed and without citizenship. Mom secured a position as a teacher, while dad took on jobs as a carpenter and security guard. Wages were meager. They rented a room and went with minimum food. Every time I visited them on my seventh day to see them, they always spoiled me with my favorite meals. I was unaware of the real situation of my parents—that they had to gather pennies for six days in order to spoil me every time I visited them.

I would like to share one of my stories. My silver medal is not even gold, but platinum in my eyes! Before the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, I was bitten by a dog, and the wound was bleeding, but I continued to practice. Then we flew to the United States. It was hot and sweltering outside and super cold indoors because of the air conditioners. Pneumonia developed as a result of the temperature difference. Doctors signed me up for a medication plan and injections twice a day. I was sixteen years old. I was one of the younger attendees in rhythmic gymnastics at the Atlanta Olympics. The stakes were really high. My mother and father were the only parents on our Rhythmic Gymnastics Olympic team who were able to attend the games. They were there for me. I would not have won this medal if they hadn't been there with me, supporting me.

KL: What projects are you working on now? What awaits us in the near future?

YB: I'd like to do a project regarding rhythmic gymnastics. To display sporting stars and rising talents. The international Sky Grace competition will take place in Beijing in the middle of December 2023, and I have been picked as a commentator. This will be my first solo comment. I'm working hard to get ready for this big event. Many personal initiatives are planned for 2024.

KL: What would you wish for parents whose children are just starting their sports career?

YB: One day my older daughter informed me, "Mom, I don't want to continue rhythmic gymnastics. My dream is to become a ballerina". She was already winning multiple medals and achieving excellent results in gymnastics at this point. As a mother, I took the time to speak with her and learned that I had to give her this chance. Today she is a graduate of the Moscow State Academy of Arts and has already danced as a ballerina on the world's stages, such as at the Bolshoi Theatre and Stanislavsky Theatre.

I want to wish all parents of future champions unconditional support and faith in their kids, no matter what. Love and support. Kids who play sports have a great deal of stress in their sports careers. Home should be that place where they can have peace and have unconditional faith in their strength. Let my journey serve as an example for them all.