Who was Olga Kapranova's coach? Master class by Olga Stryuchkova. Awakening the High Spirit

The winner of the first Youth Olympic Games in rhythmic gymnastics in group exercises, Olga Ilyina, in a conversation with R-Sport correspondent Maria Vorobyeva, recalls how she ended up in a gym on the way to a drawing club, explains why she never dreamed of Olympic gold, and shares her impressions of her new activity - at the age of 19, Ilyina began her journey in the coaching field.

Olya, you did not officially announce your retirement, but at the beginning of August you were at a training camp in Croatia. Did you train there or...?

I helped the girls prepare for competitions. For now I am working as an athlete-instructor. That is, I don’t really understand whether I finished my career or not. Apparently, I still really want it myself, and somewhere up there they give me a chance to jump a little more (laughs).

- But you don’t take part in competitions?

No. But, for example, at the World Cup stage in Tashkent, the following situation happened - one of the girls got sick, they treated her with all their might, but during training in the morning I jumped, and she was driven, one might say, to the entrance to the mat. In this way I saved the team a little (smiles).

And yet it turns out that at some point you realized that you were ready not only to train, but also to coach. What prompted these thoughts?

When I started a very serious career in gymnastics, I reasoned like this: they pay me a salary, which means this is my full-time job, and not just entertainment. This was in 2009, after my first European Championship. I never dreamed or set a goal to win Olympic Games or become an Honored Master of Sports. I just liked to play. I think I’m the first gymnast to say that. My only dream was to get into the Russian national team. And not for the purpose of training myself, but simply to see how the girls work at this level, how this whole complex process is organized.

- So, already at that age you analyzed everything that was happening, and these are just coaching inclinations...

I don't know (smiles). But I never guessed what would happen to me next - I just seized every moment. And there were always wonderful people around me who taught me something important specifically for me. Or maybe not even for me, but for those children whom I will train.

They pulled me into the bridge and asked: “Do you like it?”

Let's go in order. You said that you came to the gym when you went to sign up for a drawing club. Do you remember these details yourself?

To be honest, I don’t remember (laughs). Mom told me. The only thing that remains in my memory is how they bent me into the bridge and asked: “Do you like it?” I nodded my head and started working out three times a week. And my first coach, Nadezhda Anatolyevna Solomatina, toughened me up and taught me the basics. The next stage of my gymnastics life influenced me very much - I ended up with my beloved Natalya Aleksandrovna Abdullaeva. She coached me from the age of eight until the national team. Even when Tatyana Vladislavovna (Sergaeva is the senior coach of the Russian team in group exercises) took me to the national team, Natalya Alexandrovna was nearby.

- You said that you loved the process itself. But gymnastics is painful...?!

It hurts (smiles). But everyone understands that nothing will happen without work. If you don't want it, don't tolerate it.

At competitions, it always seems like it’s easy for a gymnast to twist her body into the most intractable knots. Is stretching and preparing your body for such skills the hardest part?

Oh... I was actually left-handed, they pulled me over... If they had left it like that, I wouldn’t have made it into the national team. And I’ll say this about difficulties - everyone has their own. At first, for example, the trainers even taught me to smile, but I categorically did not want to do this - I was very shy. Natalya Alexandrovna took me to the mirror and said: “Stop and smile 10 times. Until you smile, you won’t go for a run.” In general, it seems to me that in any business, the beginning and the end are the hardest. The middle is, roughly speaking, something stellar. When you are stretched, when you already know a lot, when you can get out of some difficult situations, everything goes as planned. But at the same time you must be able to fall. Otherwise it will be very difficult to get up. And this skill is laid at the very beginning of the path. But at the finish line... When you look at the girls, how they all jump, but you don’t - it’s terribly difficult.

Before you left gymnastics, your dream finally came true - you made it into the main roster of the Russian national team.

Yes, in 2008 at the Russian Championships I competed in personal exercises. And then Tatyana Vladislavovna made the selection for the 2009 European Championship. That's how I ended up in the group. True, at first there was a little stupidity (laughs). At all group exercises You may not like it at first. I was interested for a while, and then I got tired of it. But soon I got involved and realized that group exercises were my thing.

Since I didn’t make it to the Olympics, it means it was necessary.

- And what was it like training in the national team and under the leadership of Sergaeva?

It was scary. I was very afraid of her (laughs). And I'm not alone. Tatyana Vladislavovna is such an impressive woman, there is something about her - even if you see that everything is fine, you are still scared to death. Only when I moved to the second youth team did I feel like I belonged on the team, realized that I had become more experienced... And then my knees stopped shaking.

Alina Makarenko said that in the year preceding the Olympics in Singapore, you never dropped an object at any start. Was it difficult to maintain this level?

The main thing was not to think about it. In general, according to my recollections, everything was like this. The athletes had to be put on full autopilot. First there was cleaning, working out programs, and brain work. Then comes the stage of lost items, mistakes, blots. And the third stage is turning on the autopilot. Sometimes it was just throwing drills. And Tatyana Vladislavovna sometimes tested us - we got up for a run and then practiced what we lost the subject on. That is, they stood stupidly and made some kind of transfer. Our weak points changed each time, and we eradicated them in this way.

- What is the first thing you remember when you mention the Olympics in Singapore?

It’s hard to say... Although... We performed in a hall that was converted after artistic gymnastics. And when on the morning of the competition day we entered it and saw that our carpet was lying on a one and a half meter podium... Honestly, I was scared. I immediately thought - a hoop... I have weakness there was a roll, and I vividly imagined the picture of losing an object and running after it, jumping off the carpet, out of nowhere. Tatyana Vladislavovna, by the way, quickly saw through my confusion, scolded me a little, and I threw these thoughts out of my head (smiles).

Another turning point was the 2011 World Championships, where you made your debut. Did you understand then that silver in the all-around was not the result that the coaches were counting on?

Yes, we felt that things were bad. Irina Aleksandrovna then took charge of us closely and made a number of innovations. The main principle of our exercises now sounded like this: no one waits for anyone. That is, unity came into the programs, there were no empty spaces left in them, each transfer flowed into the next movement. At the same time, the pace increased very noticeably and, as a result, everyone stopped seeing what, where and where it was flying from. The exercises were done only on sensations. When Irina Aleksandrovna took us to the home stage of the Grand Prix in February 2012, everyone said it was out of space.

- Were your rivals shocked?

I can’t say, I only got into the team then because Ksyusha Dudkina was injured. I was number seven. I was removed from the base in November 2011 - after the World Cup.

- At that moment, did you immediately realize that you were flying past the Olympics?

Probably not. Then I just started working twice as hard. In addition, I knew all the games, since Irina Aleksandrovna said that I should be ready to substitute. I can’t say that I was very upset then - I thought that I had a second team, I decided to raise them. I liked it, I wanted to compete with the first team. The girls also caught fire with my enthusiasm, and we managed to reach a good level. Since I didn’t make it to the Olympics, it means it was necessary.

- But you could be an Olympic champion now...

You know, instead of gold Olympic medal I have golden experience.

When I returned from the World Championships in Kyiv, I wanted to forget gymnastics forever

- Why did you stay in gymnastics even after you didn’t get to London?

I thought that I had a chance to get to the next Olympics. Back then I just stupidly wanted to perform, feel the thrill of going on the court, see the reaction of the judges, I wanted to please the people with our work and see the coaches happy. And I got such a chance. A year after I was removed from the team, I returned to the team. And they put me in only one category - my favorite films.

By a fateful coincidence, your return happened precisely in 2013, which many associate not with a successful Universiade for the team, but with an unsuccessful World Championship in Kyiv...

This is so... We cannot say what happened then. It was very difficult for all of us - the start itself was difficult. We were absolutely ready. Really ready. We weren't afraid to make mistakes. I honestly don't know what happened. And after the World Cup it became even harder. Irina Alexandrovna was very upset. I can’t imagine her condition, I felt very sorry for her. She saw our work and hoped that everything would go well.

- She said then that the shortcomings of the gymnasts themselves resulted in such a result...

She is right about everything, she sees us better... There were some incidents in the team... Perhaps it was due to extreme fatigue. It was a shock for me too that we performed like that.

- How long did you continue to train then?

Until October. When I returned from Kyiv, I wanted to forget gymnastics forever. It was hard for me. I knew that this was my last start. We finished the tapes well, but that wasn’t enough. I came home and lay there for two days, looking at one point. I told my mom that now I definitely won’t go to gymnastics. I was in this state for two weeks. And then she called Irina Alexandrovna and asked if I should come to the training camp. And after some time she gave the go-ahead. But the injury made itself known - the leg could not withstand the load. And my aspiration, my dream of being on the national team as a gymnast turned into something else. Sooner or later I would have to make this choice.

- Why were you drawn back after just two weeks?

Tatyana Vladislavovna influenced me (smiles). She and I had a conversation, and I thought that I wanted to help her with at least something.

The first months as a coach I rushed back and forth - and did not understand anything

- You noted that starting any business is difficult. Now you are at the very beginning of your coaching journey. What do you think?

In general, now everything is going in such a way that I am like a player-coach. Sometimes it becomes difficult - you see that the girls can’t do it, but you can’t explain it so that it works (laughs). In such cases, the first thing I do is calm down and start asking the gymnasts themselves what they are doing wrong. The first months I rushed back and forth and did not understand anything. And now it has already been implemented. I like everything. I feel absolutely comfortable as a coach. And the girls are already used to me. Of course, I don’t understand anything yet, but since I’m next to Irina Alexandrovna and Tatyana Vladislavovna, I try to learn everything from them. They gave me a lot, I am immensely grateful to them and have great respect for them. And I won’t get better practice anywhere than in a team with them.

- Are you working with the main team now?

At the training camp in Croatia, I helped the girls who were listed as reserves. That is, the team has four main gymnasts and two in reserve - for different types exercises. If allowed, I help the second team.

- It turns out that the performance of the Russian team at the World Championships in Turkey will also be your merit?

I hope I contributed something very small (smiles).

- Surely, when you trained yourself, gymnastics was your life. Has anything changed now?

When I started training seriously, gymnastics became a part of me, and I became a part of it. I didn’t think then what else I could do. After the World Championships in Kyiv, my opinion changed a little. In general, I wanted to change my specialization and go... to law (smiles). My grandfather told me this. And my mother really wanted, and still wants, for me to get a medical education. And so I sat then, thought, pondered where I should go, and stayed in rhythmic gymnastics (laughs).

- So what does gymnastics mean to you now?

- Darling?

Darling (laughs). Although... This sport is still something more for me... Perhaps gymnastics is still my life!

A new figure appears. A young girl, flexible and graceful Olga Kapranova. She is among the best gymnasts in the world and stands alongside such celebrities as Alina Kabaeva, Yana Batyrshina and Evgenia Kanaeva. But Olga was related to rhythmic gymnastics by one unexpected meeting, which influenced the rest of her life. The biography of Olga Kapranova will be discussed in detail in the article.

Biography

Kapranova Olga Sergeevna was born in Moscow on December 6, 1987. Her dad is a simple worker. My mother, a chemist by training, quit her job after the birth of her second daughter and decided to start raising her daughters. Four years after birth, the search for Olya’s talent begins. At first, the mother decided that her daughter should definitely take up swimming. But at the very first competition, Olya swam last. She was not at all upset about this, and was even glad that now she would not have to enter the cold water of the pool.

The second step in finding talent was the choreographic studio. But after looking at her data, the choreographers didn’t even accept Olga. Then there was ballroom dancing. After several lessons, it became clear to my mother that this was not her daughter’s calling. Piano lessons also did not interest the little girl. The teachers threw up their hands - the girl has no hearing. And only a chance meeting with Elena Nefedova determined Olga’s future fate. According to the gymnast’s stories, she, her mother and sister Katya were waiting for the bus, playing, performing various flips. Suddenly they were approached by a young girl who invited them to her art studio. Initially, they wanted to take only sister Katya, but my mother insisted that both girls study.

So, at the age of 7, Olga began rhythmic gymnastics classes. In the first year of training it was difficult, the girl could not do some stretches, and was a little overweight. Mom supported her youngest daughter, helped her in completing physical exercise, did the splits, and soon Olya caught up with her older sister and other students in level. Katya will subsequently become a two-time Russian champion and move on to coaching work.

The beginning of big victories

2002 was marked by a change of coach. Elena Nefedova was replaced by Vera Shatalina. And, starting in 2003, Olga began to achieve great success in sports. She was included in the national team for the World Championships, which was held in Budapest. IN team competitions Kapralova becomes the first. 2005 - first place at the World Championships in Baku. In the same year she won the title of absolute European champion.

2007, Patras - the gymnast again confirms her title of world champion. She becomes a favorite among Russian gymnasts.

Failures and departure from big sport

All Olga’s efforts come down to one thing - preparing for the Olympic Games in Beijing. Unfortunately, 2008 was a bad year for her. After qualifying, Kapranova was second, coaches and fans were already hoping for victory. But the performance with clubs ruined the chances of winning. And in the end, the gymnast took only 4th place. In one of the interviews, Olga admitted that she alone was to blame for this loss. I couldn't handle the clubs - and here's the result.

Having a hard time experiencing the defeat, the athlete decided to quit rhythmic gymnastics and leave the sport. Coach Irina Winner helped her cope with her difficult psychological condition; she persuaded the girl to wait and compete at the World Championships in 2009. Kapranova continued her performances. 2009 was an alternation of victories and defeats for the nine-time world champion. The performance in Maribor was victorious, here Olga won 3 gold medals, but in Japan the gymnast could not win bronze. All the gold ended up in Evgenia Kanaeva’s piggy bank. Kapranova became a ten-time world champion there, in Japan, taking first place in team performances. After this, the athlete leaves the arena big sport.

However, Olga’s departure is not personal grievances or ambitions. Russians have always been the best among representatives of other countries in rhythmic gymnastics. In order to somehow remove this backlog, the assessment rules were changed. And now dance elements and choreography come first. The complexity of the performance is not assessed as before, but Olga performed exercises of high complexity. Currently, none of the athletes has reached the level that Kapranova had.

Olga Kapranova School

Kapranova could not leave her beloved rhythmic gymnastics forever. And in 2010, together with her sister Ekaterina, who was already working as a coach, Olga opened a school for training young athletes. Initially, training was conducted in one of the clubs in the Moscow region, but over time, the number of studios increased. Now you can study in Moscow, Khimki, Odintsovo, and the Leningrad region.

The coaches at the school are honored champions, famous gymnasts and talented teachers who find an individual approach to each child. Olga Kapranova’s school is really bearing fruit. More than once, her students have become winners of competitions at the Russian and international levels.

The main goal of studying at Olga Kapranova’s school

The goal of the school is to give the child faith in his own strengths, help him gain confidence, hope, and teach him to achieve success in life, and not only in sports. Unfortunately, parents often interfere with this. They, as a rule, want to see an Olympic champion in their child, not a personality. Kapranova's school helps solve these problems.

Currently, the school works not only with young athletes from 3 to 10 years old, but also invites adults who want to try themselves in rhythmic gymnastics to study. You can enroll in the school by simply calling or leaving an application on the website.

So Olga returned to her childhood. She combines work in the studio and the position of director in her native sports school. This is where she started her professional career, and now helps many children make their dreams come true.

Olga Kapranova: personal life

Olga devoted all her years to sports, and her personal life always remained last place. In her youth, the girl fell in love many times, fans always surrounded her, but few people knew about the gymnast’s personal relationships. There are rumors that in 2006 Kapranova was not included in the national team because of her affair with a young man. Olga Kapranova got married? No, according to Olga, she has not yet met a person with whom she could be close. Many fans still love her, write, call and give gifts. But the girl sees her happiness in something else.

The meaning of Olga's life

After finishing her career, Olga Kapranov (rhythmic gymnastics) decided to devote herself to little students. On her pages in in social networks you can see with what love she communicates with her students, inquires about their mood, the weather, tells the news, supports and gives advice. With genuine joy and pride, Olga Sergeevna informs everyone about the victories of her students.

All her personal time is scheduled minute by minute. In addition, Olga herself is still studying. She is a graduate student at the Russian State Social University, majoring in psychology.

Hobbies and leisure

Another weakness of Olga is pets, especially dogs. A griffon dog lives in her house. Olga asks her fans not to give her flowers and gifts, but to donate dog food, which she personally delivers to shelters.

Currently, Olga lives with her family in the city of Zvenigorod and does her favorite job. The athlete's main hobbies are reading classical literature, poetry, music, embroidery, and horse riding. In addition, the athlete cooks well for her family and friends.

Olga Kapranova is not only a great athlete, but also a person with an open and kind soul, a cheerful, easy-going and courageous character. Her willpower, skill and perseverance can be the envy of any great athlete.

Ten-time world champion in rhythmic gymnastics Olga Kapranova, in a conversation with R-Sport correspondent Anna Manakova, shared her opinion on changes in the rules for the current Olympic cycle, told which gymnastics school she likes best and why the most carefree time is training time.

Coaching kids is like a drug

Olga, I would like to know more about your life after graduation sports career. As far as I know, the President of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics and Main coach the Russian national team said that you will start working as a coach at the Olympic Training Center?

I finished my career in 2009. My sister Ekaterina worked for a very long time as a trainer in the training center for Irina Alexandrovna. And this is great, because I could learn a lot from the most experienced Olimpiyka coaches. And when I graduated, my sister and I opened a sports club, it’s called Olga Kapranova’s school. Now we have about 150 children training. In addition, for almost two years now I have been working as the director of the Sports School Olympic reserve No. 74" of Moskomsport, where almost 500 gymnasts are preparing in the most serious way to conquer the heights of sports.

- What age children do you train with?

In the sports school of the Olympic reserve, starting from the age of six and until they show results. These can be gymnasts over 18 years of age. Sport Club has existed for four years, and so far the oldest children were born in 1999.

- You also work as a chief judge at many competitions. What are your responsibilities?

This is very responsible. Mainly - resolving controversial situations in refereeing. In principle, there is no bias, especially at children's competitions. But judges do not always evaluate gymnasts in accordance with the rules: some know the rules worse, others know them better - this is often the problem.

- What is more interesting for you: coaching activities or the work of the chief judge?

I love gymnastics and it’s hard for me to give up one of these classes. I don't remember the last time I had a day off, but I love it. It's very interesting to judge. There are more qualified judges from whom you can learn a lot. I observe how they act in some controversial and difficult moments. The coaching profession is also interesting. They say that people who work with children look younger. This is true! Children do not always show the results they want. But when you come to training and see how happy they are, it’s amazing. I can't get rid of it - it's like a drug. I love children, I love coaching them, and I think they love me too.

- Do they call you affectionately or is everything strict?

Olga Sergeevna (smiles). Subordination must be maintained.

The sooner you start, the sooner you finish

- When you retired in 2009, there were already changes to the rules for the new Olympic cycle. After the 2012 London Olympics, the rules changed even more...

Yes, they change every four years after the Olympics. Unfortunately, the latest changes, in my opinion, are killing the sports component of our sport. There are different opinions: some praise them very much, others don’t. But as for me, I don’t like these rules at all.

- I just haven’t heard a single one. positive feedback about the rules for the current Olympic cycle...

Everyone praises them so much now (smiles in surprise). I don't like the new rules because we have sports, not dancing. Innovations strive to make gymnastics more attractive to spectators. We do not have a team sport, so a priori we will not assemble stadiums like those for football, and we don’t need it! We have beautiful girls perform and do complex elements. And now we need to include many dance tracks in the program. In my time there was still normal gymnastics and in the times of ( , ( , (Laysan) Utyasheva, ( . In March, Batyrshina held a tournament, there was a screen on which performances were broadcast. And what Yana Batyrshina did in 1996 is not now one girl can't do it. Then there were complex elements, not like now - you need to go out, dance, take three risks, - and everything is great. In all of Europe and America, everyone was equal, and that's why I love watching what I did, Alina Kabaeva , Irina Chashchina This is interesting to watch - it was gymnastics as a sport.

- It turns out that the new rules have simplified rhythmic gymnastics, making all performances similar?

During those gymnastics days, everyone did different elements. Those who knew how to bend well scored high points with flexibility elements. Those who knew how to jump well jumped. But now there is no such thing. Everyone must do the same thing to score 10 points for difficulty and 10 points for execution. And if you can do these specific elements, it means you will score 10 points. And if you do something else, you simply won’t get them. We have been making turns in the back Turlyan all our lives - it is difficult, beautiful and sports element. Now this element costs, in my opinion, 0.4 points, and the dance track 0.3 points. Making a back tourlane is much more difficult than dancing, but why do it? You can dance twice and get 0.6 points. That's the point.

- There is an opinion that now girls are accepted into rhythmic gymnastics based on anthropometric data...

Of course, we love children with data and texture. But the same Zhenya Kanaeva is far from tall and does not have long legs. But she worked fantastically on the mat and became the first gymnast to win two Olympics. Any girl can become a champion, regardless of her natural abilities. We are not gods and cannot tell a five-year-old child: “You have no data and you will never become a gymnast.” Now it's very early gymnastics. I joined gymnastics at the age of 7 with my older sister. And, my first coach Elena Yuryevna Nefedova immediately saw something in Katya and started working with us, and already at the age of 15, Irina Aleksandrovna Viner and I and my coach Vera Nikolaevna Shatalina went to the World Championships. And now children are brought to the gym literally from the age of two, and already at 5-6 they take objects - this is early. We are racing somewhere, there are always competitions for such young children. And at the age of 13, such a child will say: “Mommy, I’m tired of training.” Naturally, the sooner you start, the sooner you finish.

Maybe this is, to some extent, a plus; she will finish sports earlier and the girl will have time to choose a future profession?

Basically, it’s never too late to learn (smiles). It depends on the person and life priorities. For example, Almudena Sid Tostado ended her career as a gymnast at the age of 27, having competed at four Olympics: she got married, she has children, and I am sure that she has an education. Everything is good in life. She managed everything. I graduated at 22, I have two degrees. You can do everything. The main thing is to want it.

- Of the last long-lived gymnasts, we can only remember the Bulgarian Silvia Miteva, who retired last season at the age of 27...

I didn't know. I remember that she performed when I was a gymnast. But I can say that it is difficult to work for results. Almudena is a good gymnast, the whole world knows her, but she was probably always in the top ten. But if a girl takes first place, then naturally it’s difficult to hold on until she’s 27 years old.

- In the Russian team, this option is probably not possible at all?

There is huge competition in the Russian team and this is also good.

Ukrainians shoot and immediately end their careers

Kudryavtseva is a very strong girl. She does a very good job of the subject, really interesting. Nobody does this now. She is young, thin, beautiful - she is pleasant to look at and she is only 16 years old. And at the age of 15 she became the youngest absolute champion peace! I'm very happy for her because she didn't get confused. In our team, Irina Aleksandrovna Viner-Usmanova manages everything, and as long as she keeps it all in check, we will always have gold.

- And who would be singled out among the world’s gymnasts? Maybe someone from a Ukrainian or Belarusian school?

No, I always liked Russians. I like some Ukrainian women, but for some reason they shoot at competitions and immediately finish. I don't understand why they don't hold on. The last girl they had some kind of cycle was Anna Bessonova. And now I’m just thinking “what a great gymnast, I should watch her at the competition,” when she’s already finishing. It is very difficult to stay in first place. As they say, it is easier to rise than to hold on. Only Zhenya Kanaeva and Alina Kabaeva held on for more than one year - this is not just winning competitions. And, of course, when a gymnast loses something after a peak or realizes that she is no longer competitive, it is better to finish.

- The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing were unsuccessful for you, but you didn’t immediately end your career?

I performed poorly at the Olympics and wanted to finish. But Irina Aleksandrovna said that finishing this is the easiest thing and we should try to at least win something else. And I can always leave. And I won, albeit in the team competition, at the World Championships in Japan. But she still left after the gold medal.

The fact that you only won the team event at the World Championships - was that still a negative note at the end of your career or a positive one?

There was no negative or positive note here. There was the Olympics, which usually happens once in a lifetime for an athlete. And in principle, the negative remained: the Olympics are for life, and there is no second chance. But win the tenth anniversary medal The World Cup is also never a bad thing. Again, you need to overcome yourself first. It was very difficult to stay: to recover again, lose weight, work out the program, learn it and perform.

After finishing your career, was there a desire to be away from rhythmic gymnastics and not have anything to do with it?

I wanted to. And now sometimes I want to. And I’m sure that I won’t be upset at all, and it will be interesting for me to do something else (smiles). But this happens to everyone. Fleeting, of course. You can’t be such a crazy fan.

Current gymnasts are closed from the press. Is this some kind of special restriction to keep female athletes strict?

When we work out, we don’t think about the press, we don’t think about anything material. Girls live for gymnastics. For a minute and a half on set you live it - and this is probably the most wonderful time. When I was still training in Novogorsk, it was terribly difficult for us in training. Yulia Barsukova came into the hall and said: “Girls, this is your happiest time.” I thought: “Yes, God forbid at all!” (laughs). And now I understand that this is actually true. Because there are no worries there. There is everything: doctors, psychologists, excellent food, sauna, swimming pool, massages. We don't have to worry about anything. And we only worry about the object - ribbons, balls. And we live by it. I cannot say whether they are limiting or not. Athletes just don’t need it. A true athlete lives by medals, performances and spectators, fans.

- So fans want to know more about their favorites...

The people demand bread and circuses! Viewers always want scandals (laughs).

- So it’s good that they try to isolate gymnasts from the press and don’t interfere with their training?

There must still be discipline. This is also a high success rate!

But maybe this also affects interest in the sport? Less information - does interest fade if it is shown less often on television?

Considering the insane number of people who want to do rhythmic gymnastics, now it is very popular look sports I don’t understand why they show some kind of horror on TV. Dozens of similar talk shows on federal channels. But they don’t show gymnastics (laughs). Maybe not spectacular. Although for us it is very spectacular. But we should ask TV producers why our sport is not on air. They work for ratings there.

It was the time of the reign of the three great “Ks” - Alina Kabaeva, Evgenia Kanaeva and Olga Kapranova. Only Olympic awards The heroine of this article is missing from her collection. However, Olga Kapranova will forever remain in the hearts of connoisseurs as one of the most spectacular and talented athletes. After finishing her career, she did not leave what she loved and is now training a new generation of champions.

The beginning of the journey shoulder to shoulder with my sister

World sports might not even recognize a name like Olga Kapranova. Gymnastics appeared in her life almost by accident.

Together with mom in childhood she was picking up her sister Katya from school. At the bus stop, the young coach Elena Nefedova saw the two girls.

She immediately invited them to her section. Mom was surprised and somewhat discouraged, because Katya was already studying at a ballet school, but she still decided to send both sisters to sports section. So, at the age of seven, Olya began a long journey in rhythmic gymnastics. Ekaterina would later also achieve success in sports, becoming a three-time Russian champion, but she would end her career early and move on to coaching.

Already in 1999, Irina Viner’s scouts paid attention to Kapranova and took her to their place.

New Star Rising

In 2002, Vera Shatalina became Kapranova’s coach. A year later, Olga gets into the national team. She received her first gold at world championships in 2003 in team competitions.

Gradually she is among the best in rhythmic gymnastics. Olga Kapranova participated in all stages of the World Cup in 2004 and in the finals held in Moscow, received bronze medals in a number of disciplines.

The 2005 World Championships became a real breakthrough for her. She takes first place five times, including in the main event of the program - the individual all-around. After the departure of Kabaeva and Chashchina, everyone considers Olga the main star of the team. However, Kapranova soon appears and has to compete with the future two-time Olympic champion.

The athlete is intensively preparing for the main tournament of her life - the 2008 Olympics. The 2007 World Championships were also successful. Having received three gold medals, Olga Kapranova becomes a nine-time world champion.

End of career

The Beijing Olympics becomes one of the few failures in the life of a gymnast. There is nothing more disappointing than being one step behind the winners at the main tournament of your life. After this, Olga Kapranova is going to leave the sport, but Irina Viner persuades her to stay for a couple more seasons.

The athlete's swan song was the 2009 World Championships. In Japanese Mio, she becomes a ten-time champion of the planet, winning anniversary gold in team competitions. Olga Kapranova ends her career with her head held high. Personal life is now becoming a priority for the champion.

All experts note the athlete’s excellent flexibility and technical equipment.

She performed elements that most gymnasts could not do. In this regard, Kapranova stood on the same level as Yana Batyrshina, Alina Kabaeva,

After the Olympics in Beijing and London, changes were introduced to the rules of judging of rhythmic gymnastics. To level out the hopeless backlog in technical skill Russian athletes place greater emphasis in the final assessments on choreography and dance elements. It is already becoming pointless to increase the complexity of the performance, and rhythmic gymnastics largely loses its sports component. Kapranova did not like all this. She was one of the last representatives of a generation of gymnasts who performed elements the highest level difficulties.

Olga Kapranova School

Having finished her active career, the gymnast does not leave her favorite activity. Her sister Ekaterina left sports early and immediately switched to coaching at the Irina Viner Olympic Training Center. Over 8 years of working with the best trainers she has accumulated vast experience. In 2010, the sisters opened their own rhythmic gymnastics school, named after the ten-time world champion.

Initially, it was located in the Iskra volleyball and sports complex in a city near Moscow.

Girls of all ages were recruited for classes, and groups of all categories were created. Intensive training is not in vain, and already in 2011, young athletes from the “Olga Kapranova School” compete in many domestic and international tournaments.

They come to the sisters the best specialists in rhythmic gymnastics and choreography, renowned champions. "Olga Kapranova's School" acquires branches in the Moscow and Leningrad regions. Today, general management is carried out by Ekaterina. Olga simultaneously works as the director of her native sports school.

Thus the circle is closed, and the great gymnast continues to work where it all began.