Sovetsky Sport. July 14, 1990. The phone rang, snapping me out of the newspaper routine. Natalia Kuchinskaya, my gymnastics idol and friend, said:
"Listen, the deputy chief judge at the USSR Cup will be Rusiko Sikharulidze. You can't imagine what she's like! She's amazing. We don't have anyone else like her in gymnastics. Talk to her and you will fall in love immediately."
Natalia turned out to be a prophet. But the material wasn't easy. Over the past five years, we have become eager for scandals. But in the life of 1974 world champion Rusudan Sikharulidze, it seems that everything was smooth.
"I've really always been happy. Happy with love. Everybody's always loved me. They loved me in Georgia even when I was competing, and they love me now. After all, very few Georgian athletes become coaches. It's a tradition when a woman gets married, she must renounce everything and focus only on her family! And if she works, that means her husband is bad. He can't provide for his family. But I just can't do without gymnastics. It's a part of my life. Everyone understands this and appreciates me. My husband is wonderful, loving, and understanding of everything. He and my son are my happiness."
Rusiko, there is really nothing that offends you? Let's be honest, you are a world champion, but you were passed over for the title. Nowadays girls quite easily get "merited" [master of sports], and you, as you were, remained a master of sports international class. Isn't it upsetting?
I was probably upset. But I think that in Georgia we ourselves were to blame for this. My documents were prepared for ZMS [Merited Master of Sports] but they lay around for a long time. Then our sports management closed. And when the paper was finally sent to Moscow it turned out to be too late. I myself didn't put in too much effort. Especially now, when everything is really behind us.
And then, is "Merited Master" or "International" so important? The main thing is that gymnastics gave me friends that I would not trade for anyone.
You know, every person has his own gods, and they cannot be betrayed. My gods are in gymnastics. Their names? Larisa Semyonovna Latynina and Polina Grigorevna Astakhova. My dears, no matter what happens, I will still come to them! Even if it means crossing the border illegally.
Or maybe there's no reason to run to the corners? Especialy now when it's difficult for everyone. You can't overcome adversity alone. And then, what about your gods? Latynina lives in Moscow, Astakhova in Kiev.
That's why I said that I will always come to them. Even now, when we have learned everything, when everything has already happened in Tbilisi, when people are killed. And I myself am even more scared. We, our team, were all from different places. Lyuba Burda from Voronezh. Lyuda Turischeva from Rostov-on-Don. And we all competed together and were very friendly. And we were proud of our victories, too. And the whole team also cried on the podium under the Anthem of the Soviet Union. My coach Anzhelina Anisimovna Gabriadze always said: "Rusiko, how can you lose if the whole country is looking at you? What will you tell people?" I knew that the entire Soviet Union was behind me. And now I don't know what to do. And how difficult it is for young people! What should they believe in!?
Or maybe they don't believe? When I met the team from Seoul, I asked the guys how they felt standing on the podium and listening to our anthem, and they looked at me like I was crazy.
Oh, honestly, their views might have been misinterpreted. When the competition ends and everything is over, a kind of apathy sets in. I want to be alone, not see anyone, not talk about anything. It is at this moment that you most likely encountered them.
OK then. Even if I'm wrong, and they have faith in ideals, just as our half-century had, but they simply cannot express it. But why can't they? Or are they so dulled by excessive training that athletes turn from individuals into well-functioning machines?
No, that's the way it was and that's the way it wil be: a champion must be a person. Champions don't grow out of empty people. As for the girls, look at Natasha Laschenova. How charming and witty she is! And how can you can she's a robot!? She's a surprisingly interesting person.
But you know very well that there is a champion in the national team (I don't want to name her, the girl is only 17) who can't even say hello in a human way, let alone talk. I don't know what she is more full of - champion arrogance or ordinary stupidity.
Oh no, I'm sure you are wrong. There are people who find it very difficult to express themselves in words. They can't even confess their love. This is their trouble, their cross. Imagine how scary it is when a person doesn't know how to pronounce words correctly!? But this does not mean at all that this person is stupid. It's just his character.
OK. And if we go back to your generation in gymnastics, can a strong personality really allow himself to sink as low as some famous athletes? Or were they champions but not personalities?
There were, but they broke. It was too hard for them.
Was it easier for you?
Maybe it was because I was loved? A lot depends on the person and those around him. How could I fall to the bottom in response to love?
Was it easy for you to give up gymnastics?
It is always very difficult to leave. After my official farewell to gymnsatics, for another ten years in the evenings, when everyone left, I went to the apparatus and trained. Life seemed empty. Then I got used to the fact that it was all over and I gradually calmed down.
I had difficulties with my job, too. My father-in-law wanted me to teach at the physical education department at the pedagogical institute. But after going to classes, I realized it wasn't for me. I was drawn to the gym. It scared me - it's hard to work as a coach. Really, insanely hard. But even though I fell asleep in the evenings in front of the TV from fatigue, I still adored my little ones.
Now it's easier for me. I am the senior coach of the Georgian national team. Previously, I was only responsible for myself, and now I'm responsible for everyone who is part of the team. In the gym I work equally with others. But I probably won't be able to live without this.
Rusiko, why do you try to protect everyone? Why do you try to find an explanation in favor of the accused, even in egregious cases?
I believe that there are no inherently bad people. I also believe that it is kindness that will save the world. I believe in God in each of us. And maybe for some, just one kind word is enough for a person to get back on their feet.
...Rusiko smiled a long, slightly mysterious smile. The smile of Rusudan Sikharulidze, who believes in each of us.
N. KALUGINA