Olympic champions in synchronized swimming. Maria Gromova: sports achievements of the Olympic champion in synchronized swimming

For several Olympic cycles in a row, the Russian women's synchronized swimming team has been methodically collecting all the first awards at the world's largest tournaments. One of the "golden" mermaids of this team was Maria Gromova, who successfully performed at high level over ten years. During this time, she managed to win three Olympics, become a multiple world and European champion.

pool life

Maria Igorevna Gromova was born in Moscow in 1984. Her parents tried to ensure that their daughter went in for sports, tried to attach her to the section on rhythmic gymnastics, figure skating. However, for these sports, little Masha was a bit large, so I had to look for other ways. This is how synchronized swimming appeared in the biography of Maria Gromova. An important role in the final decision was played by the fact that it was the least traumatic sport, and the risk of harm to health was minimized here.

Masha came to the pool at the age of six, like all children, she first learned to stay on the water, to swim. Gradually, the girls of her group began to perform some elements, to reveal their abilities to the mentors. Maria's first coach was Elena Piskareva, who remained by her side throughout her career.

Gromova herself at first did not burn with a special desire to overcome herself, to do tedious stretching exercises. Like all children, she wanted to play, go out with friends. However, it so happened that she unsuccessfully performed at some children's competitions, being at the tail of the group. Here the character has already leaped up, and the girl began to reach out to her friends, trying to become the best. The results went by themselves, she began to get into the youth teams of the country, being a year younger than the girls of her age category.

Transition to adult level

Already at the age of sixteen, Maria Gromova got into the main national team of the country, falling under the head coach of synchronized swimming Tatyana Pokrovskaya. Orders in the team were pretty tough. Being a maximalist in essence, Pokrovskaya sought to hone each element of the program to the ideal level, forcing her pupils to repeat the same movements many times.

The pool, where synchronized swimmers were training, was empty after the evening, swimmers, jumpers from the tower left, but Maria Gromova and her teammates trained to exhaustion, sometimes lingering until twelve o'clock at night. Under such conditions, there was not even a need for tight control over young girls outside of training, since they themselves did not experience any other needs other than rest and sleep.

These titanic efforts were not in vain, Pokrovskaya's wards invariably took all the first places in big tournaments. In 2001, Maria Gromova for the first time in her life became the world champion in group exercises, then in the same year took the European Cup.

Collecting medals

For her first Olympics in 2004, the Moscow athlete approached in the status of a multiple world champion. In 2003, another Golden medal world championships, won the European Cup. However Olympic Games was a special tournament during which sports fans forgot about hockey and football and discovered other sports, including synchronized swimming.

For the period of preparation, the stop in the national team became truly barracks. Every day there were two training sessions, each of which lasted at least five hours. After such a drill, the movements of the girls at the tournament itself became worked out to automatism, they performed the most difficult cascades of jumps and lifts with a smile on their faces.

Rivals from China and Spain tried to catch up with the Russians, but it was impossible. So in 2004, Maria Gromova became an Olympic champion for the first time in her life.

The competition within the national team was very tough, talented juniors breathed in the back, but Maria found her niche in the team. Being a relatively large girl (height 172 cm, weight 61 kg), she played the role of "Atlanta" in the team. That is, during the supports, she was at the bottom and held a teammate on her shoulders, being a kind of springboard for jumping. At the same time, it was still strictly forbidden to touch the bottom with her feet; she performed this athletic work while floating on the water.

Departure into the shadows and return

In 2008, after winning her second Olympics, Maria Gromova decided to take a break from her career. After winning all possible tournaments, it was difficult to find further motivation for performances, and the athlete left the pool.

She spent her free time sensibly, devoting it to her education. Unlike many athletes, she chose not a sports university, but an institute of economics, management and law.

However, it is always difficult to end a career at only twenty-four. Two years later, Maria Gromova, along with several other group exercises friends, returns to the team and begins to prepare for the London 2012 Olympics.

Prepared the Lost World program for the main tournament of the four-year period, the preparation of which took place in strict secrecy. Rivals from other teams have more than once borrowed especially spectacular tricks from Russian team, and the repetition of excesses tried to avoid.

The new program abounded with the most complex technical elements, there were about ten pieces of throws and lifts alone. A special responsibility fell on Mary, who, with such elements, was a kind of foundation for a complex structure. However, she did her job perfectly and helped the team win another victory, thus becoming a three-time Olympic champion.

In 2012, Maria Gromova made the final decision to leave the sport and left her active career.

In an interview, RT commented on the refereeing scandal that erupted after the performance of mixed doubles at the World Championships in water sports sports in Budapest. According to her, the Russians Michaela Kalancha and Alexander Maltsev, who remained second, losing to the Italians, performed very decently. The famous athlete also appreciated the fact that the father of the world champion Giorgio Minisini was present among the judges.

Synchronized competitions in the mixed doubles at the World Aquatics Championship in Budapest ended in a serious refereeing scandal. The Russian duet of Michaela Calanci and Alexander Maltsev remained second, losing only 0.034 points to the Italians Manila Flamini and Giorgio Minisini. After the end of the speeches, it turned out that the father of Minisini, who became the world champion, was also part of the judiciary.

In Russia, many disagreed with the judges' assessments and called them biased. RT spoke with three-time Olympic champion Olga Brusnikina, who explained that the rules of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) do not prohibit judges from serving performances involving their own relatives.

- What are your impressions of the mixed doubles competition?

I saw only the performance of our duet. I didn’t follow the Italians, because I myself am at the training camp, and I didn’t have the opportunity to sit in front of the TV. I can't paint you a full picture, but Kalancha and Maltsev did everything at a very good level. Unless they had a small blot on the ejection. The rest of the performance of the guys looked very dynamic. As a result, the outcome of the struggle for gold was decided by two or three estimates. Perhaps the Italian judge helped his compatriots somewhere.

Now everyone is talking about the fact that among the judges was the father of the Italian Giorgio Minisini, who became world champion. How normal is this practice?

In synchronized swimming, there are no rules prohibiting parents from judging the performances of their own children. In fact, anyone can do this by going through a special judicial school and passing exams at the International Swimming Federation. I don't think any special rules were applied to Minisini. I am not very familiar with the history of this referee, but referees are usually invited to the FINA Synchronized Swimming Technical Committee for the World Championships. So the presence of Minisini in Budapest is not the result of the efforts of the Italians.

In synchronized swimming overall score is formed as follows: 30% of it is technical complexity, another 30% is awarded for execution and 40% for artistry. Is it possible to see how a particular judge assessed the performance of a particular duet?

In the decrypted protocols, such information should be. They contain all the marks of the judges.

- Athletes and coaches can see these protocols?

Naturally. They are placed daily in the boxes for national federations. All members of the delegation can familiarize themselves with the papers. In general, everything that happened really upset me. Attempts to remove the Russian duo from the top were also made at the 2015 World Cup in Kazan. Then the victory was given to the Americans Christina Jones and Bill May. It is difficult to say whether this was done intentionally. But it should be noted that in the mixed doubles, the level of marks is, in principle, lower than that of women who knock out 95 points each. Still, mixed is a very young look.

- Maybe judges-relatives are appointed specifically to interrupt the hegemony of Russia?

In any case, one judge is not able to decide everything, since there are only 15 arbitrators. Plus, I repeat, there are no rules that prohibit judging your own relatives. We can make any guesses, but in response we will be told that everything was done according to the letter of the law.

If we ignore the judicial scandal in the mixed doubles, what emotions did the performances of other Russian synchronized swimmers leave?

The team gave a result, despite a serious update that took place on all fronts: this is both a duet and a soloist. Even in the group, Tatyana Pokrovskaya has only two Olympic champions left. But Russia holds the mark and continues to be head and shoulders above rivals. In many free programs, the gap between Russian synchronized swimmers and competitors is more than two points, that is, almost every judge puts Russia in first place and confirms the country's leadership in this sport.

Of course, it was precisely in connection with their departure that there were certain concerns, but the professionalism of the coaches who train synchronized swimmers for the national team continues to bear fruit. I have already talked about the group, and after all, girls who recently left the junior team also entered its composition at the World Cup. During this year, Pokrovskaya did a great job so that they could fulfill the Olympic technical program. As a result, the Russian team continues to hold a very high bar.

On Wednesday, Russian synchronized swimmer Svetlana Romashina became the 14-time world champion.
"SE" remembers the most titled synchronized swimmers in Russia.

MARIA KISELEVA

Three-time Olympic champion. In 2000, she won doubles and group competitions in Sydney, four years later in Athens she won another gold in the group. Three-time world champion, nine-time European champion. Actress and TV presenter. She was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th class, and the Order of Friendship.

OLGA BRUSNIKINA

Together with Maria Kiseleva, she won gold in duet competitions in Sydney, as well as in group exercises in Sydney and Athens. Three-time world champion and six-time European champion. Awarded with the Order of Honor. Member of the executive committee Olympic Committee Russia.

ANASTASIA DAVYDOVA

Five-time Olympic champion. Two golds in duet competitions and three in group competitions. 13-time world champion, seven-time European champion. Cavalier of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV degree, the Order of Honor and the Order of Friendship.

ANASTASIA ERMAKOVA

Four-time Olympic champion. Two golds in duet competitions and two in the "group". Eight-time world champion, eight-time European champion. She was awarded the Order of Honor and the Order of Friendship.

NATALIA ISCHENKO

Three-time Olympic champion (duet and twice group). 16 times world champion. Nine times European champion. Six-time World Cup winner. Cavalier of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV degree and the Order of Friendship.

SVETLANA ROMASHINA

Three-time Olympic champion (duet and twice group). 14-time world champion, seven-time European champion. Cavalier of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV degree and the Order of Friendship.

MARIA GROMOVA

Three-time Olympic champion in group competitions. Six times world champion two-time champion Europe. Awarded with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, the Order of Honor and the Order of Friendship.

Five-time Olympic champion, 18-time world champion, 10-time European champion - it's all about her. Svetlana Romashina trains eight hours a day and spends most of her life in the pool. Where does synchronism come from, how to deal with fear and why sailing- it's cool, read Svetlana's monologue.

From the "paddling pool" to the Olympics

I was six when my parents sent me to the swimming section - in fact, it was an ordinary “paddling pool”, where I went solely to learn how to swim and stay on the water. But after a couple of months, the coach said that there was nothing for me to do in the “paddling pool”, and sent me to a normal pool. It so happened (and quite by accident) that instead of the usual pool, I ended up in a deep one - in the pool where synchronized swimmers were engaged. I remember that we were then told that synchronized swimming is a developing and very beautiful sport that is perfect for a girl. From that moment, in fact, my formation as a professional athlete begins. Of course, in the beginning there was no question of high results, but when at the age of ten I switched to coach Tatyana Evgenievna Danchenko, my parents seriously thought about my sports career. At first, my parents thought, and then - after the first successes - I myself already wanted this. I remember at the age of 11 I said that I would become an Olympic champion. She said, and seven years later she held her first Olympic medal in her hands.

Frankly, there were moments (especially in adolescence) when I wanted to quit everything. At the age of 15, I moved to the senior team and began to train hard - my peers were finishing school at that time, walking and talking. At that time I really wanted to get involved in sports and live a normal life. But now, looking back, I do not regret anything, on the contrary, I am happy that life turned out that way.

I think my main secret- in my own character, namely - in purposefulness. It is very important to be able to set goals and go to them, no matter what. Such maximalism, in principle, is inherent in many athletes. Still, for the most part, we all dream of "gold". I can say that my first medal was silver. And I was very offended. I remember that I then said: “Further on, all the medals will be only gold.” And so it was.

In synchronized swimming, flexibility and physique are very important - often, when taking a child into a section, coaches even pay attention to the texture of his parents. Nevertheless, the desire of the athlete himself still plays a decisive role. When I first started, I did not have any special inclinations - as a child, I was generally a rather chubby child, without stretching and without flexibility. And the fact that I became an Olympic champion is not the result of natural gifts, but of colossal work and desire. And, of course, I certainly would not have coped without my mother. In fact, she then took the entire preparation process under her control - she forbade me to eat rolls, sat with me on the splits and helped with the lessons.

The synchronicity of movements, in my opinion, is the result not only of hard work, but also of hundreds of hours spent together. Just imagine, we live on camps that last six months, and sometimes a year; we see each other more often than relatives (sometimes we catch ourselves copying habits and adopting manners on each other). But nevertheless, I cannot say that all nine or even twelve people in the team are best friends. Of course not. But it does not matter if the relationship is based on mutual respect and understanding. We have exactly that.

It's always scary before a competition. It’s scary that the program needs to be done perfectly, and that it can be insanely difficult and difficult. The feelings we experience are simply beyond words. Hands and legs tremble, oxygen is sorely lacking, dizzy - some athletes in general, due to excitement, can go to the bottom right during the performance. There are always fears, and the ability to resist them comes only with experience. It cannot be said that with each new start we are less worried and less worried. No, we're just used to this state - our body already needs this adrenaline to be in good shape. Sometimes we notice: if we are not afraid, then something is wrong.

From synchronized swimming to sailing regatta

The program for the season is set at the beginning of the year, after which we develop it for a long time and only in July or May, during the main competitions, do we show it. Two or three months before the competition, our day looks like this: getting up early in the morning, having breakfast and jumping into the water - the first training session starts at eight and lasts an average of four and a half hours, then at 12:30 we go to Gym. In the gym, both OFP and “dry” training are waiting for us - everything that we do in the water with our feet, here we do it with our hands. This is necessary so that the sense of rhythm is perfect - if the music is turned off during the performance, ours should be developed so well that we can complete the program to the end and not get lost. After classes in the gym, we have lunch and rest - someone goes for a massage, and someone sleeps. At 17:30, the second training session in the pool begins, which usually lasts until 22:00-22:30. Then we have dinner and go to bed (of course, falling asleep after such loads is not easy).

In the pool, we not only hone the program, but also perform all kinds of exercises. For example, we swim eight times in 50-meter crawl with a breath hold: 45 seconds you swim, 15 - you rest. At the same time, we are not limited to only one crawl - on the contrary, due to the fact that each style involves different groups muscles, it turns out to develop comprehensively. For example, we have an exercise on the back, during which we swim only on our hands with legs apart - this is done in order to develop shoulder joints and reduce their risk of injury.

If the coach competently and consistently develops his athlete, then training will only strengthen the body, but if a non-professional takes up the matter, then, of course, he can do harm. For example, we have such an element as a screw - we perform it while going under water - and so, from the very beginning, the coach must make sure that the athlete can spin in both directions, otherwise there is a high risk of developing a spinal curvature. There are a lot of such moments in synchronized swimming, and if you take into account all the nuances and know the specifics of this sport well, then health problems can be avoided.

Previously, at a transitional age, I had to monitor my weight, but then this need disappeared - the weight began to go away on its own. And this is more a minus than a plus - after all muscle mass goes away too. And to avoid unnecessary losses, the coach makes us eat even during training - we always have a plate with nuts, chocolate and dried fruits on the side. Of course, to swim 4.5 hours, you need strength. A lot of strength.

My passion for sailing began exactly four years ago, after the Olympics in London - then my husband invited me to take part in the regatta with him. I participated, and now we almost always sail together. We walk along the coast of Turkey, Greece, Croatia, once we were even in the Caribbean. This is what I like about sailing - the range of places where you can visit is very large. True, for some reason, many people think that this is an insanely expensive pleasure that cannot be afforded. But actually it is not. The price is the same as a week's vacation on the beach. Same, only more interesting. After all, on the one hand, a sail is the sea, a beach and a tan, and on the other, a movement that is so necessary and which is sometimes very much in Everyday life lacks.

Angelica Timanina will take part in international tournament on surfing.

Olympic champion in synchronized swimming Anzhelika Timanina will perform in a new sport for herself - surfing.

30-year-old Timanina will take part in the World Championships, which will be held in Miyazaki (Japan) from September 7 to 15. This tournament will be the first international start for a synchronized surfer and the twelfth world championship in her career.

“I still don’t fully understand everything that is happening to me now,” Timanina said. - Only thanks to the support of people who sincerely believe in me, everything that happens today became possible, and I personally thank everyone who helped me get to where I am now. It is a great honor for me to take part in competitions of this level and represent the country.”

Note that Timanina ended her career as a synchronized swimmer in 2016.

Composition of the Russian team at the World Championships: Nikita Avdeev, Yegor Volkov, Sergey Rasshivaev, Polina Malizia, Anna Chudnenko, Anzhelika Timanina.

The World Surfing Championship will be the qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Related: Surfing competitions in Japan and Indonesia postponed Olympic champion in synchronized swimming to perform at the World Surfing Championships

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