Ekaterina Serebrianskaya : I want some usual woman happiness”

Just yesterday name of Ekaterina Serebrianskaya, Olimpic 1996 champion, was known by everybody, because Katya was representing grace of world rhythmic gymnastics. And today sport of lovely gymnast became past. Katya started doing new things, model business and she feels quite confident there.

- Why did you decide to retire from rhythmic gymnastics?

- Every person chooses his own life path. I’ve chosen to quit and to start doing new things

- Wasn't your retirement connected to not very good negotiations with Deruigina?

- Let's not discuss this topic, which is very old and not new

- Ok, no word about it. Then tell us, why did you choose model business. Did you have an alternative, let's say, coach work?

- I will have time to work as a coach always. Model agency is a frash air in my life. I like new ideas and projects. There is something similar between model business and rhythmic gymnastics. My work nowadays reminds me my work in the past

- Who helped you to create your model agency?

- I had no help. I did everything myself

- How did you choose the staff? Perhaps, you invited your friends?

- No, I invited to work almost totally unknown people for me. I was talking to them and choosing those, who I'd like to work with. I was forming team for work, not for friendship. Even though I'm friends with many of the staff, they are at first my colleagues

- Do you have many friends?

- There are many people in my life, who I can call friends. However, I have very little amount of true friends

- If you don't feel well in your soul, what do you do?

- I go to the psychiatrist

- There is half a year till Olimpic in Sydney. Can anyone of Ukrainian rhythmic gymnasts win "gold" in Austria?

- I look on Ukrainian perspectives on Olimpic Games very pessimistically, I think we won't see neither gold nor silver medal there. And I think that our people will have less medals in other sport than in Atlanta. What are the reason? Country must support it's sportsmen, not to turn from them. We should prepare during the whole 4 years to the most major competition. On last Olympics in Atlanta Ukraine was 8th overall just thanks to the USSR former training process

- Till the reforms, the National sports committee was headed by Alexandr Volkov, former sportsman, Olimpic Champion. Do you think he tried to change the crisis situation?

- It's difficult for me to speak about all sports disciplines. We have difficult problems in rhythmic gymnastics, which stayed the same. Alexandr Volkov is a former basketball player, that's why he paid attention to his kind of sport.

- Are there any perspective gymnasts in Ukraine, who not in Sydney, but on next Olimpics, will be able to get into top 3?

- Yes, there are such girls. Among them is pupil of the Crimean gymnastics school Lesya Tkachenko and also Kyivite Anya Bessonova. However, nowadays they can't make concurency to the leader of world rhythmic gymnastics, Russian Alina Kabaeva. I like this gymnast, she is unique.

- You created first sports school in Simpheropol? How is now Crimean rhythmic gymnastics going on?

- Even worse than in Kyiv. In the capital somebody tries to help gymnasts, in the Crimea they are left without nothing. Many girls came to Simpheropol from the whole peninsula, but there are no normal conditions to train. How can we show good results if a child eats with only some grivmyas per day? Well, what a country, what a sport

- In June of last year took place the presentation of Charity Foundation of Ekaterina Serebrianskaya. What aims does it have?

- It tries to help young and talented sportsmen, children sports schools.

- You parents, who were popular sportsmen in the past, played a big role in your chose of profession

- Yes, my success took place only thanks to my mom and dad. They taught me to work at the trainings and win on competitions.

- How often do you meet your parents and do you listen to their point of view?

- My parents stayed in Simpheropol, my mom works with new gymnasts and my dad is a head of sports club "Gratsia". When I have opportunity, I try to come to Simferopol. Sometimes I listen to their advice, but mostly I do what I think is the best.

- Did you childhood dreams come true?

- In my childhood I wanted to win "gold" and in 1996 my dream came true

- What do you dream about now?

- As many women, I want normal women happiness. Soon will go out my book "Stories of Olimpic Champion", where you will be able to read about everything

- Do you think about getting married, children?

- No, family life isn't in my plans now

- Do you think you are a star?

- I can't judge about it. I think it's better seen from the side

- What do you think about women getting to compete in many unusual for her kinds of sport? Well, I think no one can get embarrassed today when he or she sees that a girl comes to the boxing ring?

- I negatively look at it. Woman must always stay a woman

- Did you have a thought to take part in a film?

- I like variety in life, but I've never thought about the carreir of actress, even though it could be interesting. I have experience in filming in advertisements and clip of "Okean Elzi" /Sosni/

- What do you do in your free time?

- I like to walk in the park near stadium Dynamo. I go to the theatre and concert hall very often as well.

- What kind of music do you prefer?

- I like popular music, but classical one doesn't attract me

- As soon as I know you have not bad sports car. Do you like driving fast?

- I prefer sports cars. Earlier I drove "Mizubisi", but I had an accident and the car crashed. Now I have "Volvo". I enjoy driving fast, about 180 km per hour.

- What are the reactions of policemen on your speed?

- It turns out that I always break driving rules and policement, stopping me, ask me to pay money

- Aren't they embarassed by the fact that Olimpic Champion is near them? They shouldn't ask money, but ask authograph!

- They know me only by pass port. I was asked for a sign only once