Russia’s Maria Paseka came into the Rio Olympics as a two-time Olympic medallist and as the current world champion on vault. Despite...
Russia’s Maria Paseka came
into the Rio Olympics as a two-time Olympic medallist and as the current world
champion on vault. Despite a back injury sustained just before the Games,
Paseka competed fiercely for her team and for herself, winning two silver
medals, in the team competition and on vault.
In an interview to Ginnastica Artistica Italiana, which came out today, Paseka talked about the Olympics
and how she has been spending these post-Olympic months.
How was Rio different from
London? For Paseka, her London experience helped her build her confidence for Rio. ‘From a
psychological point of view, I found the Rio Olympics a little easier than
London,’ she explained. ‘In London, I was extremely worried and under pressure.’
And of course, the team members
were different: ‘From a practical point of view, the only thing that changed was
the team formation, which included our new little girls.’ Paseka and Aliya Mustafina were the only members
of the London 2012 team to compete also in Rio. They were joined by Angelina Melnikova, Seda Tutkhalian and Daria Spiridonova.
But ‘the Olympics is always the Olympics!’, added Paseka. ‘The only thoughts crossing my mind were not
to let my team and country down, as well as myself in the individual final.’
Paseka spent the two months after the Olympics in Germany, treating her back and spending time with her family.
‘I was in Germany after Rio,’ explained Paseka. ‘There, they helped me
take care of myself. And I had time to
rest and enjoy some time with my family. I was treated by a doctor through
physiotherapy and massages, and I also did some gymnastics.’
How is her back doing? ‘The doctors
said that my back needed surgery and that I should end my gymnastics career
here, but I refused! I still want to make a run for Tokyo [2020], but I can't
guarantee anything at this point. It’s still too early, let's just see what
happens. I don't like thinking too much about the future.’
Any big goals for the
future? In gymnastics, Paseka has only one goal in mind: ‘An Olympic gold.’
And outside gymnastics? Paseka would
like to become an international coach: ‘I would like to coach gymnastics in the
future. I'd love to work not only in Russia, but also in such countries as USA,
Spain or Italy.’
Maria Paseka is supposed to be back training this month.
By Talitha Ilacqua
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