No excuses: "I'll think about it tomorrow" - an interview with the London Paralympics medalist Svetlana Moshkovich

Svetlana Moszkowicz - "sensation" Summer Paralympic Games in 2012 in London. No one expected from a simple Siberian girl who sat in hendbayk three years before the Games, it will take the bronze. Even the light is not immediately realized what had happened.

Today Svetlana Moszkowicz - one of the leaders of paravelosbornoy. She is dignified our country at prestigious international competitions, she wants to try on the champion's jersey and start a family. On this fragile girl with a strong character - in our interview.

Chamomile

- Hello, World! I am pleased to welcome you to Layfhakere.

- Hello, Anastasia! Thanks for the invitation.

- Tell us about your childhood. Where you're from?

- I am a Siberian, born in Krasnoyarsk. She grew up in a good family: mom, dad, older sister. Mom worked as an engineer, then mastered and the accounting profession; father all his life was a pilot of civil aviation. My sister is older than me by seven years, now she has two wonderful children. All of my family still lives in Krasnoyarsk.

- Light and what is the nature of Siberia?

— It seems to me, no matter where you live, you can still be strong and cheerful. But Siberians is somehow more pronounced. They are open, not afraid of difficulties. When I say that from Siberia, people priori perceive me as a man with a hardened character.

— And this is so? You have a strong character?

Before the accident I thought a lot, "chamomile".

Diligent girl under the wing of mom, dad, and then another young man who was older than me. Surrounding afraid that I can not do it with the difficult situation in which there was. But, on the contrary, he has tempered me. Now developed while fighting qualities really come in handy in the sport.

"I will think about it tomorrow"

— How is it a car accident?

— It was almost 10 years ago. I then studied the fifth year of the Krasnoyarsk Pedagogical University, which he entered after school on inyaz.

— I wanted to become a teacher?

— As a child, I had many pans about their future profession: wanted to become a lawyer, and a flight attendant... By the way, a flight attendant, a student, I moonlighted during the summer holidays.

But I never thought that I would go in for sports.

I was looking for myself, but most wanted to become an interpreter than a teacher because I was always attracted to travel.

— Even despite the fact that one of them ended tragically?

— Yes... In November 2004, five of my friends and I were returning from Khakassia to Krasnoyarsk. Icing on the car lost control... As I was later told, we tumbled 60 meters, fly away from the slope. Two were killed, including my friend. I have — Serious injury rest goes to a lesser extent.

The accident was the real test of my character. Injury and death of a friend — Many were afraid that I do not get out of this situation.

But I have to solve problems as they come. In my head all the time revolved phrase from "Gone with the Wind": "I'll think about it tomorrow." I realized that the main thing for me — fight for life, recover from injury. At no time mourning thoughts.

— What helped not break?

— Most anyone. Parents, my mom, have always been close. Friends helped.

In addition, I can not be alone with him, he was constantly in motion. I finished study, it was necessary to defend the diploma, pass exams. Plus the first four years after injury — it was a time of active rehabilitation.

— What is it?

— I almost was not at home. First went to a rehabilitation center in Novokuznetsk, then, to learn about other opportunities out there, Krasnoyarsk, Samara... During this time I have gone through four operations.

Last I was lucky enough to do in Germany, a trip which turned my world.

— Why?

— After the surgery, I was able to assess whether the country is adapted for people in wheelchairs. The first time I traveled by bus for four years! Now and in Moscow, Krasnoyarsk and other cities, there are low-floor buses, and then, in 2008, it was not. I went on the bus to drive through the city.

I smile never left the face of the — I felt an equal and free!

Of course, I wanted to stay in Germany. Therefore, a year later, I returned and entered the University of Düsseldorf. At first again on linguistics, but now I want to change the direction of education. I would like to know the sport not only as a practitioner, but also from a theoretical point of view.

Freedom is in your hands!

— As far as I know, it was on rehabilitation in Germany for the first time you got into hendbayk?

— Yes. The first trial took place in 2008, during the recovery time after surgery. In the rehabilitation center where I was, I met with the local kids in wheelchairs, who are just doing hendbaykom.

When I first saw them, I was impressed. They are so different from the others: strong, smart, open, smiling. Their eyes burned! It was evident that they take care of themselves and enjoy life.

We met, and they offered me a ride in hendbayke.

I remember my first trip. I drove about 20 kilometers away, and quite quickly fizzled — I pushed the guys back, pedaling forces left. But I was happy. I realized that this is a sport that can help me in rehab, he coached endurance and revitalizes the body. In addition, he gives freedom! 20 kilometers in a wheelchair — it was impossible for me. And hendbayke can easily overcome them, enjoying nature.

— Since training began?

— Training began a year later, when I came to Germany to study. Guys, we made friends in my last visit, I gathered for my first hendbayk.

— Collected?

— Yes. :) They understand that I have no money, but this technique is expensive (cost of a new bike €5000, used — from €1500), because actually hendbayk done individually for each athlete under his options. But the guys helped as best they could: I collected from old bike parts. I started to train.

And two weeks later, I checked in at the marathon in Heidelberg. I do not claim prizes, just decided to participate. In his makeshift hendbayke, helmet borrowed from friends of the child.

One of the conditions of this race - to pass a half-marathon (ie the first round, 21 kilometer) no more than 1.5 hours. I stowed.

The total time I had 2 hours and 20 minutes. But for me it was achievement enough that I crossed the finish line at all. This was the impetus to train on.

Two years later, on the same marathon I improved my time by almost an hour.

Bronze with gold shimmer

— And a year later brought a bronze medal from London?

— Yes, but I did not expect. I started training for three years prior to the Paralympics, from scratch. If back in 2011. I had someone told me that I will win a medal, I would not have believed it.

Although I trained very hard, hit the Russian national team, started to go to the training camp, an international competition was to them a third, fourth. Looking at the opponents, I knew that the chances of success in London is there, but still could not imagine that I would become a bronze medalist.

— What you feel when you hang a medal on you?

— This does not pass! Goosebumps, smile on his face, tears in his eyes. You know that I did everything that was in your power, and bring joy not only to themselves but also to coaches, friends, the whole country.

— You're a patriot?

— I am proud that I was the Russian woman, and I want to see his country's flag in the center of the pedestal. Doubly pleased that our team was able to achieve paravelosportu self-respect on a global level. In Moscow paravelosport sprang from the ground-based FSO "Youth of Moscow", and with the help of "Research and Production Corporation „Uralvagonzavod“». They greatly helped in the development of paravelosporta, precisely because it appeared the team "Armada". At first we did not know we were not the best technique.

We came to the competition, and we have no one took seriously.

After my victory, wins Alexei Obydonnova and the other guys from the Russian paravelosbornoy began to be considered.

— The state is helping you?

— Yes, otherwise we would not have achieved success. With the support of sponsors and the state, we can buy equipment, to go to the training camp, practice.

— Then why in Russia many people still do not know the word "hendbayk"?

— The fact is that in Europe hendbayk — mass sport. It spends a lot of races, if involved in each, then during the season you can make about 60 starts. Some races are declared more than 200 participants, that is involved in many of the sports hendbaykom not ambition, but for themselves. There is a road, there is the opportunity for people to buy a bike. Who in Russia retired disabled can afford to buy such expensive equipment?

We have a different system, first you start to show results, and then got into the national team, can already count on the support of the state. But you need to start somewhere ...

— Light, but you can have any advice for those who will read your interview and will turn the idea to try his hand in hendbayke?

— The most important thing — to have a wish. Contact the various public and commercial organizations, perhaps someone will buy a bike. In addition, in our country as "Kulibin". You can start on its own and as I used to be, try to collect hendbayk. Finally, on the basis of the FSO "Youth of Moscow" on the cycling track in Krylatskoye opened a branch of Para cycling, where my coach Chunosov Alexey, where you can try your hand at hendbayke. Now hendbaykerov movement in Russia is in its infancy (here in Gorky Park began to gather boys this spring even organized a bike ride), but we can find like-minded, who will help develop.

All for a purpose

— Light, you are all the time at the training camp and competitions. Time to privacy left?

— Athletes little gypsy life. When preparing for the London Paralympics, I'm home for six months was only four weeks. But I even like to be constantly in motion. Day is painted literally by the minute, two or three training sessions a day, mode. Permanent collection.

So with regards to privacy — time at her almost none. Sometimes I go out somewhere with friends.

— All for the sake of the Rio?

— All in order: now I'm getting ready for the World Cup (he is at the end of July), and then, in August, — World Championship. Good performances in this competition, as well as the competition next year, will enable us to obtain a license for the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Really I want to try on the champion's jersey!

— Mike champion?

— Mike champion — This prestigious prize, which gets an athlete, who became the world champion. Issued from the International Cycling Union, her five bands of color on the number of continents, like at the Olympics five rings. Each velosportsmen dream of such.

— And I thought, dream home — Paralympic gold ...

— You're right. Mike wants, but the main goal of my life, my motivation — is the title of Paralympic champion. That in order to make a new step towards this my dream, I get up every morning, go to the gym, endure fatigue.

— Light, and as a family?

— Of course, I dream about family and children. But I believe that a woman should be the guardian of the hearth, and my constant traveling I would be unlikely to succeed to create family comfort. So for now, the priority sports. I want to give everything 200%, so that future kids in no way needed and proud mother.

— Our project is called "No excuses." What is not to look for any excuses for Svetlana Moszkowicz?

— Whining and look for favors is not constructive. Rational to spend time searching for their path. And if you fall any chance, you have to run out of it "to the bottom", based on the available opportunities.

— Light, finally covet anything Layfhakera readers?

Enjoy every day. Set goals to understand why you live. In all there are gloomy days, but if you wake up in the morning, you know that you have a goal, you can overcome all difficulties. Therefore, do not cease to strive every day to take small steps towards your goal.

— Beautiful words! Svetlana, thanks for the interview!

— Thank you, Anastasia!