HARNASKO Alina (BLR)

Alina Harnasko: there is a lot of work behind this medal

The Olympics became the most successful start in the career of Alina Harnasko. The 20-year-old gymnast won a bronze medal in Tokyo. The athlete told about the Olympic emotions, plans and dreams to the BAG press service.

In general, emotions are overwhelming, it was my first Olympic Games in my life - and immediately a medal. Thank you all for the warm welcome and support. It was felt even though we were competing in empty stands. We got used to this, it was quite calm to perform.

Did you expect to return home with an Olympic medal?
There is a lot of work, injuries, recovery behind this medal. At the Olympic Games, a lot is decided by strong nerves and stability. And it is the last type, the tape, as Irina Leparskaya says, makes the competition. The tape decided a lot. I made a mistake, there is work to do. In general, I did not know the results of my rivals, but just went out to perform, do what I can, what I have been coaching for almost 5 years. And it helped me. Later, sitting in the “kiss and cry” zone, I found out how much I needed to get before the medal and the grade that eventually brought Olympic bronze.

You met your 20th birthday in Tokyo ...
Yes, indeed, my anniversary took place at the Olympics. I did not live in anticipation of my birthday, I was very busy, first of all, preparing for the competition. Well, the bronze Olympic medal was a great gift for me.

The team spent a week before the Olympics and a few days after the Games in the city of Shiroishi. What can you say about these fees?
We had limitations: both before the Olympic Games and after. We could train and spend time in a hotel, a whole floor was allocated to the team, we were isolated, we lived in a kind of capsule. There was an opportunity to acclimatize, adapt to unusual conditions. In Japan, we have a lot of friends, acquaintances, they wished us success. Unfortunately, we could not even see Japanese spectators in the stands during the Olympics, but we felt their support.

What can we expect from Alina Harnasko's Olympic vlog?
I do not advertise my videos too much, I do it for myself, fans, fans. The vlogs are behind the scenes, but I don't reveal all the secrets. I am extremely pleased that this is noticed and appreciated.

Are your emotions today different from those that were on the day of the Olympic success
In general, emotions are incomprehensible, but, perhaps, more calm. The main thing is that there is a result. I know my mistakes, I will continue to work. Now there will be a short rest, and then, at the end of October, the world championship. Getting ready ...

Harnasko expanding horizons as Rhythmic Gymnastics Worlds approach

07/10/2021

Alina Harnasko (BLR) is not done yet — quite the contrary. The newly minted Olympic bronze medallist has her eyes fixed on more prizes at the upcoming Aeon Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships 2021 in Kitakyushu.

“I have the highest goals, because I have no World Championship titles yet,” she said this week.

Less than three months removed from the Tokyo Games, the best gymnasts in the world are returning to the Japanese archipelago for the 38th edition of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, which will unfold 27-31 October on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu.
It will be Harnasko’s third trip to the World Championships in four years, but the first where she will compete as an Olympic medallist.

Born 9 August 2001 in Minsk, Harnasko made her international debut as part of the junior Belarusian Group before her remarkable potential propelled her into the individual spotlight. She won the FIG World Cup series title with the Ribbon in 2017, her first year on the senior circuit, and was a big part of Belarus’s team bronze at the 2019 World Championships in Baku (AZE).

Harnasko was fourth in qualification at the Olympics, but a mistake with the Ribbon by Arina Averina (RGF) in the final presented an opportunity for her to move into medal position. An elegant Ribbon routine beginning with a penché pivot in which she twirls the ribbon with her toes clinched the bronze, Belarus’s first Olympic medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics since 2012.

“2020 taught us to perform without an audience, and I was very calm; it was like in training,” she remarked. “I just tuned in to work and did not think about the result.”

As one of seven Belarusian athletes to medal in Tokyo, Harnasko returned home a hero. “I was met by all the coaches, gymnasts, relatives, and so much television,” she said. “I was very pleased how they met me in the country and I am incredibly glad that everything worked out.”

A nine-day vacation in Turkey re-energised her, and she quickly returned to training under national team coach Irina Leparskaya. “I rested well, got tanned and started working again!” she said. “The year was quite difficult - there were a lot of competitions and stress - but we still have strength.”

Harnasko’s collection of accolades also includes seven European Championship medals, though as she is quick to point out, no golds — yet. In Kitakyushu she will perform her Olympic programmes, though she is already looking forward to creating new routines for 2022, when the new Rhythmic Gymnastics Code of Points will take effect.

“I’m interested in trying the new rules in Gymnastics,” she said. “I want to set new goals and achieve them.”

Alina Gornosko is a talented and promising gymnast

A year ago, Alina Gornosko was spoken of as a talented and promising gymnast, but they did not predict a quick resounding success. Experts thoughtfully rolled their eyes and speculated at length that, they say, maybe someday in the next Olympic cycle, Alina will be able to surprise the sports world, but certainly not at the 2020 Games. There, they say, even without Gornosko it will be cramped on the pedestal - all the seats are painted: Dina and Arina Averina from Russia, Lina Ashram from Israel. It is unlikely that any of them will decide to move over and make room for the young Belarusian. Yes, only man proposes, and God disposes - everything turned out in an absolutely amazing way for us.

Outside the window is the beginning of a new Olympic cycle, the apogee of which will be Paris 2024. Alina and I are sitting in the spacious and comfortable hall of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Palace, talking and laughing. The soul is good. In appearance, she remained the same - a sweet and spontaneous, charming girl, but something has invisibly changed in the bronze medalist of Tokyo and the newly-made world champion. She herself does not hide this, she says directly: - I can definitely say that even in the spring I was a completely different person. And a gymnast, of course, too. Our seasons are always busy, but this one turned out to be especially tight: at the beginning of summer - the European Championship, at the end - the Olympics, in the fall - the World Championship. And between them even managed to slip a vacation - flew to rest on the sea.

Sports matters

- You know, the pandemic that hit the world last year, with all its severe restrictions, even went to my advantage. Because I was just recovering from an injury, there were ups and downs, and the pandemic locked us in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Palace, where we lived and worked 24/7. This made it possible to significantly improve the level of exercise performance, recover, and eliminate errors.

And the summer European championship, at which they took medals, showed that the time was not wasted - everything turned out cool, and this instilled confidence.

- If in the spring you were told that the season would be so successful for you, would you believe it?
- Probably not. And I would ask you not to guess anything - a very hard work was going on. In the spring, I was not yet ready for such an ending. But now I can safely say: wow, that was great!

- Tell me honestly: did you expect such agility from yourself at the World Championships? Gold in Ribbon Exercises is an incredibly cool story!
- Before the tournament, I did not make any predictions at all, because the day before I had had a coronavirus - at the wrong time. There were two weeks before my flight to Japan, and my test came back positive. Horror! However, three days later I felt better and decided not to give up anything. She said: I want to go to the World Cup! I'll be in shape! Don't panic! And she continued to train at home as much as possible. I sent videos to trainers every day. I returned to the gym 9 days before the start. I'm glad everything turned out so great in the end.

- Did you feel a different attitude towards yourself after these victories?
- It is hard to say. I would rather point out self-confidence, which has skyrocketed in a year.

- When you stood on the Olympic podium, what did you think about?
- A whole range of emotions! It could not be otherwise, because a huge amount of work had been done.

We set high goals, but the medal was still somewhere unexpected. Initially, it seemed that all the places on the podium had already been taken - this is true. Probably, it was really possible to expect only someone's mistake, although during the competition no such thoughts and calculations appeared in my head. I was completely focused on my own performance - I went out and did what I was able to do. Everything else was distributed by itself.

- Name three words that you can use to describe your condition at the moment of the Olympic triumph.
- Astonishment. Shock. Happiness. And a little bit of tears.

- Do you cry often?
- It happens. And sometimes not everything works out in training. And it's just the mood. And the weather. But I try not to endure my tears in public.

- If these are not tears of happiness, like at the World Championships.
- How could I not burst into tears at that moment, when two weeks ago I lay sick at home with my stomach on a pillow and could not even dream of a gold medal of the world championship?

- Did you know that Larisa Lukyanenko won gold at the world championships in rhythmic gymnastics for the last time before you among Belarusian women, and that was 25 years ago
- No, no, they only told me later. I will not hide it - it was very pleasant.

Mental affairs

- Meet the Puma! - Alina gently strokes a black smooth dog, and he loyally and gratefully looks into the eyes. - It's a girl, pug. My greatest friend and talisman. Honored, titled - her parents are champions. And she's only a year old. Puma always lives at home, but today I took her to the gym for one day. Of course, there is no place for pets here, and this is prohibited, but Irina Yuryevna Leparskaya made an exception, because she also fell in love with Puma and allowed her to come here sometimes.

- Why did you choose this particular breed?
- I think pugs are the kindest, I really, really like them. Cougar is charming and very loyal. As a child, I already had a pug, so now I have chosen this breed.

- And I really thought that it was all about the magic of the famous dog lover Lyubov Cherkashina ...
- I know that she loves pugs no less than me, she has several of them at home! Of course, we are discussing our pets, she even shares clothes for dogs with us. It is simply impossible not to love them, they are so cute!

- Do you still live with your parents outside the city?
- Not anymore, I only go there on weekends. It's in the Staek area. But before, I really constantly traveled to Minsk and back. In the morning, my mother drove my brother to school, and me to training. I took it in the evening. It was always necessary to get up very early, and to return accordingly late.

When the wonderful Palace of Rhythmic Gymnastics opened the doors, I moved here. All conditions have been created here - very convenient and practical: control, discipline, training, food, rest ...

- What is your favorite time of the year?
- Summer. I love warmth. And my birthday, I have it on August 9th.

- But what about autumn? The most romantic time!
- Rather depressive.

- Do you like poetry?
- Of course, I love it - it's very beautiful. As a child, I probably even tried to compose something myself. In general, in this regard, I was very versatile: I sang in the choir and played on the piano ...

- What kind of music do you care about?
- Music surrounds me all year round - at trainings, performances ... It happens that I get bored and want to be in silence, but in general I listen to completely different styles and directions. Depends on the mood. Often, by the way, I sing while driving!

- Have you been driving for a long time? You are only 20 ...
- Soon it will be a year. This is a very good help, otherwise you would have to spend a fortune on a taxi! You know, in the break between morning and evening workouts, I often have grandiose plans and I need to have time to implement everything.

- It started working right away, wasn’t you afraid of heavy traffic?
- I chose the time for training very well - during a pandemic. I had the opportunity to study the rules and practice, so I passed all the exams the first time - both theory and driving. And the ride? No, it's not scary: she sat down - and forward.

- I heard that you like to draw. And it somehow helped you in Olympic Tokyo.
- At the Games there were strict covid restrictions, athletes were not allowed to go anywhere. Therefore, I took 70 markers with me to the Games. We arrived early - we were preparing in another prefecture of Japan. And while preparations were underway, I decided to hold an artistic relay in 10 days - to draw the talismans of the last ten summer Games. It was a good release after a day of training. And it so happened, by the way, that the last mascot that I painted fell on Seoul-1988, where my coach Marina Vikentievna Lobach became the Olympic champion. Isn't it a sign?

By the way, my protective mask in Tokyo depicts the 2020 Games mascot - this is also my own exclusive drawing, no one else had this.

And at the World Championships, by the way, I also presented my works in a similar way: I drew Mount Fujiyama, sakura, and Irina Yurievna - "buslika".

- What era would you like to live in?
- Besides the current one? I don't know ... In the Stone Age! (Laughs.) It's hard for me to judge - I don't look far into the past, and my parents told about the recent that they had a lot to go through. Yes, and Irina Yuryevna said that before the times were not sugar. So I like the here and now - it's a wonderful time.

- And in which country?
- Only in Belarus! Exclusively. I love to travel, discover new countries, imbue myself with impressions. But then he invariably attracts to the Motherland. Home. I don't even consider the option of leaving somewhere forever.

Pressing matters

- After the World Cup, I got three days off - a kind of mini-vacation. In general, it was enough to have a rest - there is no time to relax now. It's time to draw up a new program, prepare exercises.

- How did you spend these three happy days?
- Dedicated to their restoration. Physical and moral. I left the city for a recreation center. Many people in the country want to see and hear me now, it's nice, but sometimes a regime of silence is needed.

- The next Olympic cycle in rhythmic gymnastics, like a new season in the theater, is the time of premieres. Are you getting ready to surprise?
- We are working. Now changes are coming in the rules of rhythmic gymnastics, therefore, it is necessary to change all four types. Before that, there was a bias towards complexity, an open assessment - you could recruit, recruit, recruit as much as you can fit. Restrictions await now. Well, and other specific points. We will think, study, try.

- How will all these innovations affect you personally?
- I do not know, while I like everything. There are ideas, there is music for new programs. We will embody.

- How long does it usually take to create an exercise from a to z?
- A musical composition is taken, an image, elements are invented ... Here the question must be posed differently: not how much time is needed, but how much time you have! We proceed from this. A new season will start in late January - early February. We will keep up.

- And again into battle, you only dream of peace! Do you get tired of this running around, from constant flights?
- This is an integral part of my life. And during the pandemic, paradoxically, we began to fly even more - it is difficult to draw up routes, there are more transfers. Often you have to spend the night in airport hotels. For example, they flew to Japan for the World Championship for two days. Conversely, too. Time thrown out of life.

- Strongly annoying?
- Especially when you're heading to a competition. You have to monitor the body very closely, because the legs, for example, swell a lot. And you need to recover literally overnight. The reverse is simpler, there is only one thought: hurry home!

- Do you remember the first meeting with your mentor Marina Lobach?
- I admit that she saw me earlier than I saw her, - we are looking at the girls intently. And my story is this: I became the youngest gymnast who took part in the tournament for the prizes of Marina Vikentievna. I was doing one kind of program then, and when summing up I was singled out as promising. They gave me a huge cup, I didn’t know how to carry it, I was afraid to drop it. And I was afraid to look into the eyes of the Olympic champion. I was 8 years old. And at 10 I got to her to train. That's how much she already tolerates me! (Laughs.)

- And how did you meet Irina Leparskaya?
- When she noticed me and marked me, I don't know, but the first trip under the direction of Irina Yuryevna to the international start happened when I was 13 years old.

- Are you afraid of her?
- Not anymore. Although ... Here you need to look at the mood. (Laughs.)

- Are there gymnasts whose manner and style are especially appealing to you?
- I never created idols for myself, I always wanted to be an individual. Now I try to be equal to my coach. Both in life and in sports.

- Have you seen the recording of Marina Lobach's victorious performance at the 1988 Games?
- Certainly! I even tried to repeat it! At one of her tournaments in the gala show, I was offered to make that program - in sync with the visualization on the big screen. There was a maximum of a week and a half to prepare. I sewed swimsuits, like hers, learned the exercise by heart - rehearsed after training. As a result, we even managed to get into sync, but did not perform without mistakes. Frankly, I was very upset then - the ideal did not work out. But I was comforted by the fact that Marina Vikentievna had been preparing the program for several years, and I wanted to repeat it in a week.

- Is the ribbon your favorite subject?
- Usually they ask differently: what is your relationship with the ribbon, because ribbon is the most difficult thing ... I stopped answering such questions, because I love all objects, I am friends with everyone, they all hear me, understand and may be offended. And we worked with the tape, we are working and will continue to work much more, because it is insidious, like a fox. A lot really depends on this exercise, and, as Irina Yuryevna says, the ribbon makes the competition! This is indeed the case.

- Do you have any plans for Paris-2024? Cool, if you and Anastasia Salos managed to climb the pedestal - this has never happened in history!
- We don’t think, but you can dream. I will say this: we always have maximum goals.