“Efimova has something to demonstrate”

- Your photos can often be found on social networks of Yulia Efimova. A long friendship connects you, right?

- Yes, we have known each other for about ten years, since the time of my sports career. But after I “tied up”, they began to communicate even more.

- In public, Julia is always positive. Is she depressed?

- In life, she is the same as in the pictures. Even during difficult periods of the training process, she remains cheerful and with a smile on her face. The positive is in full swing. She is very captivating others.

- She sometimes publishes photos that many consider quite frank. Never discussed this with her?

- Let's be honest with ourselves: there is nothing indecent in the pictures. Everything is covered, it looks delicate and beautiful. Moreover, girls in swimming are used to walking in swimsuits 24 hours a day. Therefore, the boundaries of the open body for them are partially erased.

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Posted by Yuliya Efimova (@ pryanya93) Oct 1, 2017 at 10:57 am PDT

“So this is not a way to attract attention?”

- Julia is a media personality, she sometimes needs to stir up interest in her person. There is nothing wrong. In addition, she has something to demonstrate.

“But you yourself do not publish such photographs.” Why?

- For quite some time I stopped spreading my personal life and children. At some point I realized that I did not want to put it on public display. On social networks, I show creativity, because I want to share my skills with people. But I do not exclude the possibility that someday among my portfolio family shots will flash too.

- Do you follow the performances of Efimova?

- Sure. My children love Julia very much, we always cheer for her. I even posted a video on Instagram as they sit in front of the TV and shout “Julia! Julia!". If the opportunity arises, we try to attend the competitions personally.

- The Olympic Games in Tokyo were moved to the 2021st. Will athletes, including Efimov, be able to properly rebuild?

- This is a necessary measure in the context of the current situation. A morally strong athlete will take note and go on to train further. Julia is just such a person, so I'm sure in 2021 we will see her again at the top of the pedestal.

- Who impresses you, besides Efimova?

- I like Veronika Popova. We trained together in St. Petersburg, swam on neighboring tracks. A very talented girl. I hope she’ll work out.

"Dreamed of Olympic medals"

- Now you are engaged in photography and design, but even in the recent past you yourself swam. How did your career begin?

- Initially, my parents did not have a goal to make me a professional swimmer, I was engaged exclusively for myself. But the coach noted my hard work and invited me to the sports group. This was the beginning of a career.

- Who did you focus on in childhood?

- The main idol was Alexander Popov. Even I was at the training camp with his coach Gennady Turetsky. Elena Dendeberova always impressed. My nephew is engaged in her group. A well-built woman who has achieved quite a lot. Her records, including those at 50 meters freestyle, inspired. But there was no desire to become just like her, I wanted to demonstrate my own “I” more.

- What impression did the training camp under the leadership of Turetsky make?

- Gennady Gennadievich - a brilliant trainer and man. The training camp itself took place in Switzerland, after which they performed at the European Championship, where I showed a fairly high result, and the team won prizes. I recall this period with pride and a smile.

“Who would you especially single out from your mentors ?”

- I had two coaches, to whom I am equally grateful. Oleg Germanovich Chunyaev found me and invited me to the group. Thanks to his efforts, my career began. Despite the fact that we did not swim for long, such periods always leave a strong emotional mark. And my second mentor, Sergey Kostygov, guided me throughout my professional career.

- What does big sport teach?

“Absolutely, it tempers character.” He teaches that even if it’s very difficult and the strength is running out, you need to go all the way with gritted teeth.

- What are the main difficulties swimmers face during their careers?

- I agree with the opinion that swimming is a less traumatic sport. But there are other dangers. For example, I was faced with a common problem in our sphere - bilateral sinusitis. He has been haunting me since the seventh grade, and now has become chronic. I advise everyone to take care of themselves, protect their health, and then everything will be fine.

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Posted by Jenya Karetina (@jenyakaretina) Aug 9, 2019 at 11:24 PDT

“Especially at a time when the coronavirus pandemic is raging outside the window ...”

- Athletes have very strong immunity. The body is either ready to transfer the disease very easily, or not to catch the virus in principle. Although, of course, situations happen are different and much individually.

- Have you had any turning points when you wanted to finish swimming?

- Happened. Here, the hormonal and personal formation of a person plays a role. It was hard during the period of 16-18 years, when the results were falling. How did you manage? Perhaps the support of the parents and the coach helped. Often a lot depends on the people around you.

“Have you never regretted not having achieved more?”

- Each athlete is a maximalist. I dreamed of Olympic medals, but, having analyzed all my qualities and capabilities, I decided to move in a slightly different direction. But life is so fleeting that there is not even time to regret anything. Or maybe just not so much and wanted.

- That is, are you satisfied with how your sports career has developed?

- Oh sure. I would recommend the Masters category to many. This is an outlet for the athlete. And the opportunity to be a world champion regardless of category satisfies ambition.

- What are the advantages of this category?

- At the start there is no such jitters. Everyone smiles at you, supports, wishes good luck, no matter you know or not. The audience applauds loudly, and the opponent can say: “Good luck! Everything will work out! I am so glad that we are swimming together. "

“We have a very friendly sports family”

- The desire to engage in photography appeared before the end of his sports career?

- Creativity has always been in my life. In childhood, attended art school. If there were a lot of training and did not have time to go to classes, I studied with a tutor. Even when she achieved good results in swimming, she said that I would become a designer.

- What is your source of inspiration?

- The process itself and its result. To be honest, I never suffered from a lack of imagination, some ideas always hung in my head, sometimes even crazy ones. I want to make beautiful, tasty. If this is a model in the frame, then see it in a way that no one sees.

- How do you see your further development in the photography industry?

- I want to shoot for famous fashion magazines. Taking pictures of weddings or corporate parties is not my story.

- What do you do during quarantine?

- This is a great opportunity to arrange spring cleaning at home! And the rest, we communicate with each other, do homework with children, watch cartoons in the evenings.

- You continued to perform, even becoming the mother of two daughters. How did you succeed?

- Firstly, the mood is important. Of course, difficulties may arise due to physical features. But if you are not morally ready, then you don’t have to wait for the result. Secondly, the support of loved ones. My husband let me go to training and gave me the opportunity to get in shape. Without these components, there is nothing to do at the World Cup. Working on yourself and supporting loved ones is the key to success in any life period.

- Which swim did you remember more than others?

- After this interview, all the doctors of the world will scold me, but I swam in the relay, being in position. We took part in the championship of Russia in St. Petersburg. I decided that I would go out and swim quietly. But the spirit of the athlete did not allow me to do this and I gave my best. As a result, we won and set a European record. Incredible emotions.

- So the husband calmly reacted to your desire to be a mother and at the same time remain an athlete?

- He himself is a professional athlete, and his father was a member of the USSR national basketball team. He was sympathetic and supported throughout the whole time. We have a very friendly sports family.

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Posted by Jenya Karetina (@jenyakaretina) Aug 14, 2019 at 11:59 PDT

- Judging by Instagram, you sent the children to swimming. Are these activities for general development?

- I would like my daughters to develop in the same direction as me. In addition, they both love water. If the youngest is still just frolic in the pool, then the older one already swims well. In addition, we have physical training sessions with a coach.

- That is, should we wait for new champions?

- We will make every effort for this.

- On the Internet you can find your resume swimming coach ...

- For me, this work is a pleasure. First of all, I want to transfer my knowledge, and not to earn. When orders arrive, I consider them, starting from the degree of employment. If I understand that my family and the main profession will not suffer from this, then I will gladly take the guys.

- Do you only deal with children?

“No, not at all.” Once I trained a man, our task was to strengthen the muscles of the back. We put him the equipment and after the last training he swam 25 m twice as fast as during the first meeting. This is crazy progress. It is always nice to see the fruits of your work and understand that the work was not in vain.

- Would you like to train your daughters yourself?

- My girls are by nature the same rebels who do not listen to their parents. Therefore, just a few weeks after the start of work with a new coach, the results of one of them grew rapidly.

“But they are proud that their mother is a champion?”

- Without a doubt. They like to put on my medals and imagine how they will win. But if in the kindergarten they ask what mother works, they answer - as a photographer.