“He was given a choice - either sport or me. Grandmother of David Belyavsky, who went to the Olympics: He climbed walls since childhood, so she sent him to gymnastics David Belyavsky artistic gymnastics personal life

02.09.2016

The love story of a Rio Olympics medalist and a beauty from Novosibirsk, who saw him on TV and fell in love - he left her after an unsuccessful performance, but changed his mind and proposed in the heart of Brazil

The love story of SibGUTI graduate Maria Mikhailova and Rio de Janeiro Olympic medalist David Belyavsky from Yekaterinburg began 4 years ago. During this time, everything happened - from youthful love to scandals, jealousy and separation. In addition, the couple had to defend their right to be together and face a choice between career and personal life. During the Olympics in Brazil, David surprised his girlfriend by unexpectedly and originally proposing marriage to her. Maria Mikhailova told an SHE correspondent about how she built her happiness brick by brick, what habits she forgives David and what she has to give up for the sake of her man’s career.

Acquaintance

It so happened that I celebrated the New Year in 2012 alone. I watched TV from 4 to 5 in the morning, flipping through channels. I see the boy standing, preparing to perform in the exercises. As I later found out, it was a repeat of the World Championships in Tokyo. I don’t know how it coincided that the repeat, and even on New Year’s Day, shows little gymnastics at all. I liked him. Literally 10 minutes later I found him on VKontakte. She wrote that he had a charming look, something like that. I didn’t think it was fate; I was also just interested in communicating with a person from a field that you don’t know. David celebrated the New Year somewhere with friends, but he answered me very quickly. At first, I didn’t immediately admit to him that I saw him on TV, I said that I accidentally came across him on social networks, - David replied that such accidents do not happen.

The next day we corresponded almost all day. Everything happened very quickly. We talked for a whole month - days, nights, evenings. He offered to fly to him in Yekaterinburg. I thought, why not, you can take a risk once and remain happy for the rest of your life.

First meeting

He met me at the airport, however, when I left the terminal, I didn’t see him. I think, well, now I’ll buy a ticket to fly back. And he just stood at the top and looked at the arrivals area from the second floor. Then he said that he decided to excite me a little, so to speak. He is small in stature, but this did not bother me, on the contrary, I thought it was so cute - the two of us are so miniature. We are generally the same height as him - 164 cm. On the first day there was some wariness. David was modest - he took me by the hand for the first time only the next day. Somehow everything was very timid, but everything was very nice, very decent. I was in Yekaterinburg for only two days. I flew away with such thoughts - God, I’ll land now, and if he doesn’t write to me, if he didn’t like me... But he wrote that everything is very cool, call me when you arrive - something like that.

Lapping

In general, at first everything developed in such a way that it can be compared to falling in love for the first time. It's all very tender. Probably, somewhere I took more initiative, because I already understood that I fell head over heels in love. He very nicely took the initiative, for example, to draw something on the wall on VKontakte while I was sleeping. He was in no hurry to talk about feelings. At first there was a grind - quarrels, swearing, and sometimes there was no time for words of love. And they bit, and they were jealous, that’s all. David bought an apartment, I remotely controlled the renovation, drew the design, and we chose something together. There were no concrete conversations - now we’ll do the renovations and live together. When I visited him, he arranged a romantic affair. There was nothing in the apartment except a sofa; he made a makeshift table on some box. Plastic glasses, champagne. It was very touching. We started living together 1.5 years after we met.

First difficulties

We had a difficult situation. David's coaches told his relatives that our relationship was hindering the development of his career. I was very upset, it was unbearable to cry every day because of this, to worry. Sometimes I even wanted to leave, but not because I fell out of love. I thought - well, maybe I really should give up, maybe it will be easier for us and they will leave him alone. I also felt very sorry for him, there was pressure on him from all sides: he had to train, be focused, etc. They (coaches and relatives) thought that we would now start living together, I would definitely get pregnant, give birth to a child right away, and David would go to his family, and not to sports, not to the Olympics, which he was going to.

But in reality it’s not like that, we have a common goal, we walked towards this Olympics together. At one point he was given a choice - either sport or me. I don’t even want to remember all this. The turning point occurred when David simply said that this is my girlfriend and whether you like it or not, I will be with her, and then as fate will decide.

Of course, they didn’t leave us behind, but a warmth appeared inside me, I realized that I was behind him like a husband, behind a man like behind a wall, he would stand up for me. I was very often called selfish, that I would take away his apartment, car... By the way, I am still not registered here, all the real estate is registered in his name. I have my own car, my property is from Novosibirsk. For some reason, everyone thinks that, as an athlete, there’s a lot of money there. But what big money is there, he’s not a football player. Perhaps the questions were due to the age difference ( Maria is 4 years older than David. - A.B.). And we are still trying to prove that everything is not as they think. And confirmation of this is his sporting achievements and the fact that I still don’t have a child.

Olympics

I always get excited when he performs. That the control training is closed somewhere, that the Russian Championships - this excitement cannot be conveyed. For the first time I went with him to the European Championships in Bulgaria. His friends kept commenting to me because I couldn’t watch. Now I’m watching, but I’m just as worried, shaking. I give myself this attitude - I need to inspire him through TV or personally: you will do everything, you will succeed, be confident in yourself, you can do it. Many didn’t believe it, but when I went to Rio, I knew there would be a medal, I just didn’t know what kind. He was 100% ready. We also went through the London Olympics together. By that time, they had been dating for 8 months, but there was no such attachment - they did not live together and communicated at a distance. By the way, after London he had something like star fever, because there were a lot of subscribers, fans, etc. He was very upset that he didn’t take the medal then, and told me the following phrase: “I won’t be able to give you what you want.” We broke up. It is difficult to say what motivated him then. But a week later I wrote: I can’t take it anymore, I miss you very much, I want to see you. We have already gone through this Olympics more calmly.

I wouldn’t want my children to make the kind of sacrifices that athletes make. Although if a person is happy in what he does, perhaps his choice should be accepted. I know David is happy about this. Without sports he is like flowers without water. I believe it is a gift to do what you love. Because most people do what they hate.

Next to such a pumped-up man, it is difficult to do without sports - he goes to his gym, I work out with a trainer in my gym, for physical tone. He didn’t tell me that I needed to lose weight, etc. But he explained that this is the same release of negativity. After this, you are a normal person - you have more energy, sleep more. With his success and confidence, he inspires me that I, too, can and should achieve some things, be it sports or business. At the beginning of June I opened a manicure studio. I have an art education ( MariaGraduated from art school in Novosibirsk. - A.B.). By the way, I also give David a manicure. Previously, he had difficulty sitting down at all, but now he puts his hand in. ( Laughs.)

Got along in character

David has this quality - he is stubborn, always goes to victory. If something didn’t work out somewhere, he always finishes it right, at least he tries. And in life he is so balanced, calm, harmonious. It feels like there, in sports, you give all your perseverance. We argue, but at the level - either everyone will remain with their own opinion, or we will pretend that it is not worth wasting time on this. We have learned to value the time we spend together, it’s a pity to waste it on petty quarrels, and we rarely see each other. His socks in the corners don't bother me, that's for sure. It's not annoying that he can throw things around. They say that you love both the bad and the good in the person you love.

An offer of marriage

When they won silver as a team, we didn’t get to see each other in the hall, because the athletes leave through a separate entrance and are immediately taken to the Olympic village. I arrived, we are standing at the entrance to the Olympic village, I hug him and congratulate him. His teammate Nikita Nagorny pretends to be talking on the phone. He says: “Yes, yes, I’ll tell you everything.” And he tells David that Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko called, congratulates you and asks you to check your pockets. And then I already understand what is going on, panic began. David takes a ring out of his pocket and kneels in front of me, wearing this equipment, with a medal around his neck. And then, of course, I felt shock, tears, joy, some kind of crazy delight. I don’t want to go anywhere or leave anymore. But we literally had 15 minutes. We said goodbye, I left and, in fact, practically never saw him again until I arrived home.

As for the wedding, since the proposal was so big, I want to keep something for myself, do it very personally, so that no one knows anything at all. We note, most likely, in Greece - the birthplace of the Olympic Games. There will be a minimum number of people at the wedding, but we will sign here. Last name? I believe that a woman should always take her husband's last name. Otherwise, why would there be a stamp in the passport at all?

I admit, even before the proposal I was happy with everything as it was. I do what I love. He does what he loves. We love each other, and, probably, you couldn’t imagine a more ideal family, only if there are a couple of little ones in the future. And so, however, I sincerely consider myself happy.

Anna Bogdanova

Photos courtesy of Maria Mikhailova (1–4)

Reads: 38,393

24-year-old gymnast from Udmurtia David Belyavsky won two medals at the Olympic Games in Rio: bronze in the uneven bars exercise and silver in the team competition. David came to the “NASH Radio” studio to visit “Lifts” in a new chic white BMW X4 with “David Belyavsky” license plates, which he received personally from the President of Russia. Sitting in the car with him was an honored master of sports of international class, two-time European champion in artistic gymnastics Emin Garibov, who made his debut as a commentator at the Rio Olympics.

The gymnasts told readers NSN everything about the life of athletes during the Rio Olympics: about food and sex, about fears and injuries, about robberies and corrupt police officers, about unfinished facades, treacherous taxi drivers and whether there is life after gymnastics.

— David, if you have several medals, do they give you a car for each one?

- No, only for the highest, for the rest - a monetary reward.

— How many days can you travel with these numbers?

— 10 days until I register and receive regular numbers.

— Was it presented directly in the Kremlin?

— Yes, right in the Kremlin.

— Were there people who could not come to the president?

- Personally, I don’t know anyone like that.

— What should those who don’t have rights do?

- They give him a driver or invite relatives.

— What did the president say?

— Congratulated, praised - well done, they coped with such a difficult situation, showed that Russia is ready to compete in any conditions. Supported our Paralympic athletes.

— Emin, many athletes are dissatisfied with the organization of the Olympics and the readiness of the sites. What can you say about the gymnastics arena?

— The gymnastics arena was fine - a good hall, a good platform. But in general, the organization was really very lame, and the level of the entire Olympics was below average. It feels like the tennis courts are located in an ordinary courtyard. Many buildings have unfinished facades hung with colorful rags.

— Is it difficult to comment on gymnastics?

— I wouldn’t say it’s difficult. I tried to comment as clearly as possible for any viewer. It seems to me that gymnastics can be more popular if viewers understand the nuances of what happens, how the element is performed, how difficult it is, how points are awarded.

— David, a question for you. A French gymnast broke his leg while performing a vault during a competition. Is it difficult to perform after an athlete suffers such a serious injury before your eyes?

“We were lucky that we were on a different shift and didn’t see this terrible fall.” I also didn’t watch the video posted later on the Internet. I only know that the athlete underwent surgery, and now he is doing well.

— Is fracture a common occurrence at performances?

- Not at all, this is a rare case. After all, very well-trained athletes perform at high-level competitions.

- What is your biggest fear, besides the fact that you might lose?

- Probably fall like a French athlete.

— Do the stands hinder or help?

- It depends. Once in Baku they even buzzed me because I could beat a local athlete.

— In Rio, was there a buzz at the performances of our gymnastics team?

- No, this didn’t happen at gymnastics, and I didn’t even hear about anyone being booed at the Olympics.

— At what age do children start gymnastics?

- Usually from four to five years old, but I came quite late - at eight.

— Emin, where can you leave gymnastics, where can you continue your sports career?

- In any sport, including difficult coordination ones. You can go to both ballroom dancing and barbell dancing without any problems. Because gymnastics develops all the physical qualities necessary for this. In practice, many who are not good at gymnastics continue their careers in the circus.

— David, with what intensity does the team train while at the training camp?

- Six days a week from 7:30 to 8:30 - exercise and two more workouts for 2 -2.5 hours during the day. Sunday is a day off.

— Aren’t you afraid of losing your form due to numerous special events: in the morning - a reception with the president, after the broadcast - with the Minister of Defense?

- Now you can rest a little. I’m lucky with my body - I don’t gain weight, although I eat whatever I want.

— Do gymnasts have any weight standard?

- No, we don’t have weight categories.

— Many men have a stereotype that sex with gymnasts is very interesting and fun. Can the same be said about gymnasts?

— Gymnasts are more interesting than female gymnasts.

— Are gymnasts’ beautiful figures the result of training or some initial data?

- Of course, the result of training.

— David, do you have a profession?

— Yes, I have a diploma from the Ural State University of Physical Culture, a work record, I am an instructor, I can train children and adults.

— Are you originally from Yekaterinburg? How long have you been to your native place?

— No, I’m from Votkinsk. The last time I was there was before the New Year.

— Did you go to Rio with a girl? Could you take someone with you?

— The problem is that only accredited persons are allowed into the Olympic Village. My girlfriend was in Rio, but lived separately.

— Were you forbidden to meet?

“It wasn’t forbidden to meet, but there was simply no time for it.” Competitions, training. Training, competitions - we didn’t have a single day off.

— Will a stormy night harm the upcoming performance?

- I think so, if it happens immediately before the competition. It's better not to release energy.

— Did you eat for money or for free in the Olympic Village?

— In the Olympic Village, any service is free: food, swimming pool, medical center, laundry, ironing.

— How did you like the food, did you miss the borscht and cabbage soup?

— They fed us borscht. A separate villa was rented where the medical center was located. You could spend the whole day there, relax and even eat borscht. I didn’t manage to get into the Russian House - the coach wouldn’t let us go anywhere else.

— Emin, how were the journalists received? Didn't the apartments where they lived look like shacks?

- It was possible to live. We traveled from our federation. At first I was there as a tourist, and then I received an invitation to commentate on the competition. And although I had enough free time, I practically didn’t go out anywhere, except a couple of times to the Fan House, because it was dark. There were a huge number of stories of robberies and attacks. For example, our famous swimmer, silver medalist Zhenya Korotyshkin, was robbed at two o’clock in the afternoon near the Russian House by guys with guns. We had to travel exclusively in groups, and it was better by personal transport, because taxi drivers specifically drove through favelas, where local guys took everything clean, and people returned back without their things.

— Did the Federation organize security?

“We had security, but the Brazilians themselves brought many military men with weapons into the city, since their police are mostly corrupt.

— What did you bring with you from Rio?

— Souvenirs, coffee, T-shirts with Olympic symbols, figurines with Christ.

— David, tell me, honestly, would you be upset if they gave you a Lada Kalina?

- I think no. And by the way, until yesterday we didn’t know what the car would be like, and assumed any option.

A 24-year-old gymnast from Yekaterinburg killed two birds with one stone in Rio: on 08/08/16 he acquired a silver medal and a future wife! His fiancee Maria Mikhailova, with whom they dated for 4 years, told Woman`s Day how it happened:

Photo Personal archive of Maria Mikhailova

– I arrived in Rio on August 6. We will write this day – August 8th – in the history of our family as the best and most unforgettable! At the competition, the fans and I screamed so much that I even lost my voice! It was very exciting to say the least! I even started to cry... But I knew for sure that the guys would win a medal: I was confident in this team and in David’s performances in particular! I didn’t even consider other options - David is very persistent and purposeful. He walked towards his Olympic medal all his life! And I achieved it! For her sake, he sacrificed his childhood and youth, which were not like others: everyone was out walking, but he was training! But it was certainly worth it.

In sports, David is strong-willed, but at home he is calm, gentle, and responsive. The person is the same, but different qualities manifest themselves depending on the situation!

I didn't expect her to propose to me! I was just going to be there at an important moment in his life. I, of course, knew that there would be a medal, and I wanted to share happy moments with him.

We have been talking about our future together for a long time: we have been living together as a family for 3.5 years, we have been dating for 4.5. Everything went quite logically towards this!

I don’t know how long it took to prepare for the proposal, but friends from the national team who were present (Ivan Stretovich and Nikita Nagorny) said that he was very worried! He bought the ring in advance and knew he would propose after the medal. By the way, he didn’t know the size of the ring. Well, if only approximately. And he himself admitted when he put it on that he took it at random, but it turned out to be just in time. Apparently, it really is fate. The ring is very beautiful, it's hard to describe it in words, but it's exactly the style I love. Of course - it was my man who chose, he knows my taste. I want to live with him throughout our long and happy life together! I was really looking forward to him making this decision himself! She was just there all this time. And now the moment has come. Now everything is just beginning!

We have amazing emotions now, this day has become the brightest day for us and our family! We will celebrate the victory when the performances are over, upon arrival home: we will gather with friends, and then we will fly off to rest on a well-deserved vacation! We will devote the immediate time after the Olympics to each other and think about the future.

To propose to his beloved, David prepared a surprisingly romantic scene. After the victorious performance, at the entrance to the Olympic Village, David’s friend, national team gymnast Nikita Nagorny, rang his phone. After talking with an invisible interlocutor, he turned to David and said that Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko was calling and asking Belyavsky to check his pockets. From one of his pockets David took out a gold ring with a diamond. The gymnast got down on one knee and asked for his girlfriend's hand in marriage. Masha answered without hesitation: “Yes.”

After some time, the girl admitted on social networks: “ Beloved, dear, my future husband! I know you will read it when you get to your room! I want to tell you this thing! Any battle, regardless of the result, makes you stronger! I love you as a man and respect you as an athlete who goes to the end! Today I’m not sad because I saw how you gave your all! I am with you, despite the places and statuses, and I will keep these memories with great pleasure and happiness! I am your support, and you are my wall! I thank God for giving you to me! You are my best man and always the very first on all pedestals! That's it. I give up. Many have already guessed it! 08.08.2016. And of course - yes!!!»

Masha’s friend Lyudmila Ivanova told Woman`s Day the love story of a beautiful couple:

– I’ve known Masha and David for 2 years. Their meeting was amazing! Masha lived in Novosibirsk. Once she was watching an artistic gymnastics competition and liked one of the athletes. That was David. She is a lively and energetic girl, she was not at a loss and found him on social networks and wrote. This was sometime in early January 2012. They started communicating. After some time, Masha began to come to him from Novosibirsk - we can say that for some time they met at a distance. During the time that she came to him, David rented an apartment. And then he bought a house, and Masha moved to Yekaterinburg permanently - they began to live together.

It was thanks to Masha and David that I met my boyfriend Nikita Lezhankin, David’s friend, who was also on the Russian national team. For a long time, Masha and I waited together for our loved ones from the competition - we live next door.

Maria and David see each other little due to the fact that David often leaves for training camps, but when he arrives, they try to spend all the time together. And sometimes we go somewhere in pairs. We even celebrated 2015 together.

To be honest, I knew that he would propose to her. More precisely, there was an assumption, because they have been together for a long time and love each other very much. David is a very romantic young man! They have pictures of them together all over the house. He often gives flowers and devotes all his free time to Masha. Even when he is not around, he sends flowers.

She is always very supportive of him: she watches all the broadcasts, if she is not next to him, she cries at the TV. And when he comes home, he arranges surprises for his champion - I won’t tell you what, it’s their own.

He, in turn, dotes on her. For example, Masha does manicure, and she had a dream of opening her own salon. As a result, this summer they opened a manicure salon, Teddy nails. The name was not chosen by chance - teddy bears are a collection.

It began 4 years ago with the fact that from every competition David brought Masha teddy bears from different countries. That’s how the idea was born to name the salon, which they built for several months and kept it a secret from friends. When David came home, he helped Masha with the salon. But the design and all the decoration was done by Masha. She put a lot of effort into it! I was at the opening – Masha even cried with happiness!

And soon we will be walking at their wedding, and then they will be at ours!

Masha herself spoke about the surprises she makes for her beloved:

After getting ready, I always greet him with delicious food and an interesting program of entertainment, since he is rarely at home - I want to get the most out of this time. Cinema, quests, meetings with friends, and all kinds of gifts and surprises. And upon arrival, he enjoys driving a car, he really likes to drive!

David Belyavsky is one of the few in the world who can compete with Japanese gymnasts.

We recorded the interview with David Belyavsky in a beauty salon. No, the strongest gymnast in Russia and the absolute champion of Europe was not here to fix his stylish hairstyle. This salon is the business of David and his girlfriend Maria. Coincidentally, on the day we scheduled the meeting, the guys gathered with a narrow circle of friends to celebrate the opening.

A week ago, at the European Championships in Bern, the Yekaterinburg resident won three medals in individual competitions (gold, silver and bronze), and also won the team all-around together with the Russian team.

After tasting the festive lemonade with the hospitable hosts of the salon, we talked with the future participant of the Olympic Games in Rio on a variety of topics.

There are no bears in Mexico class="_">

“Now I’ve just arrived in Yekaterinburg for a short time, on June 8 I’m leaving for the Moscow region to the base of the Russian national team, where we begin preparations for the Olympic Games in Rio,” says David Belyavsky, “so while I have the opportunity, I have time to do pleasant things. Today we are opening a beauty salon.

– How did this idea come about? class="_">

– My girlfriend worked in this field, but she had long had a dream to organize her own business. And now we have our own beauty salon. We did everything here with our own hands, all the renovations. So this is not just a business, this place is now especially dear to us, it’s like a second home for us.

– You have soft toys – bears – everywhere here, where do you get so many? class="_">

– These are the bears that I brought to Masha from different countries from all the competitions. Each bear has the flag of their country on their T-shirt. This collection has accumulated over 4.5 years, during the time we have been together.

– Did you have any problems finding bears somewhere? class="_">

- Yes, it was like that. There are no bears at all in Mexico, none at all. And I brought a panda from Asia, but it’s also a bear.

“This is one of the most expensive bears for me,” says Masha, “David brought it to me from the Olympic Games in London.”

– Your signature hairstyle – this girl did her best, wasn’t it her idea by any chance? class="_">

- No, I met her when I already had this hairstyle. I don’t remember why I got this haircut – in my opinion, I wanted to change something.

- And the earring in your ear? Does this have something to do with it? class="_">

– I saw this in my teens, when I was 14 years old, and decided to do it too.

– You have a tattoo on your left hand in the form of an inscription in Latin – what does this phrase mean? class="_">

– Well, this phrase has a meaning; anyone interested can look it up and translate it.

The most elegant gymnast class="_">

– What are your impressions from the triumphant European Championship 2016 in Bern? class="_">

– This is the most successful European Championship for me and very good for the entire Russian team. I managed: gold on the uneven bars, silver on the pommel horse, and even got into the medals - taking bronze - on the horizontal bar, which for me is the most difficult element in gymnastics. Well, plus one more gold – as part of the team. Also, at the end of the tournament, I was awarded the “Most Elegant Gymnast” prize.

- What does it mean? class="_">

– They are chosen based on the beauty and effectiveness of the exercises. It was very nice to win this prize, I waited a long time, I wanted to get it. This prize was established by a well-known watch manufacturer. Every year this company chooses one gymnast and gives him a watch and a statuette.

David Belyavsky received a prestigious award at the European Championships - “The Most Elegant Gymnast”.

– What is the difference between the European Championships, the World Championships and the Olympic Games? class="_">

- Everything is simple here, in Europe there are no our main competitors - the Chinese and Japanese. They are now considered the strongest in the world. Although if you look at the statistics and the number of points scored by our team at the European Championships, you will notice that we performed at the level of Japanese gymnasts. In Bern we scored 271 points - the same as the Japanese at the victorious World Championship. That is, we can compete with them on equal terms and defeat them.

Damn, it's the Olympics! class="_">

– You are an all-around athlete, which event is your favorite and which one is more difficult? class="_">

– Floor exercises work out well for me; in this event I always make it to the finals at the European Championships. Last time I was second, now I’m fourth. “Horse” has recently started to work out well, which is why in Bern I managed to become second on this apparatus. But rings are more difficult. First of all, in terms of physical fitness. There you need to create static elements. That's not mine. The jump has a good base, it goes well, the main thing is to do everything, a big plus for the all-around. I have now raised my basic score on uneven bars; this is one of my strongest apparatuses.

The Olympic Games in London are David's debut. In the personal all-around he took 5th place.

– You already have the London 2012 Olympic experience. Can you describe the feeling of performing at the Olympics, what can it be compared to? class="_">

– This cannot be compared with anything. Seriously. In London, for example, I was one of the youngest participants, but it so happened that out of our entire team I was the first to perform. It was a crossbar. I walk up to her and think: “Damn, this is the Olympics!” But this did not frighten me, but, on the contrary, provoked me. I didn't need to tune in. I just went out, thinking that this is the Olympics, so I need to fulfill my task and that’s it.

– In London you took 5th place in the all-around, the final was on pommel horse, and the whole team took 6th place. How can we evaluate this result? class="_">

– For me it was a great performance. Before that, at the 2011 World Championships, I took sixth place, but here the Olympics are the main start in the life of athletes, and I managed to become fifth. Step forward.

I'm going to Rio for medals class="_">

– It is clear that in Rio the goals are completely different. To begin with, I will try to get to the finals at the Olympics, and then I will try to fight for a medal. Four years ago, just getting to the Olympic Games was very cool, but now I already want to win awards. As I said, we can fight the Japanese. Plus on the uneven bars I raised my base. The old base did not allow me to get into the finals, but now at the European Championships in the finals I received 16 points, which means that I can be among the winners.

– Is there any selection for the Olympics in gymnastics, like, for example, in the same team sports? class="_">

- No, there is no such thing. The only thing is that we have to get a license for the country. We did this at the World Championships when we took 6th place in the team all-around. At a minimum, it was necessary to be in the top eight. Plus, then 4 more teams are selected, in total 12 of the strongest teams in the world are participating in the Olympic Games. But there is no selection for each person personally. I have been proving for a long time that I should be on the team, they are counting on me. At the World Championships, for example, I did six apparatuses for the team. Some people do one projectile at a time, but they put me on everything. That is, there was no talk about my failure to get in.

David's signature weapon is the parallel bars. In this event he is a 5-time Russian champion.

We went to competitions at our own expense class="_">

– I started training with the national team at the age of 14. Almost 10 years on the team. The first time I was called to a training camp was when I was still living in Votkinsk. It was interesting and everything was very strict. I didn’t even expect that everything would be so strict in terms of the daily routine, it was hard at first, but over time I got used to it.

– How did you become a resident of Yekaterinburg? Why did you move from your hometown? class="_">

– In Votkinsk there were problems with funding at the sports school, we went to competitions at our own expense, this money was not always returned later. Plus we didn't have good shells. And Sergei Nikolaevich Zakirov, my first coach, and I decided that we needed to change something if we wanted to achieve results. He contacted a coach from Yekaterinburg - Pyotr Aleksandrovich Kitaisky. I was screened at competitions, they were satisfied, and at the age of 14 I moved to the Urals. He graduated from the Olympic Reserve School - 3rd year, after that he entered the Ural State University of Physical Culture, and has already graduated from it. Now I'm studying for a master's degree in St. Petersburg.

In David Belyavsky's native sports school SDYUSSHOR "Lokomotiv" now not everything is ideal. Some gymnastic equipment require replacement.

I once got a D in a physical education class at school. class="_">

– How did you manage to study with such a busy schedule of training and competitions as in gymnastics? class="_">

- Well, it’s clear that they helped a little, without that it would have been impossible. For example, our training camp lasts a month, but I come here for only a week, which means I miss almost the entire program. But sometimes, even during school, teachers came directly to our training camp and taught lessons there.

– But it’s interesting: with so much training, did you need to go to physical education classes at school? class="_">

– Not everyone knew at first that I was doing gymnastics. Once they even gave me a bad mark in a physical education lesson. I decided to play around on the uneven bars, but the teacher didn’t understand it. I understood what I was doing, but he didn’t know that I could do that.

David Belyavsky has been studying at the Ekaterinburg Sports School "Lokomotiv" since he was 14 years old - after moving to the Urals from his native Votkinsk.

I became a gymnast thanks to my grandmother class="_">

– As a child, I was fussy, I ran and climbed everywhere. We had a school next to our house, in the evenings the physical education teacher taught gymnastics and general physical training there, and my grandmother took me there. So I started going to study in the evenings. And one day the teacher organized a general physical training competition, I won it, and he sent me to the gymnastics section in Votkinsk. I was already 8 years old, that is, I went to gymnastics quite late.

– Did you like it right away? class="_">

– Yes, when I first came to the hall, I immediately realized that this was mine. I saw the shells and the trampoline and immediately started jumping on it.

– Did everything work out or did you have to fall often? class="_">

- Of course, everyone goes through this. It often fell off the rings. In gymnastics, if you almost move the wrong way or don’t work with your hands, then that’s it – you’ll already be on the floor. We fall on the mats, but it still hurts.

– Are there calluses on your hands? class="_">

- Yes (David shows his palm, which is almost entirely one big callus. – Ed.)

Success in gymnastics requires sacrifice - the skin on David's palms has turned into huge calluses.

After Rio I will rest for a whole month class="_">

– Do vacations ever happen? For example, can you afford to take a month off? class="_">

- No, we have never had a month of rest before. I think I’ll rest for a month after the Olympics. And so our schedule is three to four weeks of training, then a week of rest, then training again, and so on for a whole year.

– President of the Gymnastics Federation Vasily Titov said that David Belyavsky should be especially praised for the European Championship. Is it nice or is it unnecessary? class="_">

- Of course, it’s nice. If the team is doing well, but you are not doing well, then it’s a shame for yourself. And if there is praise, it is certainly pleasant.

– From the point of view of psychology and achieving results, how should a coach behave - praise you, or, as they say, keep you in check? class="_">

– No, my coach and I always have very calm communication, good relations, we never yell at each other. Some athletes sometimes argue with their coaches. We do not have that.

“The elements in modern gymnastics are so complex that very few people in the world can perform them,” says David Belyavsky.

Gymnastics is getting more and more difficult class="_">

– Is there a person in gymnastics whom you looked up to and wanted to be like, who is your idol? class="_">

– Yes, there is such a person, he, in my opinion, is a 6-time world champion, since 2009 no one has been able to win him. This is Japanese Kohei Uchimura. He has very good execution of all the projectiles.

– Are there people in Russian gymnastics whom you can follow? Our same legendary Alexey Nemov... class="_">

– Nemov is a great athlete, and in his time he performed unrealistic things on apparatus, but today the combinations of gymnasts of those years will no longer meet modern complexity requirements. Gymnastics is generally growing by leaps and bounds. About 10 new elements appear every year. Moreover, they are so complex that only a few people in the world can perform them. Some go to the loss of quality of performance, increasing complexity.

David Belyavsky is one of the main hopes of the Russian team at the Olympic Games in Rio.

– What three words come to mind when you mention the Olympic Games in Brazil? class="_">

– Medals, team and heat.

– Have you been to Brazil before? class="_">

– No, but I think it will be about the same as in Mexico.

- The main thing is that there are bears... class="_">

- Yes, I hope they will!

The Olympic Games in Rio will be held from August 5 to 21. The Olympic gymnastics tournament will take place from August 6 to 15.

Reference class="_">
David Belyavsky is a Russian gymnast, Honored Master of Sports. Born in Votkinsk (Udmurtia) on February 23, 1992, a student of the Lokomotiv Youth Sports School (Ekaterinburg). Multiple champion of Russia, absolute champion of Europe, participant of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Education – higher, Ural State University of Physical Culture. He continues his master's studies in St. Petersburg.

David Belyavsky - who participated in the Olympic Games. He managed to get a silver medal in 2016 in the team championship. The athlete also received for exercises on the uneven bars. He also won bronze for the uneven bars at the European Championships. In 2015, he won the European Games in Baku.

Biography of David Belyavsky

David was born in the city of Votkinsk, Udmurtia, on February 23, 1992. From childhood, the boy grew up as a very active child and was restless. In addition, it was distinguished by unusual flexibility. He was able to do splits, bridges and other simple exercises with great ease.

David was raised by his grandmother, Lyudmila Viktorovna. She also went in for sports at one time; perhaps it was through her genes that the love for this lifestyle was passed on to her grandson. While ordinary grandmothers watch various TV series on TV, David’s grandmother was only interested in sports channels, mainly gymnastics. And he and she watched the gymnasts with great pleasure. They were an example for him, almost magicians. David was a big fan of Alexei Nemov.

early years

While studying in the second grade, David Belyavsky signed up for gymnastics. But I attended the school section for about a month. He didn't leave her because he wasn't interested there. It’s just that, according to his teacher, he knew everything that they could teach him in the section. He advised the boy to be sent to a sports school. The grandmother listened to the advice and took David to the Votkinsk children’s and youth sports school “Znamya”. There Sergei Zakirov became his coach. After this, David began to look at gymnastics not as entertainment, but as a profession. He spent whole days training, from early morning until late evening. He was on par with his classmates, but the coach wanted to find the best among his students.

David Belyavsky had the best qualities for an athlete: a great desire to achieve his goals, strive for better results.

Moving to Yekaterinburg

When the boy was about twelve years old, he was noticed by the famous coach Peter Kitaisky from the city of Yekaterinburg. And when he turned fourteen, he moved there and entered the Olympic Reserve School. This is what became the impetus for great victories. The move was very difficult for David; he missed home and friends very much, but he understood that this was necessary for career growth. Peter Kitaisky recalls that at first the boy was very shy, even too modest.

The children who studied with him tried to help David adapt to local conditions so that he could more easily endure separation from home. But since Belyavsky really liked what he was doing, and there was some success in it, this helped him. He almost always set himself the goal of winning, and that’s mostly what happened.

In 2008, he announced himself and became a silver medalist in artistic gymnastics in Switzerland, this was when he was part of the Russian junior team. The team consisted of Emin Garibov, David Belyavsky, Igor Pakhomenko, Matvey Petrov and Kirill Ignatenkov, they scored 263 points. They also received good results on the horizontal bar, pommel horse, rings, bars and vault. David also won a silver medal in the vault.

In 2009, David became a four-time champion at the Youth Olympic Festival in Tampere, Finland. He won first place in all-around in floor exercises and rings.

When there were artistic gymnastics competitions in Japan, David Belyavsky won gold on the vault, silver on the horizontal bar and bronze on the pommel horse. But in the all-around, he made several mistakes in the exercises on the rings, and therefore took fourth place.

Russian championship

He received silver in the vault at the Russian Championships, after which he joined the Russian team for the European Championships in Birmingham. But due to natural phenomena, they were unable to fly out and take part in the competition.

At the Russian Cup, which took place in the city of Chelyabinsk, David made it to the final on five apparatuses. When there was the all-around final, he was in the lead, but then he became fourth because he fell on the pommel horse due to placing his hand incorrectly. But he managed to get gold in the floor exercise, overtaking the best gymnast in Europe but finishing second in the vault. Thus, gymnast David Belyavsky joined the team for the World Championships, where Russia took sixth place.

Other victories

When the Olympic Games took place in London in 2009, David took sixth place in the team championship, fifth in the overall championship, and seventh in the pommel horse. These merits were received by the athlete when he was part of the team.

As a member of the Russian national team, gymnast Belyavsky received silver in the Olympics, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, for the team all-around, and bronze for the uneven bars exercises. In addition, the athlete still has many awards in his treasury. Also awarded a Certificate of Honor from the President of the Russian Federation for the sporting successes achieved at the XXVII World Summer Universiade in Kazan in 2013.