Yana Batyrshina:

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

To talk about Yana Batyrshina as a multiple world and European champion in rhythmic gymnastics, silver medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, owner of 170 medals, about 30 cups and a medal-order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II degree? Or how about a talented TV presenter, whose career began with the program "Up to 16 and older …", continued on the "Stolitsa" channel, and now - on the "Russia-Sport" channel, which occupies the sixth button?

To talk about Yana like that means not to say anything about her. After all, she is not only a fruitful union of a flexible body and a bright ribbon or hoop. And not just the image of a serious sports commentator. Behind all this hides a completely different Yana - gentle, fragile, charming … Completely different from many famous and popular women. She managed to preserve not only childish simplicity and spontaneity, but also modesty, and a complete absence of snobbery.

- Yana, why did you leave the sport?

- In fact, I left several times. At the age of 13, after a successful performance at the European Junior Championships, I decided to end my sports career. I thought that since I became the champion of the continent, then, in principle, I don't need anything else. It's just that I'm probably tired. And after two weeks of rest, I changed my mind about quitting sports. The second time I left gymnastics for a week. She did what she wanted, ate what she wanted, in a word - she enjoyed life. But then I was persuaded to return and continue training. But when I got a silver medal at the Olympic Games (Atlanta, 1996 - approx. Corr.), I clearly understood that I had now achieved everything I wanted and could quit sports at any time. I held out for two more years, seriously considering this decision, and then, after talking with my parents, I finally left gymnastics.

- And you didn’t want to do coaching?

- Such a prospect has never attracted me. It's just not mine. But for a while I trained Brazilian gymnasts. Immediately after leaving the sport, it was necessary to somehow build a future life. And my mother and I drew up a resume and began to send it to sports federations. The answer came unexpectedly from Brazil. I worked there for three months, achieved success: my girls performed successfully at the national championship, greatly improving their previous results. One gymnast in comparison with the previous championship rose by 6 places and became the champion of Brazil. I was offered a long-term contract, all the conditions for life and work. But I refused and returned home to Russia.

- Can you remember a funny incident from your sports life?

- We lived at a sports base in Novogorsk. As a rule, we were allowed to go home for one day a week. But personally, I managed to eat off at home and put on a few extra pounds, so all the next 6 days of training I had to lose weight and work hard in order to regain my shape. Then the day off came again, I went home again and got better, then I lost weight again (laughs) And so on in a circle. At some point, my coaches got tired of it, and they stopped letting me go.

Then my mother began to come to me. I won't tell you about how we were fed at the base, you understand. And my mother, knowing my love for delicious food, brought home-made soup, cutlets, fruits with her … But with this they were not allowed, there was strict control at the entrance.

Once my mother brought me some grapes, apples and oranges. And she ran into my coach. She, of course, immediately became interested in what they were bringing to me: Grapes? No, there is a lot of glucose, Yana can't do that. She talked, then kissed (from which he was constantly stained with lipstick), baptized (it is also not clear where I got this from, Muslim roots) (laughs) Then I had to be the last to leave the room, close the door, and again cross it. Once I forgot to kiss my snowman! How many experiences there were! I thought I would fail the competition! But everything went well.

- How did you get to Fort Bayard?

- By chance! I have already worked on the Rossiya TV channel and hosted sports news. They call me and ask: "Jan, do you want to participate in Fort Bayard?" Participate! That is, I was sure that I would not be the presenter, but a participant! And I instantly agreed. About a month later, they invite me to a meeting, they begin to explain in what mode the game will take place … But I listen and don't understand. Why should I know all this if I am a participant? "Excuse me, - I ask. - And who will I be?" I am surprised to answer: "How by whom? You are the leader!" And I couldn't do anything, because there were ten days left before the start, I was already approved without trials. Of course, I was very upset. Yes, and it was scary: I can’t do anything, nothing will come of it.

Then we came to France and began to rehearse. The rehearsals took place like a regular game, inside and out, only the correspondents and their wives were the participants. After this test, I realized that I would not be able to transmit. I went to the producer and my boss, Vasily Kiknadze, and asked to do anything, just release me from this role. Of course, I was refused, saying: "Get it together, everything will be fine, you can handle it." They somehow reassured me. But all the same, the first broadcasts were given very hard, I did not understand anything, it constantly seemed to me that I was doing everything wrong, I was saying nonsense. But then I got involved in the action, I felt confident.

- What is more interesting for you to conduct: news or concerts?

- Interestingly, both, but during the news I am calm. And during concerts so many nerves go away! Because in front of you: hundreds of people, stands, hall, and everyone is looking at you. During the news, too, it seems, all attention is focused on you, but directly in front of me there is only one operator, who is well known. And so it is calmer. And you always know what to say, what comes next.

And a concert is always a surprise, you never predict what might happen in a minute. You are not standing alone, but with the second leader. Therefore, you are afraid for possible inconsistencies, overlays. But I like. This is a very rewarding and interesting experience.

- And during the national sports award "Glory" you met Timur, your fiancé? (Timur Weinstein - director and producer of the Nika national film award and the Slava sports award - corr.)

- In fact, we met a little earlier, not at the concert itself, but even during preparation. And it turned out very funny. Timur has a very friendly and warm team. And so I came with a hot delicious cake to his office and met a charming girl, now my best friend. We ate this cake together, talked very pleasantly, immediately liked each other.

Then she ran after Timur, who, as a director, had to hand out scripts to us, the presenters, and tell us how the event would be held. And, as it turned out later, she came to him and said: "Timur, I have found you a bride! Go downstairs faster!" Timur did not rush, he even somehow forgot about it. Then later I went down, and we saw each other for the first time, got to know each other. We worked, discussed all the details, but nothing superfluous, and dispersed. Then we met at rehearsals, at the concert itself. But I couldn't really communicate.

- And then?

- Then they began to call back from time to time, and one fine day Timur invited me on a date. This is how it began. Oriental people are somehow drawn to each other. We found many common interests, interesting topics for conversation, common places where we grew up, lived or just visited. Timur is five years older than me - an adult, intelligent person. I somehow immediately realized that I want to be with this man all my life. I felt such reliability behind his back, devotion, love. He is ready to do everything for me, not only because he loves, but also because he was brought up that way. Since childhood, it has been laid down in him that the family is the most important thing in life and nothing can be more important. It has everything that I love about men. It is very important for me to know that he will never betray, he will always be there, whatever it may be, first of all he will think of me, he will always strive to go home, he will do everything for me and our future children - this is very important. Not every man can do this. Many people understand this, but not everyone is ready to do it. And he is ready. And of course I was lucky. Although at first I was sure that if he does not have a wife, then there are certainly a million girls! (Laughs)

- When the wedding?

- This summer.

- And how would you like to celebrate this event?

- I want a feast for the whole world! Because we are both brought up like that - a wedding happens only once in a lifetime. And I want to make it so that it will be remembered for a lifetime: a million guests, a lot of treats. Honestly, Timur, since he is a director, told me: "You will not do anything. Your most important task is a wedding dress. And that is all." That is, we, of course, will discuss with him where the wedding will take place, who to invite, and he will do the rest himself. Some surprises await me too!

- Tell us about your first love.

- When I was in Tashkent at school, there was a boy in our class, his name was Artur Silkin. In the first grade, he looked after me, wore a briefcase … But in the second, after the summer, he began to take care of another girl, white, my complete opposite. I was very angry with him, took offense and became friends with another boy from the class. In spite of it.

In the third grade, Arthur, having come after the summer, left his blonde and began to meet with me again. We were already older, and serious courtship began. Arthur was the head of the class. All the boys were afraid of him. Although he was a C grade, he was distinguished by intelligence and quick wit. But he always had bad behavior. And to be honest, I liked those who are smart, and everyone is afraid of them (laughs).

Once it was like this: after the prolongation, all the boys locked me in the classroom, crowded in front of the door: "We will not let me in." I watch Arthur sitting at the back, alone, zero attention to what is happening. I ask the boys: "Why?" - "You should go to Arthur and sit down" - "Why?" - "This is what Arthur wants." Well, she came and sat down … We sit … After a while Arthur gives me a note (laughs). I read: "Can I ask you out on a date?" I write the answer: "You can." He writes further: "Where do you live?" I wrote. He: "I'll come with my grandfather." I'm fine". He: "Who do you love?" I write: "You." (laughs) He: "I love you too." And that’s all. He gave the boys some signal, they dispersed, and I went home. Before I could go far, Arthur catches up with me, takes the briefcase, my hand, and we went. So they reached my house in silence.

- Didn't you say a word?

- Not a word, not a note! Well, I thought it was all a joke, not serious. Naturally, she was not going anywhere. And then at the appointed time I looked - I came! With grandfather! Grandfather sat down nearby in a gazebo, began to read a newspaper, and Arthur waited for me. I said to my mother: "Mom, mom, Arthur came there, can I take a walk with him?" They let me go, of course. And we had a second floor, and the windows just overlooked the courtyard. And so everyone came out: mom, dad, grandmother, and watched us walk, holding hands. And in Tashkent courtyards are not at all the same as in Moscow! In our yard there was a swimming pool, a huge playground, a gazebo, a table tennis table, a garden where mulberry trees, apple trees, cherries, grapes, roses grew …

And so we go, and what we see is what we discuss. That is, such a conversation: "Oh, what beautiful roses" - "That's for sure!" - "And how the apples are high!" - "Yeah" …

So we went for a walk. And then we also had an assembly hall at school, sometimes movies were shown there, and so I somehow went there with my friends. And Arthur sat in the back and began to sing to me. Then there was a fashionable song (sings) "My blue-eyed girl … Tell me that you love me …". And he "my brown-eyed girl" sang. I was so embarrassed!..

Then again we parted for the summer, and when we met, I saw that he was caring for that blonde again! … And then I began to seriously engage in gymnastics, and there was no time for love.

- Yana, who do you see yourself in fifteen years?

- Oh, I don’t know yet. We'll see how it goes. I have goals in television: to become a professional in every way, to realize my potential. And "I want to become a channel director" or "I want to have my own program" - I don’t think so. The main thing for me is that my work is in demand and people like it.

And 15 years later, I can't imagine myself at work at all. After all, at forty years old I will no longer conduct sports news - is that ridiculous ?! Probably, there will be something else, what exactly - I don't know yet. But I am sure that in fifteen years I will have a husband, at least three children - a happy good family. This is the most important thing for me. And work is how it will turn out.

- What do you think is the most important thing in a woman?

- Well, first of all, there is a difference whether a woman is single or she has a beloved man. If she is with a man, then the most important thing for her is to obey him. It seems to me that in order for everything in the family to be good, a woman needs to be able to both insist on her own and obey her husband. Do everything for him. Maybe sometimes not to express some of your petty claims. And then everything will be calm. Because men, no matter how good they are, have a different psychology than ours. And you need to be softer with them. Do something your own way, but agree with him, say that you do everything as he says.

But I don't have such problems yet. Timur and I think in the same way, and our opinions often coincide. It happens, of course, when he thinks that he is right, and I think that I am right. But I'd rather agree with him and support him. Because a man should be the master of the house. And a woman should be able to compromise.