“I didn’t consider renunciation of Russian citizenship”: gymnast Polstyanaya about exclusion from the Latvian national team and plans for the future

- Did you expect so many comments with words of support to the news about your exclusion from the Latvian national team before the World Cup?

— To be honest, I was surprised by such a response.

It is very nice that so many people supported, understood the situation.

This helps me.

Are there any words that stand out to you the most?

— I would not like to single out anything.

I am grateful for every message and every word.

Everything touches and helps not to despair.

- Even the sisters of Averina wrote.

Do you communicate with them or just meet at competitions?

- We always kept in touch with Dina and Arisha.

We corresponded on social networks when it was not possible to see each other, communicated when we met at competitions and just in the gym.

- You wrote on social networks that you will post another very important post for you.

What will it be about?

— I want to dedicate it to people from Latvia, to whom I am grateful.

Despite the current situation, there were those who did a lot for me and helped me a lot.

I also wanted to thank everyone for their support. 

- You were born in Jurmala, but mom and dad are citizens of Russia ...

“It just happened.

And in the future, this became the basis for making citizenship.

Of the people close to me, there are only godparents. 

- If sports citizenship was offered by another country, would you consider the option or was Latvia a priority?

- In fact, in 2016 we chose.

After performing at the Baltic Hoop, international competitions in Riga, I was noticed.

Two proposals were received at once: from Israel and Latvia.

We accepted the second, because this country is close to me.

I was born there, plus we went there every summer to rest.

The parents have many friends.

Therefore, the procedure for obtaining citizenship began.

I went through everything completely, passed the exam for knowledge of the Latvian language.

And only in 2018 I received the documents. 

So it was a rather long process?

- In fact, both parents and me, it cost a lot of effort.

I learned the language, and the rest of the time I performed at domestic competitions in Latvia outside the competition to show my level.

And only in the middle of 2018 she won the Latvian Cup and went to the European Championship.

- But you trained anyway in Russia.

How often have you visited Latvia since 2018?

- Yes, I studied with Natalya Vladimirovna Orlova.

Then there was a different situation, and it was considered acceptable, because in Russia there are good conditions, and this is my personal trainer.

She came to Latvia to perform at national championships, and also in the summer she got into shape before the season.

But most of the time I spent in Russia.

How has everything changed since February 24th?

- In mid-March, a condition was set before me: I must move, since the athletes of the Olympic team do not have the right to compete and train in Russia.

A week after this call, she moved to Latvia and started working with another specialist, because Natalya Vladimirovna could not go with me.

I worked there for three and a half months, but thank God, I got a good contact with the new coach.

This period was very difficult for me.

- Have the changes affected your performance at the European Championships?

- Probably not.

Because this tournament turned out quite well for me (Polstyanaya became the fourth in the final exercises with a hoop -

).

- So, on the contrary, you mobilized?

- Probably, yes

.

But while I was training, I was very supported by the girls with whom I worked in Moscow.

We called them up and also communicated via video link.

And during the European Championship, they watched the broadcast.

I felt that I was not alone.

Therefore, she performed on a psychological upsurge and showed a good result for herself.

And the preparation was difficult, because you are constantly in this environment.

In addition, I have not seen my family for a long time, my friends. 

Has the attitude towards Russians changed a lot in Latvia?

- I didn’t watch TV all the time I spent there, because I knew it wouldn’t add positive emotions to me.

But I've heard a lot of feedback.

And when the godparents expressed their point of view, I understood where it all came from.

Therefore, I did not watch the news, I immediately decided for myself - I abstract from everything and will do my job.

But in general, the situation is tense.

And hatred of the Russians, unfortunately, is only growing.

Because I have something to compare.

When we came to the country a few years ago, we loved Jurmala very much.

We used to spend the whole summer there.

The Russians have always been treated kindly.

And for us it was a second home.

Always liked to come there, but now it's not like that.

- Did this factor affect the fact that you did not agree to renounce Russian citizenship?

- Probably not.

Because the people I talked to had a different opinion.

And personally, I did not encounter any aggression.

It didn't really concern me.

But I simply did not consider the option of renouncing Russian citizenship.

- That is, it did not even come from the federation, but from above?

- Yes, the federation employees were also confronted with a fait accompli, they just shrugged their shoulders, because they could not influence the situation in any way.

- Now you are training in Russia.

What are your thoughts on pursuing a career?

- While I keep fit, I train, but I don’t make any plans.

What will happen next is not clear.

You need to come to your senses.

However, I no longer imagine myself in the Latvian national team.

Very sad.

A whole generation of athletes suffers from everything that happens.