Ekaterina Vedeneeva, a gymnast from Irkutsk, breaks several stereotypes at once. The first is that without belonging to the Russian national team, any athlete is supposedly doomed to obscurity. The second is that at the age of 28 it is impossible to perform at a serious level. The Russian woman, who opened her second wind, won the recent World Cup in Athens and spoke in an interview with Sport about the blessing of Irina Viner to leave, as well as the difficult battle for the national school in modern Europe.
«The coach could not to go with me to the World Games because of a Russian passport»
—You changed citizenship before it became mainstream. Can you tell me point by point using your example what needs to be done for this? world arena. Further, of course, everything was done with the approval and blessing of Irina Alexandrovna Viner. If she hadn't approved of my transition, it wouldn't have happened. Then we contacted the federation of Slovenia, with the club, and then they helped us.
And, of course, you need to find a country that wants to accept you and give you citizenship. It's very difficult, to be honest. We thought about this issue until 2018 and could not find options. In 2018, everything has already worked out.
— And purely technically, how does this happen? So you received the blessing of Irina Alexandrovna, came to our federation for some documents and already went with them to Slovenia, to their local federation?
— Negotiations are underway between the federations. If you are released of your own free will, then everything is simply and quickly resolved. If the releasing party does not agree, a one-year disqualification is included.
In my case, the Russian Gymnastics Federation wrote a letter that they did not object to the transfer, and the documents, along with the separation from Russia and Slovenia's confirmation that they were ready to accept me, went to the international federation.
—In the fall, I talked with Elizaveta Polstyana, who was actually given a choice between a Russian passport and the opportunity to represent Latvia in competitions. Did you have something similar after February last year?
— No, it didn’t affect me at all. Just in February 2022, we arrived here and did not notice any looks and claims on ourselves. Everything remains as it was.
The only moment was not related to Slovenia and happened at the World Games. Two weeks before the tournament, I was told that the coach (Elena Drozhanova — ed.) could not go with me because she had a Russian passport. I got very angry with them and said: «If so, then there will definitely be a medal.»
— Lives in Slovenia?
— The coach is with me everywhere. When I am in Slovenia, she is in Slovenia, when I am in Russia, she is in Russia. She has a work visa, and she travels everywhere quite calmly. She also has permission from FIG, a license to coach Slovenia, despite her Russian passport.
— How does it — perform without a coach?< br>
“It's a disgusting feeling, I'll tell you. I am very attached to the coach, we have a close connection. And thank God that she was then able to come with me. She was not allowed into the warm-up hall, but the stands were very low, almost at the carpet. So she could still communicate with me. And we lived together. So there was still contact.
I recently had to go to Italy for Serie A. The coach became very ill and could not go with me. For me it was a huge stress, just hysterical. How is it, how will I perform without her? But, thank God, everything went well. I talked to girls in Italy — everyone laughs. Previously, it was generally not customary to go to the Italian championships with coaches, everyone came by themselves. They say, Katya, it's all because of you, you introduced the fashion — now foreigners want to travel with coaches, and you come alone.
—And what is the bonus of having a coach nearby? He can scold in vain, and wind up somehow additionally.
— This is definitely not our case. We have a connection on some other level, which is even difficult to explain. It's more like I'm winding myself up, and she calms down, even if she's just silent./
«There is not enough communication in Slovenia, I miss Irkutsk»
— You have some unusual interior now. Are you really talking to me from the audience?
— This is a hotel at the hall. Here, as in Novogorsk, there is a large sports complex for sports and rhythmic gymnastics. Unfortunately, I do not have my own housing, so I live in a hotel. All the time at the base.
— It turns out that you have been living at the base for four years already?
— First we came to the club, where my coach was offered a job. Therefore, they rented an apartment for us, it was from 2019 to 2020. That is, my parents came to me, and gymnasts from a sports school from Irkutsk. We held collections. When the pandemic began, we left here for a year, and when we returned, the apartment had already been sold. It is very difficult and expensive to rent an apartment here, so they offered the option of a hotel. On the one hand, it is convenient — you immediately come from training and relax. On the other hand, you still want your own corner, so that you don’t constantly pack things in suitcases. That is, every time we leave, we put everything in our suitcases and put them in our inventory. Then we come back and sort it all out. And given that there are only 2-3 days between the competitions, it is very exhausting, it’s hard to deal with it.
— Is there any hope that one day they will decide on an apartment?
<
— It makes sense to do this, if only you decide that I want to stay here. Then you can plan everything, buy a house and so on. But while I'm training, I can't make that decision. And it’s hard to take pictures, because here people live mostly in houses. There are very few apartments for rent, many of them are occupied by students with long-term rentals — from September to May.
— I love Russia very much, I adore Irkutsk. My whole life continues to be connected with them, because all my friends, family and loved ones are there. I miss. Here in Slovenia, communication is lacking. Competitions and trips help to compensate for this, and the rest of the time I save myself with video calls. You just can’t talk to dogs, that’s why I especially miss them. ?
— Two: York and Chihuahua. They live with their parents.
— Many would say that these are not dogs, but cats.
“York is big and plump, about the size of a spaniel, so it’s quite a dog. And the Chihuahua is very small and tame. When I am in Irkutsk, she goes everywhere with me, including training. Taking a cat with you would be out of the question, by the way. /strong>
— She loves the tape very much, and not with me — with children. And so, he just sits in the arms of the coach, waits for me to finish the run, and then runs, licks me.
— Is there no option to take them with you to the base in Slovenia?— I think there is such a possibility, but since I am constantly on the road, it would be difficult for them. And then their parents love them so much. They barely let me go (laughs). Where do you see yourself?
— Definitely in gymnastics, but in what role — I don’t know yet. I have not yet come to be a coach. I had the opportunity to take children to competitions a couple of times — they entrusted me at the championship of Siberia. So three sweats came off me! The coach will sometimes say when we have a fight, they say, do you want to take my place? I say: «No! Never in my life! I don't want to stand in the arch at the World Championships and have my gymnast perform there!» Coach — colossal patience, psyche, nerves. You have to come to this. I think I can, and I could, but I'm not ready yet. I have a character, I'm impulsive, quick-tempered — it's difficult. I like refereeing, organizational issues, coming up with something new. The work of the director attracts as quite creative.
—And what is so terrible in the arch at the World Cup? If you think logically: you taught the athlete to do everything, then you just look and enjoy. No?
— Well, there's nothing you can do. You stand and watch how she threw this mace at 13 meters. I would love to run to catch her, but I can't! When I go out on the carpet, I know for sure that I am in control. So the coach even from the outside, these trajectories seem crooked. In general, horror.
Without Russia and Belarus, I want to defend classical gymnastics
—Do you communicate with someone from the Russian team, maintain relations?
— We communicate quite closely with Dina and Arina, we have been friends for 10 years. We still keep in touch with a lot of people, we can correspond. With Nastya Guzenkova, Katya Selezneva, Dasha Trubnikova. You see, the generation has changed. The same Anya Popova, Masha Borisova are already much younger than me. When I was in Novogorsk, they were very young children. I'm probably too old for them. Some of them even refer to me as «you», imagine. I begged them for a long time to switch to «you».
— Such is the circle of life, of course. Before the eyes of athletes, those who will compete with them in a few years are actually growing.
— I, looking at the kids, never regard them as future competitors. How could you imagine, for example, that I would still perform when the same Anya Popova and Masha Borisova join the national team — they were born in 2007, and I was born in 1994. 13 years difference! One can only rejoice at their success now. It is interesting to see how they grow up, turn into strong gymnasts.
— Is there a global difference in the gymnastics of your generation and the generation of 2007?
— I think there is. My generation was brought up on the classics. Girls of 2007 and younger grew up on the rules of the throw-catch cycle. At the same time, we can say that Russia, Belarus, Ukraine as a whole adhere to beauty, grace, lines, choreography, aesthetics. Europe enthusiastically went along the path of «throw-catch», so they are a little behind classical gymnastics now. I think my generation was more fortunate.
Then the children who switched to candidates immediately fell into the rules of the last cycle with a frantic load and acrobatics. They didn't have time to learn the basics. Especially when it comes to schools where young coaches work, aimed at quick results by maximizing points. Then these children at the age of 12-13 come to the national team and cannot do the elementary thing — stand on a half-finger, put their fingers together, roll the ball. But at the same time, they can take such a risk that I will never take in my life.
Now, when there are no Russia and Belarus at the competitions — schools that carry classical gymnastics, I want to defend it more than ever. I am, as some say, like an eyesore. It is difficult to convey to people that sometimes it is much more difficult to straighten your arm and stand on a half-finger than to throw the ball and catch it with your feet.
—Is there a difference in how 28-year-olds and 18-year-olds train?
— The difference is colossal. From the age of 18, a slight relaxation in terms of loads began. In general, coaches have always taught me that it is necessary to take the quality of training, and not the quantity. They ask me: «How many runs do you do?» «Two». «Like two, are you out of your mind?»
Or «how cool did you do this jump, how many times did you work it out?» «I made it for the first time today.» People don't believe. And what can I do — well, do not believe. I've never had a coach in my life who gave me an unreasonable amount of loads.
Perhaps we should thank them for saving you for gymnastics at 28 years old. Few people can afford this.
— Of course. It is only thanks to this approach that I can perform at the age of 28.
— The average skater — I just communicate with them more — at the age of 28 feels like a complete ruin in the mornings.
— A gymnast too, and not only in the mornings, but also in the evenings (laughs). Another thing is that I still have the physical opportunity to train and perform.
«It was a pity that Tuktamysheva did not go to the Olympics»
—I'm even embarrassed that I constantly pedal the topic of your age. In my defense, I will say that I see a valuable mission in this. There is a parallel with Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, who at 26 does not give up in technique and continues to pump up the artistic component.
Yes, I follow figure skating and I am aware of Lisa's history. It was a pity that she did not go to the Olympics. She is a prime example of why it is important to raise the age in such aesthetic sports as gymnastics and figure skating.
— Raised in figure skating.
— Well, yes, gradually: for a year and then for another year. But in rhythmic gymnastics, no matter how much I asked and didn’t talk about it, they don’t want to approach it yet.
— childhood is cultivated. All for children and for the sake of children.
— It really is. I have a dream, but I don't know how to realize it. I would like to see an additional category in gymnastics — grand senior. Start with, say, 23 years old, reconsider the rules and the cost of the elements. Because there is a difference — at the age of 15 to jump some kind of jump or at 28. I don’t know how exactly to achieve this, maybe I need to write a letter to FIG, talk to them, but so far they don’t really want to.
— Would anyone else be interested in such a category?
— There are gymnasts who graduated at the age of 17 due to transitional age and injuries. And at 22 they say — I would like to perform now, but I can’t do it at the same level anymore. Maybe if there was such a category, special rules, many would be able to return.
—There is a feeling that in order for you to promote this thought in a conservative society, you will have to end your career and go to work as a sports official.
— In any case, this is not a quick decision. So I'm just testing the ground for now. If someone supports, I will continue to promote it.
— Do you keep the Paris Olympics in your mind?
— The Olympics is given from above. If it's meant to be, then it will be. To say that I will go through sweat and blood and will definitely get there — I don’t have such an approach. If I just do my own thing, do the right thing, everything will work out. If it doesn't work out, it means that somewhere you didn't do something.
— There is some kind of fatal detachment in this, which almost no other sport has anymore. Why then do you gymnasts work so much if nothing seems to depend on you?
— Well, I do not only imagine myself, going out on the carpet. I have a country behind me, in my case it is Slovenia, a federation, coaches, relatives. And speaking personally for myself, I just got used to doing everything responsibly. I can’t let anyone down in principle, and not only if the fate of the Olympics is being decided. But then I have to be honest with myself. We rest in the hall for many hours for the sake of one thing, about which Irina Alexandrovna once said — «a clean tail.» I always check to see if my tail is clean or dirty.
— Is this «tail» only determined by carpet performance? Or does something else affect it?
— No, it's all life in general. Life principles, positions, my attitude towards other people. If I have committed a misdemeanor somewhere, it will definitely be revealed.
— That is, we can say that all Olympians are practically holy people. Especially those who got to the medals.
— Not exactly saints, but they certainly sincerely and honestly did their work and lived honestly just as sincerely. I don't think there are any bad people in the Olympics.