“The picture turned into a viral one”: Silchenko about a selfie with Neymar, communication with Marquinhos and an increase in the number of subscribers

— How did you end up in Paris?

- I came to a major golf tournament, which was attended by more than 120 athletes from different countries.

She competed in the U21 category and was able to take 15th place, which, given the status of the competition, is a good result.

- That is, before the meeting with the players, PSG were in a good mood?

- In general, yes.

After the tournament, I arrived at the hotel and planned to go to the gym to do stretching exercises and put my muscles in order.

It was the last day of the three-day tournament.

And fatigue had already accumulated by that time.

- Did you know that the players will settle with you?

- Yes, the whole hotel was in anticipation of the arrival of the team the day before.

Employees and guests were very worried and waited for the stars.

I, probably, was the most calm among all.

Of course, I was interested, but I did not plan to try to watch for the team in order to get an autograph.

I understood that they wanted to do their own thing before the match.

They are ordinary people, just like us.

When I arrived after the tournament, there was already a PSG bus at the entrance, but I was busy with my thoughts.

“And how did you end up in the elevator with them?”

- By chance.

As I said, I was going to work in the gym.

I entered the elevator and pressed the button to go down - there was a fitness center.

But instead, he drove upstairs to the third floor where the football team lived.

The first thought that arose: probably one of the players will come to me.

- So you didn’t expect to see the whole team?

- Of course not.

In fact, according to safety rules, they were not supposed to ride in the elevator with me, since I am an outsider.

- And how do they act in such a case?

Release the elevator and wait for the next one?

- Yes, but apparently they understood that I was not going to attack them, as the fans do.

I stood in sportswear, it became clear that I am also an athlete.

So we decided to go anyway.

While we were driving, we exchanged a couple of phrases with Marquinhos and Messi.

Communicated with them in French.

I wished you good luck in the upcoming meeting (on April 17, PSG played an away match with Marseille as part of the 32nd round of Ligue 1 and won 2: 1. -

).

Then she asked if she could take a photo.

They didn't mind.

The picture, of course, turned out not the best, because I was in a hurry.

- That is, some did not turn away on purpose?

No, everyone was very friendly.

Simply, in fact, it was not very convenient to take pictures in the elevator.

And then we went out into the hall and went about our business: I - to the hall, and they - for dinner.

More with the team did not intersect.

- Have you had star meetings in your life before?

- Oh sure.

I personally attended major golf tournaments, where I managed to communicate with great athletes, for example, Annika Sorenstam.

After this, you are overwhelmed with incredible emotions, charged with positive energy.

- Like this time?

- Yes, I was very inspired by the meeting with PSG players.

- Do you follow football at all?

- My brother is a fan, so I watch matches with pleasure.

But recently, due to the large number of tournaments and studies, there is practically no time left for this.

And, of course, I know the main stars - Messi, Mbappe, Neymar.

But not all.

That's why I didn't recognize anyone in the elevator.

The faces look familiar, but I can't remember the last name.

Did you watch the match between PSG and Marseille?

- Oh sure.

Rooted for PSG.

Now, it seems, I have decided on my football addictions.

Worried, as for their own.

- Did you expect such a strong reaction to your photo on social networks?

“To be honest, I am shocked by what happened.

I thought I was posting photos for my friends, I only had 900 of them.

But in the end, the picture was published almost everywhere, in various media, on forums, in social networks, it turned into a viral one.

- How many subscribers have increased in recent days?

Now there are more than 21 thousand!

And their number continues to grow.

I am, of course, very surprised.

— You are one of the hopes of Russians in golf.

At the junior level, they won more than one tournament.

Now is a difficult time for everyone.

Where do you live and train?

- In Latvia.

And we are looking for ways to take part in competitions, bypassing the existing restrictions.

Of course, it is not yet entirely clear how everything will develop further, but we are trying to cope with everything.

- Golf is not the most popular sport in Russia.

Why was he chosen?

I played tennis and many other things.

But at the age of 13, he began to succeed in golf.

She won several major tournaments, which, of course, gives motivation to train and positive emotions, and decided to stop at it.

- From the outside, it seems that everything is simple - go and hit the ball ...

- Not really.

And now I do fitness no less than directly golf.

During the tournament, you walk 10-15 kilometers a day, so you need to keep yourself in shape so that during the blow the body remains flexible and in good shape.

Otherwise, sooner or later it will not survive, and you can get seriously injured.