A State Duma member, an Olympic Champion and just a gorgeous woman (Russia's most beautiful woman according to a national survey held by Russian Reporter and Public Opinion Foundation), Alina Kabaeva told RR how it feels to be strong and talked about life goals, destiny, and love.
Alina, what is your most comfortable distance when you are talking to someone?
Like now. It's perfect.
A meter? So much? It's even more than they think normal in Europe.
I'm not always comfortable with others. Don't know how to explain. I feel the vibes. Sometimes, I'm squeezed like a lemon after talking to someone. Or I can feel discomfort from standing close to a person. Still, I'm always open for communication.
I thought you were unapproachable. Papers call you an “exclusive athlete”.
But it's not what I call myself. And I always lack communication! When I'm in a bad mood, I can talk to someone and feel better at once. When I was a competing athlete and even before that, when I was a little girl, I always asked all my relatives to come to see my performance—I was already a rhythmic gymnast. I'm fond of socialising and talking: that's when right thoughts can come into my head...
What is your colour?
Well, I don't know. I think it's something light. Light blue.
We are all accustomed to perceiving Alina Kabaeva as a gymnast, an Olympic champion. And then you suddenly become a politician. Don't you think this transition is much too abrupt?
Abrupt, you think. But it would be worse if I couldn't find myself after completion of my sports career, like many other Olympic champions. You know, it's really a big problem. For example, former actors have their organisation, the Actors' House, where they can go with their concerns and requests. But nobody will listen to a retired athlete. No, there are people who will listen but nobody can help. And it's not because people are so bad. Just that there's no system. After I retired from sports, I understood I needed to move on, to get ahead in some other spheres of life... Would it be better if I got lost and everybody felt sorry for poor Alina? It's true that our society doesn’t like strong people. A stronger person is immediately surrounded by enviers. But I don't care about them. People used to ask me as an Olympic champion: “Alina, you meet mayors and governors. Please help us...”
Did you?
I could address a request to a decision-maker. Sometimes. After I had won a competition. But I couldn't help people like I do now, as a State Duma member. I really do it well, and I like it. You know why I liked rhythmic gymnastics. Because I did it well. I remember myself in childhood—I dreamed of winning a world championship. Can you imagine? I lived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and dreamed of a world championship! But kids don't think about how exactly they'll make their dream come true, they just dream. It was the same now. After leaving the sports, I just made the first step and didn't focus on obstacles. That's my main message.
Imagine that some powerful person gathers all the country's young people and says: “Take them and do whatever you want.” What would you do?
It's a very good idea. We have multiple ministries, departments, and youth movements. It would be interesting to have one person in charge of all of them!
Let's suppose you are the person. What will you do?
I would start with employment. I talked to my mother about it and she said: “Previously, graduates were sent to work for two years in remote areas. Then the system was cancelled, but it would be useful to have it back.” It would be right to give benefits, such as tax privileges, to organisations or companies who employ recent graduates. It would be a great incentive! Now a person has graduated from the university—and what next?
I have just received a degree from Lesgaft Sports University, and when I went to collect my diploma I met other graduates who also were rhythmic gymnasts. I asked then what they were going to do. They said, “we'd like to run our own school but there are no gyms available”. And these people are much wanted across Russia; there are sports centres that lack personnel.
Education would be the next thing. There is still no law concerning youth issues. Though we could pass a frame law determining what youth is, what the age limits are. And all benefits might be included into existing law—the Housing Code, the Labour Code, and others.
And what about intellectual development?
By all means. We always forget about culture. By the way, as for rhythmic gymnastics, it’s both a sport and an art.
What about football?
Football? Well… It may as well be an art in its own way. There are multiple directions for a person to advance, the main thing is the desire to advance and progress. Intellectual development of youth is what we must think about. From school on. A lot depends on teachers—I know from experience.
Would you like to take care of all youth?
I believe there’s no other way.
Will you manage yourself?
I never said I could do everything alone. I have a good team. For example, when we work on a proposal, I seek advice from several professionals at a time, and then pick what I think is the best.
Don’t you think you are too gentle to be in politics?
A politician has to use both carrot and stick. A politician should be able to say “no”.
Are you?
Yes. I’m an earnest person on the whole. If I can’t do anything, I say no and don’t palm people off with empty promises. Though, as a rule, I manage to help. We have received a request from a military man recently: he couldn’t register ownership of his apartment. We referred to the Defence Ministry. It turned out that many military officers face the same problem today and try to tackle it. We eventually resolved the difficulty. I mean to say, since I’m an MP, anyone may turn to me when it comes to violation of law. And it’s not only me who can help, it’s other Duma members as well. Many people don’t know what we are doing, though one of our major duties is working with constituents and processing their inquiries. Sometimes people can’t even write a correct request—by the way, I have explained the detailed procedure on my website. People contact me with all sorts of questions and issues. I cannot settle all of them as an MP but I may try to help as a private person.
Will you be able to dismiss a friend of yours, if you believe it to be right from the political point of view at the moment?
Good guy is no profession. If I see a good person doesn’t cope with his or her work… Why should other people who rely on me suffer from that?
Are you a star?
No.
Anyway, you are way ahead of others. Do you keep in touch with your old friends?
I made my way to success myself. It is the very charm of sports—you achieve everything yourself and nobody except your coach can help you. Neither rich parents, nor anyone else.
Still, admit we leave many people behind when make progress.
I left Tashkent for Moscow when I was twelve. I keep in touch with my team-mates. We’ve joined up recently to hold children’s festival in rhythmic gymnastics. I had another friend at school—a girl we studied together for the first three years. One day I took part in a live show, and there was a phone call, “Hello Alina! It’s Regina”. I recognised her at once. Regina, she always wore those big bowknots. “Regina, where are you?!”. I learnt her phone number during the show, called her back and we met. So, we are in contact for now, though we do not meet often. She got married and is expecting a child; she’s got her family, things to care about. You see, it’s not only up to me to maintain relations. We get older, and everybody has their boyfriends, families, work. Both of us have our own lives and priorities. So, we have less and less time to see each other. It’s not because you do not want to meet, it’s just that you realise—if I meet friends now, I won’t have time for doing something else. Sure, there are holidays after a business week, but then it’s time for the husband and the kids… Little by little, we part company like this, but I believe it is right. Though I would never imagine my life without friends.
You talk of maturity and personal development. You’ve also changed a lot lately… Your interviews have become rather scarce. And it seems to me somehow, that you would not answer the questions you answered before.
What questions do you mean? I’m ready to answer any questions, unless they are private. It’s a taboo. Who needs that and why? I’m able to manage my own life.
What’s the way I’ve changed, by the way?
I think, you’ve matured.
Sure. Could it be another way? Such work makes one grow and become wiser. I read a lot, both documents on youth policy and materials for my series. It’s a great way for development! I’m happy to not have remained in sports—it develops you in one direction only. Now I’ve got more, and I can hardly imagine living without even any one of the things I’m doing.
How have you been changing?
It’s failures that make us wiser. One who never fails never wins, you know. My career in sports was not all smooth. That defeat at the Sydney Olympics... Just imagine, you arrive at the Games, all papers have already announced you the champion—I had no doubt I would win—and all of a sudden you loose your hoop… Three-year old kids come to gymnastics and are taught to spin the hoop on their hands—and I dropped it while doing that simple element. After that I said to myself, “See, Alina, there are no minor things in life. Everything should be important to you.” That’s my motto now—there are no minor things. It was hard. I came third, I had to recover after that and had to work hard for another four years. Of course, I wanted badly to go in for the next Olympics, but new exercise is always difficult to the one who has lost.
You were lucky to drop the hoop...
Well, then I was sure I was very unlucky. Why was this happening to me?! I was crying on the podium and I could hardly hold back my tears.
And my mum called me to the TV then and said “See how she’s smiling!”
I had to cope with myself. There is an Olympic motto: Get over yourself! But when I left for the drug test, I wept bitter tears and told my mother, “That’s it, mum, my life is over now…” Today, when my win in Athens is way behind, I believe it should have happened. I received so many letters saying, “Don’t quit rhythmic gymnastics, we beg you!” I think sports fostered me right.
Do you think people need tribulations?
When I was interviewing Arshavin for my programme, he said, “I’ve got no difficulties”. Why talking of tribulations?
All religions suggest that troubles contribute to spiritual development.
The Bible is a really great book. It says only those mishaps and troubles we can stand will fall to our lot. It’s very important to realise that—you will never get more than you can bear. It is much better than being told, “Here is the trial, but you’ll never cope with it!”
Trials differ.
I was asked once, “What are you afraid of most?” I said I was afraid of nothing. But I got frightened when I lost someone I loved. I fear death of my dearest people very much, but unfortunately there’s nothing one can do about it. It’s life. One needs to be wise. Though I could not think like that at the time. My life seemed over. You feel sorry for yourself, not the one who’s gone. How will you live on? That person who’s gone, he must be OK, and you feel sorry for yourself, because it’s you who can’t do without him… He really feels better than you do.
Who told you that?
I came to realise that myself. I was in such a situation, and I analysed it and thought it over a lot. It does not come all at once, time passes, but sooner or later you get another vision of the situation. No one can teach you that, it can just occur to you.
You’ve been interviewing a lot of people recently. I wonder how a person who has been interviewed so many times selects questions. Do you try to be subtle in issues that might hurt or insult their feelings?
I’m kind and I don’t ask any questions that may me uncomfortable for my guests. I prepare for the interview, and I know what questions this person prefers not to be asked. As the author of my show, I only invite people I find interesting. Nobody forces interviewees on me. And some people open up so much that I have to cut certain phrases when editing—they are too intimate. First I was told I’d fail with my programme, as it was not “hot” enough—they said I had to ask people of their personal lives and scandals. I would never do that. TV educates people—one gets used to things broadcast on TV. Do not broadcast gutter programmes and violence, and people will stop liking it.
Anyway, sometimes you have to ask provoking questions to reveal things...
You shouldn’t think I’m a professional journalist; it’s your profession not mine. I’ve got principles I would never step over. I can’t—that’s it. I would feel uncomfortable. My series are about how people succeed. All my stars have their own troubles, but they keep going.
The hoop story seems much more precious to me. I guess it will be long till I take a hoop in my hands again...
Just imagine how difficult it was to me! When I got to the finals in Athens, every sort of thoughts was coming to my mind: what if the hoop flies away? When you get nervous, your palms sweat, the hoop gets slippy, and you can’t do anything about it. That’s why I always say there are no minor things. Even when you just switch hands with the hoop, you should keep an eye on it—what if it gets off your hand? I was so afraid! But I managed to overcome myself.
Do you often manage to make your guest open up?
When we were working on the episode with Antonov, I was told, “Alina, what are you doing? Antonov? He is such a private person and he hates journalists!” And I said, “Never mind, if I’m uncomfortable I’ll just stand up and leave”. I don’t like being rude to people and don’t stand rudeness to me. In fact, everything turned out quite different. Yury Antonov showed me the garden he had tended himself, the house he was building, his doggies and kitties. And he gave me an incredible interview. I asked him, “Why were your first records not released in the USSR? Because you were not a member of the Composers’ Union then?” And he replied, “I was too young to be admitted to the Union. It was only after my records began to sell in Yugoslavia that they were released in the USSR”. Then I told him, “You see, it’s not only in this country that you have to prove you’re the best. Nobody would take notice of you till you prove it.”
Not everyone may not be the best, though.
I mean creative development. Antonov’s records had been selling by millions before he became a member of the Composers’ Union… But things may be vice versa, too. I interviewed a very famous person once—I won’t say his name, may I? He wasn’t out for talk at all, saying just—yes, no, yes, no. Because he treated me as an apprentice. And then all of a sudden he said, “Oh, I have told about it so many times!” I don’t quite understand, why agreeing to an interview, if things have been discussed “so many times”. I started to explain—certainly, you have, but there are kids, who most likely haven’t heard about it. My programme will help them know more about you...
This might have been the most insulting thing to him.
But it’s true. When I talked to Lev Leshchenko, he said it himself, “I have told this many times, but I need to repeat it for new generations”. Because he is not known to young people today, but they will view the programme and learn new things about him. Unfortunately, that person failed to realise that.
Just think how we journalists feel!
Yes, many people take strong dislike of you. Celebrities often say, “Oh, I hate those journalists!”
Because they don’t make difference between formats. One should not talk of everything with just any journalist.
Sometimes you refuse to give an interview, but people go and write it themselves. Take my word for that… Hurt a person once, and here you are—you lose credit. We’ve made such a wonderful programme with Rosenbaum! We received piles of letters, many had no idea of him being so open-hearted. After I thanked him for sincerity, he said, “Alina, it’s that you are not a journalist”.
It is so unjust! Journalists are the people, who go to war; they visit orphanages, shelters… And they are told they do wrong things. I wish every singer or actor did as much as some journalists do.
You are absolutely right. Don’t listen to anyone. You are saying right things. Don’t care about them and go about your business! As the saying goes, the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
Certainly, one should clearly understand who may, and who may not get an interview. But many people do not discriminate between publications. They mind their own affairs.Do you know how fond of journalists I used to be? I just loved them! They came to my place, we talked a lot, and everything was great. Then I found out what they wrote about me was getting worse and worse… And it was nothing but a pack of lies. God, I used to be so nice to them, I answered all their questions and was so intimate… Why did that happen? Where did they take those stories from? I don’t trust them anymore. Thank Heaven, now I’ve got very loyal assistants, who may recommend worthy magazines and newspapers. And I know many fair journalists. Unfortunately all people who write to magazines and newspapers are called journalists.
Your team performs huge work. According to information at your web-site, you often receive inquiries that are difficult to process because of red tape—one has to come here, then go there, and come back here again. Do you yourself see into the details?
There are quite few people in my team—you could count them on the fingers of one hand. But all of them are professionals in their field, which is why I appreciate them so much. The other thing is I can always ask them about things I’m not very good at. I never embarrass to ask things or seek advice. My assistant in the Duma is an expert as well, though it was not easy to find such a person. But at first I try to figure everything out myself.
You are engaged in liquidation of a private heliport near Moscow on the request of electors, you supported recording of a song about the Unknown Soldier. All these are important, but not large-scale actions. Why are you into that? Because there are no minor things in life?
Right, there are no minor things in life. These things do not seem minor to me. Helping people, changing their destinies...
Do you change your own destiny in doing so?
Not that I change it… Gaining feedback from what I’m doing is another win, my small win. I’m a sportswoman and I always wanted to be first. First in everything. When in gymnastics, my psychologist used to tell me, “Don’t worry! Even if you do not win, you won’t lose much!” She wanted me to relax and not to think I could fail. I listened to her attentively and then said, “No, I can’t think like that. I must win. Me failing? No! I’ll come first, and that’s that”.
What if not?
I don’t even want to think about it. Well, if I lose after all—it’s no worse, it will be another step on my way to future victory. And I move on again. I will be the best anyway—if not today, then tomorrow. I can’t live without a goal. If there’s nothing to strive for, everything becomes dull, I don’t want anything. I always set goals to myself, and when I reach one, I go ahead. That’s the way I live.
Why did you go to Tskhinval?
It’s complicated… I went there right after the war. It was frightening to see an armoured column, the destroyed city… And what stroke me most were people, children—they were happy despite anything! They received me with great hope and were so generous. I had gymnastics mats with me. I brought them to the sports school. And then I saw the gym… The ceiling was bombed through. It was terrible… They showed me another gym—the one, which used to house wrestling competitions—it was just levelled to the ground! And then I decided to build a new sports centre in Tskhinval. My charity deals with the issue at the moment. To tell the truth, I don’t like talking of that, it is not why I’m into it. But I enjoy it. In the beginning I planned to arrange a gym for rhythmic gymnastics only, but then I thought—why only gymnastics? There are plenty of future wrestlers! If it comes to building something, let it be a large sports centre. There will be swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, wrestling, weightlifting, health centre, and accommodation for sportsmen. In April, when we laid the foundation stone, kids were just happy! A four-year old girl came up to me running and gave me a hug. I asked, “What’s the matter” She said, “Nothing, just for fun…” I picked her up, and at that moment people came to treat me to Ossetian pies. I broke off a piece and gave it to the girl. She was eating it with such a relish! I doubt she had any idea of who Alina Kabaeva was.
I think it’s rather interesting seeing the reaction of people, who do not know you.
Don’t you! It’s so enjoyable! She’s hugging me, her parents come up—“Come on, let Alina go!” And she’s looking at them, not saying a word, eating that pie and holding to me… Another time, a girl approached me at the festival of rhythmic gymnastics we arranged for the International Children’s Day. She asked “Are you a signer?” I said, “No”. And she - “I like you”. I don’t think a five-year old kid knows who I am. Children are so sincere and open-hearted. And then during the festival rehearsal they put on the air the video clip set to the song of the Play on Words band. The one made up of the scenes of my performances—there was 98 Europe Championship, and Sydney—that very moment, when my hoop flew away, - and it finished with Athens. The girl viewed the video, and then understood I was a sportswoman. She said, “Wow! Can you do that now?”
Can you?
Dread to think what it would be like if, God forbid, I fail to do the splits… I stretch after every visit to the fitness centre, and I’m in training nearly every day. After the Olympics I rested for a year and a half, and I couldn’t bear the sight of sports. Though, today I exercise with pleasure and always stretch, especially, after heavy loads.
Are you often recognised abroad?
No, I wouldn’t say so. Indeed, in Russia I sometimes feel that people like me just because I’m Alina Kabaeva. People abroad treat me nice just as a person. I like it. But you are not asking why.
Why?
Because I never wanted to become famous, even when I was a little girl. Ask today’s children what they await from future. And they’ll say—I want to get on television. I dreamed of only one thing—becoming a world champion, but I never thought it would entail fame. Sure, I was happy when first asked for my autograph. But I couldn’t think of being recognised. If my performance in training was average—at times that happened indeed—my coach used to say, “Wait a bit, quit rhythmic gymnastics and everyone forgets you”. Well, let it be, it’s not what I live for. It’s just that I love life...
Has your attitude to life and the world changed after you began working with people and got to know their problems?
I socialise a lot, I go to the regions. I supervise the city of Nizhnekamsk, it’s where I receive people. I was very nervous when going there for the first time! The reception lasted for five hours. I knew the problems were many and I couldn’t let my spirits droop. People felt bad as it was, my getting sick would be too much... I came there to encourage them, I had to explain things, and tell it like it is—like, I’ll try to help you with this, and that’s beyond my competence, sorry. There was a woman—her son was murdered. She was dissatisfied with only one criminal being locked up, she believed all of them should have been...
What did you tell her?
I tried to comfort her. I said we would check up on the matter and write a petition to the prosecutor’s office. But she didn’t let up. “I want them all in prison!” she said.
What was your personal attitude to that?
I understand her feelings and emotions… You see, people asked me before if I could forgive everything. And I used to say, “No! I would never forgive treachery”. In fact I can forgive everything, though I won’t stand the person near me... But emotions of that woman are quite understandable.
Did you let her feelings in?
I did. My heart was heavy after the meeting. But it is quite unimportant. I live through the situation together with the person, and put myself in his or her shoes… I talk to people, to youngsters, listen to them, and get to know their problems. Because there is no way to learn about those problems, if you neither talk to people, nor see into the matter. How can one know where he should go to hit the goal?
Alina, everything passes…
Um… Love does not pass. Some never experience this. Some believe it is the love. And then it turns out it wasn’t…
What about “this will pass as well”?
Do you believe it?
I don’t.
Neither do I. Everything passes—is said about troubles. Love doesn’t. Anything else may.
