Hanna Bezsonova, an alumna of the well-known Kyiv-based Deriuhinas School, is soon to turn sixteen. Today, this young grace, who has already knocked at the door of international modern rhythmic gymnastics, has all the promise of a bright future. The daughter of parents well-known in the sporting world, world champion in the group exercises Viktoriya Sedykh and Kyiv Dynamo soccer club’s virtuoso fullback Volodymyr Bezsonov, is searching on her own for a way to the pinnacle of success. The Day’s corespondent met the talented gymnast during a short training pause and asked her to answer a few questions.
“Hanna, the current season is special and, of course, is leaving a certain imprint on the training of all the athletes trying to get to the Sydney Olympics. As we know, only two rhythmic gymnasts will be representing this country there. And you have such highly-acclaimed rivals as the last Olympics medalist, former world champion Olena Vitrychenko, and the world championship’s bronze medal winner Tamara Yerofieyeva. Does this weigh on you psychologically?”
“As time goes by, somebody will surely overtake the favorites, but I don’t even think about this. I continue to do my work, redoubling my efforts. Of course, both Olena and Tamara are more experienced than me, but this means I have somebody to look at and to outdo.”
“But if you have to be disappointed and stay home, will this hurt you? In general, how do you bear failures? I know that many friends of yours cry.”
“This reminds me of the question of how I react to an unfair decision of judges, when they clearly underrate my points. Well, I show no reaction. That’s not my style. If I go out on the mat, I must do my exercise well. And if the judges don’t give me the points I deserve, I am mainly to blame. So if I fail to go to Australia, this will mean I have not done something well enough and made some mistakes. I will pull myself together and get on with my work.”
“Many gymnasts who want to win awards in international competitions usually try to present the judges and the audience some unexpected surprises in the shape of original decisions and revised programs. Perhaps you also have something up your sleeve?”
“Yes, my coach Iryna Deriuhina and I have prepared new compositions for the rope, hoop, and ball exercises. They are permeated with classic musical, strict lines, the accuracy and clarity of each pas. Of course, I showed them for expert judgment during the Kyiv tournament. I liked and believed in them very much. And this means I was doing them with inspiration.”
“Let the coaches be coaches, but your mother, herself a superb gymnast in the past, can still prompt something to her daughter in the new program, although she is mostly doing paperwork now, working as the leading expert at the Committee for Youth Policy, Sports, and Tourism. By the way, has your dad seen the program and what does he think?”
“Of course, mom helps me with advice and points out my mistakes. But dad always likes everything and he says the overall impression is excellent.”
“As a rule, gymnasts of your age do cheerful, playful, and childish compositions. But in your case, they were quite serious even two years ago. How do you explain this?”
“Very simply: I have passed over to adult gymnastics, with entirely different requirements and criteria. So when I started to get myself ready for last year’s championship in Japan, I grew up by more than one cut.”
“And which of the gymnasts do you like best?”
“Sasha Tymoshenko. And although I have never seen her performance, so to speak, in the flesh, I very often watch the video recordings of her exercises. What strikes me is her emotion, feathery grace, and elegance. Ms. Deriuhina often sets her as an example for us. And many girls signed up for rhythmic gymnastics under her influence.”
“You, as far as I know, decided on your own to become a gymnast. Surprising as it is, your mom objected to your taking up rhythmic gymnastics. It is usually the other way round.”
“Yes, at first she enrolled me in a dance class, but, for some reason, I knew I would be a gymnast when I was five. I stood my ground, so my world champions had to suffer defeat.”
“And what do you think of choreography? For it looks boring to many.”
“I think my choreography classes had an influence on me. I understood and loved it. This is the basis of all bases, the ABCs of a language. This is why I love classical ballet and professional dancing. My mother and I always go to a theater or concert, whenever there is a free minute.”
“And what about soccer do you cheer for your dad’s TsSKA club?”
“Frankly, soccer is not really for me. I like watching figure skating and tennis. To my mind, mother and I had too much soccer when he was still playing for Dynamo. So my little brother, too, has taken to lawn tennis, instead of running after a soccer ball. He is now polishing his skills in the Barcelona Tennis Academy.”
“And how does Hanna Bezsonova like to relax?”
“I read novels about love, watch television, and browse the Internet for rhythmic gymnastics: I just wonder what is new in the world, what kind of suits and hairstyles the leading gymnasts wear.”
“The ball must be your favorite object. For you do so spectacular shows with it!”
“No, you guessed wrong. When still a child, I liked playing with various skipping ropes. I still have this affection. You can do so many things with a rope. You can wind, unwind, and improvise!”
