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Kxenia SemenovaGymnast
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- Biography of Ksenia Semenova
- Olympic Games and Performance Anxiety
- A Gymnast from Childhood
- Being a Normal Teenager
- The Uneven Bars - A Favorite Apparatus
- Individual Characteristics in Gymnastics
- Friendship with Ksenia Afanasyeva
- Shyness in Interviews
Biography of Ksenia Semenova
Ksenia Semenova, a 15-year-old gymnast, is rightfully called the rising star of artistic gymnastics. Despite her young age, she has become the world champion and a two-time European champion in the past year. Semenova is even compared to the queen of this sport, Svetlana Khorkina, not for their physical resemblance, but for their talent and fighting spirit. They both share the same favorite apparatus - the uneven bars. "Novye Izvestiya" decided to learn more about the new gymnastics star in a personal interview. However, she confessed that she doesn't enjoy giving interviews.
Olympic Games and Performance Anxiety
When asked about the upcoming Olympic Games and if she is afraid of performing, Semenova mentioned that she is a calm person. She doesn't differentiate between competitions based on their level of importance. Whether it's the Russian Championship or the World Championship, she approaches them all the same. However, since she has never been to the Olympic Games before, she admitted that she might feel more nervous. Nevertheless, she believes that the apparatus is the same everywhere, so she tells herself that it's nothing special and everything will be fine. Usually, when she has this mindset, her performances turn out well.
Is Olympic Serenity a Talent or Developed through Training and Experience?
Semenova believes that it is a combination of both talent and training. Some people have natural talent, while others have to work on developing this quality. She considers herself to have a golden mean between the two. She acknowledges that she has some natural talent, but she also loves training. She cannot understand how a person can be idle and not engage in any activities, even if they are small in stature.
A Gymnast from Childhood
Semenova's mother is a former gymnast and coach, so she grew up in the gym. From the age of two, she was crawling on gymnastic mats. Semenova mentioned that she enjoys gymnastics and cannot imagine herself simply going to school without being involved in any other activities. However, despite her busy training schedule, she still finds time to study. Teachers come to their training base, "Ozero Krugloye," where they have lessons and assessments. It is challenging to balance everything, and sometimes she doesn't even have the energy to read her favorite book, Harry Potter, but she has adapted to this lifestyle over the past three years.
Being a Normal Teenager
Semenova emphasized that despite being a successful gymnast, she and her teammates are just normal girls. They go to the movies and shopping centers on weekends when their parents come to visit. They don't feel inferior or left behind; they are just focused on their sport. Semenova understands that she will likely have to continue studying, but with three training sessions a day, she needs to concentrate on one thing at a time.
The Uneven Bars - A Favorite Apparatus
Semenova has always loved the uneven bars since her childhood. Whenever gymnastics was on TV, she always watched and cheered for Svetlana Khorkina. Even now, she occasionally watches Khorkina's performances. She recalls a moment when Khorkina came to their training base after the World Championships and approached her, saying, "Well done!" Semenova admired Khorkina as her idol. She likes everything about her - her appearance, character, and most importantly, her performances on the uneven bars.
Individual Characteristics in Gymnastics
Each gymnast has specific characteristics that suit different apparatus. Some have strong legs, making them excel in vaults, while others have strong arms, making the uneven bars their preferred apparatus. Semenova enjoys spinning on her hands and flying, so the uneven bars are her favorite.
Friendship with Ksenia Afanasyeva
Semenova has been training alongside Ksenia Afanasyeva for several years. They even share the same coach. They have grown up together, living and competing with each other. They have become so accustomed to each other that they cannot imagine training individually without one another. Semenova believes that it would be much more challenging for her to train without Afanasyeva by her side.
Shyness in Interviews
Despite being described as an outgoing and easy-going person by her coaches and people around her, Semenova admitted that she is not yet comfortable with microphones. She is not afraid of competition, challenging routines, or taking risks, but she is afraid of journalists. She worries that she might say something wrong.
