Irina Viner, head coach of the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team, turned 75 on July 30. One of her favorite students, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva, prepared a special gift for the mentor on this occasion — she persuaded her to participate in the creation of an autobiography. The book was called «I am nobody…».
Irina Viner gave many interviews during her career, but this did not diminish the degree of mystery of her person. This is because in conversations with journalists, the coach usually opened up through her students, their victories and defeats, leaving herself, as it were, outside the brackets of the process of turning a child into a champion. publishes excerpts from Wiener's book, revealing a little-known side of her fate.
About the father who instilled a love for sports
«Dad was engaged in gymnastics and drawing. front. He had two wounds on his left hand. These wounds did not heal. He did not like to remember the war, but he told me how for three days their unit crossed the Dnieper in the Kiev region. They had only sugar, and all three days they ate it sugar and drank water from the river.
«
My father instilled in me a love for sports. Through dislike. Stands, splits and bridges were given to me with tears. As a child, I often got sick. Colds, sore throats. My father began to harden me. Accustomed to dousing, rubbing. I drove out into the snow, to the horror of my grandparents. He made a healthy child out of a sick child.
About his career as a gymnast
I became the champion of Uzbekistan three times. She did not take high places at all-Union competitions, but when she performed, everyone ran to watch. They said: «Wiener is performing! Something interesting will dance!» I danced to Monty's «Czardas», and to Rubinstein's romance «Night». relax, unsettle. It is very difficult to return to the original state if you burst into tears, burst into tears, all the more so frustrated. Tears are only allowed on a pedestal, when the flag is raised and the anthem sounds. In other cases, this is a sign of weakness.»
About her family and the distribution of roles between parents
«Mom worked all the time. She was a receptionist at the clinic, she was on duty and operated at the hospital, she was in charge of a teenage office. Always at several rates.
She infinitely loved her family, and her father infinitely loved art.
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Papa saved on everything, but spared no expense on art books. Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Dutch still lifes, Leonardo's sketches and drawings have been known to me since my earliest years. If I asked questions, he explained, taught me. to a chain dog that could tear me apart, walked towards a car rushing in the dark with headlights on a country road — the car was approaching, but I was walking anyway. «
About an unsuccessful first marriage
«I got married right after college. Everyone around was stupid. They didn't know literature or music. They didn't know anything that I knew. But I had to get out sometime.
“
He was the coach of the volleyball team. He started to make noise that the child was small, and I go to work. Once the door was closed. I took the phone and like a star! Well, it didn’t hit my head. The phone broke into pieces. She left. In one, as they say, tie. And with a son.»
About how she becomes a mother to her students
“I don’t say gymnasts. Children. I don’t have another word. They have been with me since childhood and see me more often than their own parents. I feel them better because I spend more time with them and delve into all their life problems. I am responsible for them and consider them my own children».
About the absence of untouchables in the Russian team
“I can remove anyone. It’s not difficult for me. I remove even the very first numbers. I explain to both the children and the coaches: “Who are you to me? Sisters, friends, acquaintances? I am not my own sister, not a friend, not an acquaintance. To myself, I am nobody. I am a conductor. I get information from there, I repeat. If you don't listen to me, then you don't listen to the heavenly office. You will receive injuries, illnesses, troubles.
About my strictness with gymnasts
Sometimes I pour my words into lead and with this lead my shoot pupils. One day a kilogram recovered. I go into her room — a can of Nutella is empty. She took the can and ate it. I say: «Take a ticket, free the territory. Your place is at the disco!»
On what laziness does not forgive gymnasts
«They have everything: a huge staff of specialists who cares for them, food, hall. Such conditions are created for them by the country. And they must pay for this with their victories. «How dare you not work? I ask. — People are starving, and you are fattening here, not training as you should. Bring the coach, the parents, the flag! The state pays for each of you a day as much as many people earn in a month. will be published by the Eksmo publishing house at the end of July.