Sovetsky Sport. May 6, 1973. For a long time she could not shake off the numbness after her first visit to the gymnastics hall of the Eagle RKS, where her sister brought her. It seemed that she herself stretched like rubber, bounced like a ball, and folded like a penknife. At the time she was nine years old. Although another ten years have passed since then, her conviction that gymnastics is the most beautiful sport has survived. Maybe because Lucija Matraszek subordinated everything to gymnastics? Or maybe because gymnastics brought her the most important successes?
"Everyone should have something important in life," said Lucija. "For me, it's gymnastics. I associate my plans for the near future with it. After receiving my matriculation certificate, I will probably go to study at the Warsaw Academy of Physical Education. I would like to work with girls. I also do not refuse the idea to try my hand at medicine or biology."
Initially, in the gym, 'little Lyuska' as she was called, was almost completely ignored. But she came. She patiently waited her turn, otherwise, out of boredom, she hid behind a piece of equipment or wrapped herself in mats.
"Then the coaches of Eagle believed that I was not suitable for gymnastics. I was very plump and too small," says Lucija, the all-around champion of Poland.
But then she went to the Wanda Monkewicz club. She watched with interest and became a girl full of energy. Training began, which for another whole year was a wonderful game for Lyuska. She was the weakest in her group, but that didn't stop her. She was glad that every day she could run, jump, and roll better. She showed some exercises to her girlfriends at school during breaks. They looked at her with surprise, and then was then very pleased with herself.
The thirst for success was born quite unexpectedly.
"Suddenly, I felt offended that others were better. At first, I even stopped going to training. I remember the coach called my parents and came to my home. She convinced me that I still had a chance to become the champion of Poland. And I returned. In addition to training the compulsory program, I began to come to the boys' classes," says Lucija.
One day she learned that the best girls would be able to participate in the qualifying competitions before the Youth Spartakiad. And she began to spend every evening in the gym. At the wall or somewhere in a corner, so as not to disturb anyone, she endlessly repeated the most difficult elements.
"On the day of the competition, I woke up with an amazing feeling. I could not swallow my breakfast, but I was firmly convinced that everything would be fine. I won. The joy of that victory I can only compare with the joy I experienced in Munich when, having finished my uneven bars routine, I heard an unceasing 'bravo.'"
Lucija was included in the youth team of the country, and she had to go to training camps and competitions.
"I remember I returned from the Polish championships, where for the first time in my life, I won a gold medal on the beam. I went to school straight from the train. I told my Polish teacher that I was not ready for classes. And he replied that although he had seen my 'wonderful performance on TV' he gave me a 2."
Lyuska went to the match and to the training camp. When she returned, she went to night school. Every day she left the house at 8am and went to training on the other side of the city. From there, by 3pm - to the city center, to school. The lessons end at 9 or 10pm.
Therefore, I don't ask if she likes the cinema and what films. Why stir up her soul, maybe she wants to live like her friends. But my doubts are unnecessary.
"I know that the time will come when I know English well and will read even more," Lucija assures me "But so far, unfortunately, I do not have two extra hours a day."
She doesn't envy her peers, who have a lot of free time.
Petite, with a pretty face and cheerful eyes, Lucija Matraszek is considered the most courageous athlete in the Gwardia club.
"When I saw how Soviet athletes performed a turntable [Burda twirl] on the uneven bars, I could not sleep peacefully for several nights."
Now she is the only one in Poland who performs this element.
"There is no chance of success in modern gymnastics without new, difficult, unexpected elements," says Lucija with conviction. In Munich, she surprised the audiences and judges with a clear execution of a difficult front flip.
"Our girls are afraid of risk. It's a pity. We must overcome fear, observe others, and tirelessly experiment."
With her success, Lucija is convinced that this position is correct. And, probably, not only in gymnastics.
ANNA DUBRAWSKA (Sportovets, Warsaw)