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15. August 2004
Madrid/ESP
Rhythmic Gymnastics
The third time to Olympic Games
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Almudena Cid (ESP) |
Almudena Cid in the interview
In Athens, Almudena Cid Tostado from Spain would like to take part in her third final competition of the Olympic Games. Thus it would be the first rhythmic gymnast, which has done this.
The 24 years old internationally very popular gymnast start thereby the follow-up of Lenka Oulehlova (CZE), who participated likewise three times in Olympic Games, however never in the final competition stood. Almudena Cid, those got in the previous year the 'Prix the de l'Elegance', gave GYMmedia correspondent Esther Teijera Miethe (Madrid) an interview.
In Athens, Almudena Cid Tostado from Spain would like to take part in her third final competition of the Olympic Games. Thus it would be the first rhythmic gymnast, which has done this.
The 24 years old internationally very popular gymnast start thereby the follow-up of Lenka Oulehlova (CZE), who participated likewise three times in Olympic Games, however never in the final competition stood. Almudena Cid, those got in the previous year the 'Prix the de l'Elegance', gave GYMmedia correspondent Esther Teijera Miethe (Madrid) an interview.
Almudena Cid at the 2004 Derjugina Cup in Kiev (UKR)
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GYMMEDIA: Hi, Almudena. Could you please tell us when and where were you born?
Almudena Cid: On June, the 15th, 1980 in Vitoria.
Tell us something about your family...
I have a brother who is one year older than me and whose name is Miguel, and another one year younger than me named Israel.
How did you start to practise gymnastics?
I started when I was only seven years old, at school as an extra activity. I got into this world above all because of my mother Fermina, who likes a lot ballet and all scenic arts. When they saw that I was skilled for it, they took me to a club, which was named Aurrerá, whose name changed later to Beti Aurrerá, where I began to train with my coach Iratxe Aurrekoetxea. Later on, when I was thirteen, I was entered the national team.
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Why did you choose rhythmic gymnastics and not another sport?
Already as a child, I noticed that I loved to be moving all the time, raising my leg, everything realted to arts, and, as I was really skilled, my mother decided to get me in this sport because she knew I liked it a lot.
Do you think there are enough clubs and upcoming gymnasts in Spain?
I think that there are enough clubs and audience, because rhythmic gymnastics is rather popular in Spain. But I think that there's not enough support from the administrations and city halls, at least not so much like a this sport needs. Maybe we could have better gymnasts and get much more from those we already have if we had better resources.
Is it difficult to go on with your studies while running a successfull sports career?
Yes, it is indeed, though we get much help in our training center. When I graduated in the high school, I had to stay learning until three o'clock in the night and then get up at eight in the morning to go to training and give my best. It was everyday like that. Of course it's difficult to go on with your studies, because it is exhausting and very complicated.
Yes, it is indeed, though we get much help in our training center. When I graduated in the high school, I had to stay learning until three o'clock in the night and then get up at eight in the morning to go to training and give my best. It was everyday like that. Of course it's difficult to go on with your studies, because it is exhausting and very complicated.
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Tell us a little bit about your career and your highlights...
Maybe the best was being five times Spanish Champion, three of them in a row, something no gymnast had ever done before, it was very special.
I also remember my performance in the Olympic Games of Atlanta and Sidney, where I qualified for the final, and the last World Championships in Budapest, which were maybe my most regular ones, even when the result didn't show it, but I was awarded the Longines prize for elegance, which was a pride for me.
Not forgetting the last European Championships in Kiev, where I took the 7th place. The moment I'm living right now is very important for me, because I'm going to perform at my third Olympic Games and both, the audience and the international gymnastics community, are recognizing my work.
The fact that I'm 24 years old and still among the best is a big personal satisfaction, too.
Maybe the best was being five times Spanish Champion, three of them in a row, something no gymnast had ever done before, it was very special.
I also remember my performance in the Olympic Games of Atlanta and Sidney, where I qualified for the final, and the last World Championships in Budapest, which were maybe my most regular ones, even when the result didn't show it, but I was awarded the Longines prize for elegance, which was a pride for me.
Not forgetting the last European Championships in Kiev, where I took the 7th place. The moment I'm living right now is very important for me, because I'm going to perform at my third Olympic Games and both, the audience and the international gymnastics community, are recognizing my work.
The fact that I'm 24 years old and still among the best is a big personal satisfaction, too.
Which were the best and the worst moments of your sports career?
The very best moment is the one I'm living right now, recognized by the audience and the international gymnastics community for my hard work during so many years. The worst moment was maybe after the Olympic Games in Sydney, when the national team was in fact disolved after a lack of authority in the Spanish Federation. I had to go back home to train alone, being injured, and without any kind of help for more than four months. After this they tried to take me back to Madrid for trainings, but I decided to follow my own way and go on with my current trainer..
The very best moment is the one I'm living right now, recognized by the audience and the international gymnastics community for my hard work during so many years. The worst moment was maybe after the Olympic Games in Sydney, when the national team was in fact disolved after a lack of authority in the Spanish Federation. I had to go back home to train alone, being injured, and without any kind of help for more than four months. After this they tried to take me back to Madrid for trainings, but I decided to follow my own way and go on with my current trainer..
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How did the selection system that the Spanish Federation implemented in order to choose the gymnasts who would represent Spain in Athens affect you?
Since the first moment, I tried to face it in the best way, though in my opinion it was very hard because it left no margin in case of an injury, which happens very often in our sport. That means, that if you didn't compete you got a zero, which made me go into the carpet with injuries a couple of times. I tried to accept it as it came, and there was a really important work of support from my psychologist.
At the end, I managed to get the only spot in a way I think was fair, because I won in seven of the eight tests, and the other one was tied. All in all, the work and the efforts I did have been rewarded.
Since the first moment, I tried to face it in the best way, though in my opinion it was very hard because it left no margin in case of an injury, which happens very often in our sport. That means, that if you didn't compete you got a zero, which made me go into the carpet with injuries a couple of times. I tried to accept it as it came, and there was a really important work of support from my psychologist.
At the end, I managed to get the only spot in a way I think was fair, because I won in seven of the eight tests, and the other one was tied. All in all, the work and the efforts I did have been rewarded.
Which is your goal for the Olympic Games in Athens?
My main goal is, without doubt, managing to get in my third olympic final in a row, something no gymnast have ever done before and, once reached this point, do my best to get the better place possible, and at least the same I achieved in Atlanta y Sydney.
Which are your plans after the Olympic Games?
In this moment, I'm thinking of finishing this season, and, afterwards, I would like to continue if possible and represent Spain at the Mediterranean Games 2005, that will be held in Almeria, in our country, and will be the first time they host rhythmic gymnastics. That really motivates me to go on until then.
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Which is your favourite gymnast?
Oksana Kostina.
Oksana Kostina.
Which is your favourite apparatus and the one you like less?
The one I like most is the ball, which is the apparatus I feel more identified with. And the one I like less... maybe ribbon, because of the difficulty to handle it, moving 6 m of ribbon is really complex. Clubs are also complicated because you have to control two apparatuses at a time.
Are there any other sports that you like?
I do like synchronized swimming and I think figure skating.is very beautiful too. I like sports in general anyway..
Your favourite food and drink?
AC: I love Italian food, pasta, pizza, etc. Talking about drinks, the one I like most is Coca-Cola, though I know I can't abuse of it.
What do you use to do during your scarce free time?
I like to disconnect of the daily routine, go to the beach with my friends, being with people you feel comfortable with, and doing something different to what you do every day, go to the cinema...
Talking about music... which are your preferences?
I must say that I don't have a favourite group or musician, I like a little bit of everything. Most of my CDs are just a mix of songs of different artists and styles. Depending on the moment, I prefer to listen to disco music or slow music to relax.
Do you speak any other language apart from Spanish?
Not that much. I speak a little bit of English, though I understand it better than I talk. I also speak Euskera (Basque), which I learned at school when I was a child.
Finally, if you hadn't been a gymnast... what would you have liked to be?
Surely something to do with the audience and the show business, like dancing, ballet or soemthing like that.
Interview and Fotos: Esther Teijera Miethe
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