Q1. Tell us, please, how did you start drawing? Have you practiced this since childhood? What is your educational background?
I have drawn since childhood; my education and profession are artist–designer. I started thinking about gymnastics in painting while watching Daria Dmitrieva’s performances. But the first drawing didn’t turn out well, and I put the topic aside for a while. This year I saw Margarita Mamun’s gala performance, and my hands reached for the pencils on their own. The image of a muse suits Margarita like no one else. Her routines are constructed so harmoniously and originally that they did not leave even Irina Ivanovna Deriugina indifferent.

Q2. Tell us about your drawing process. Do you choose a photo first, or does it all start from a memorable performance?
It all starts with the gymnast — her charisma, physical features, and how she presents herself and her routine on the carpet. If a gymnast manages to create a coherent image, it catches the eye and lingers in memory; some settle deep in the heart — that is no longer just sport but high art. A good routine inspires; a mediocre one does not.
A captured photographic moment also plays an important role, serving as a prototype for a drawing. I’m glad to note that there has been a real photo boom in coverage of tournaments in Russia and at major international events, thanks in no small part to the focused work of the Federation and our photographer Oleg Naumov, who produces superb photographs that make you not only admire them but want to reinterpret them in a new medium.

Q3. You’re obviously a fan of gymnastics?
Yes, of course. Without love for something — in this case, rhythmic gymnastics — there can be no inspiration. Creativity begins with love.

Q4. Did you practice it yourself?
I had great interest, but my parents said a categorical “no” to my passion for sport; they were afraid I would fall behind at school. I would run to training at the gym in secret, but a secret doesn’t stay a secret for long! I had to give it up. Many years later that interest emerged in a new way.

Q5. Which gymnasts do you like? Whose style appeals to you?
My enthusiasm for gymnastics began with the World Championships in Moscow, when I saw Daria Dmitrieva’s ribbon routine set to music by Alfred Schnittke. I am inspired by gymnasts who can tell a story on the carpet, live a whole life in those minutes, convey the mood of the musical composition, and leave an aftertaste. Above all, that’s Margarita Mamun — her classical ball, airy ribbon, blazing hoop, and jazzy clubs. Yana Kudryavtseva, who conquered the world with her ball — and her other apparatus are no less beautiful.
Of course, I’m inspired by the lines of Maria Titova — Masha is an endlessly beautiful gymnast. I like Daria Svatkovskaya for her dynamic style. I also like the group gymnasts, because they have shown a new style — new gymnastics…
Among Ukrainian gymnasts — Alina Maksimenko. She has her own unique plastic language, a conscious musicality, a sense of rhythm — these qualities have given the sports world a magnificent and distinctive performing style. I am eagerly waiting to see her as a choreographer; I think she hasn’t said her last word in gymnastics. This is one of those cases where the main victories lie ahead.

Q6. As an engaged spectator, how would you propose to develop and improve gymnastics?
As an engaged spectator, I would like to see not only more interesting and risk-taking routines, but also better media coverage of the sport. In our time, when technology allows information to spread at lightning speed, we fans often wait days for tournament results — waiting for someone to upload photos of the protocols. The Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation of Russia organizes online broadcasts of domestic tournaments and promptly publishes Oleg Naumov’s photos.
But that is more the exception than the rule. The results of this work have attracted many fans from different countries to gymnastics. One can publish live results on Twitter, one can create news resources — we should support any initiatives to popularize the sport, and gymnastics will only benefit. That’s the development I would like to see.

Q7. Have you tried showing your works to the gymnasts themselves? Have you received any feedback from them?
At first I drew for myself. But the theme was quickly picked up by kids on social networks; the drawings spread across the internet and reached the athletes. And they are the most grateful viewers. They always notice them, say thank you, and repost them on their pages. They ask me to draw more — that’s the highest praise.

Q8. Is your profession related to drawing? Is drawing a hobby, or do you sell your works? Have you received collaboration proposals — posters, brochures, perhaps?
Rhythmic gymnastics is gaining popularity not only among children who practice it. There are quite a few people who truly love this sport and cheer for their favorite gymnasts. Together with such people, we formed a creative team and are working on a product line dedicated to rhythmic gymnastics. So I can say that my hobby is right now becoming my work. Rita Mamun, Yana Kudryavtseva, and other gymnasts inspired me to create the works you’ve seen…
And I will be happy if our products, which I help create directly, inspire little girls to take up gymnastics or creativity.

Q9. Have you tried designing leotards?
That is an applied type of work, and like any applied field it requires the author to be a highly qualified professional. What looks good on paper will not always turn out to be a successful solution in real life.

Q10. Which leotard do you like most of all?
There are very many costumes I like this season. Fortunately, the dominance of rhinestones is receding; leotards have become more elegant, with many beautiful color solutions. My modest dream as a fan is the return of unitards. Viktoria Mazur and Maria Titova would look spectacular in them.

Q11. What do you draw besides gymnastics?
Mostly commercial commissions. But I get pleasure not only from drawing sport; other fields broaden one’s horizons, and I like that.

Q12. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and grew up in Novosibirsk Oblast, in a research settlement. I received an invitation to work in Moscow. My aunt is the one engaged in creative activity in our family. In the early 1980s she organized several creative studios for adults, was active in exhibitions, and was quite successful within the region. She was the one who drew me into creative work.

Q13. Would you enroll a child in gymnastics?
Today this will sound very funny, but in my childhood sport was perceived by ordinary people as a path for children who were underperforming at school. This segregation was very clear and was seriously imposed at school even (and especially) by the most respected teachers! Fortunately, attitudes toward sport have fundamentally changed now. So the answer is unequivocal: of course I would!

Q14. Do you have favorite drawings?
Alina Maksimenko in red and Rita Mamun with the ball. As far as I can judge, they also liked them.

Q15. Could you draw a gymnast you don’t particularly like if, say, there’s a beautiful photo of her? Or do you only draw your favorites?
Each of them is beloved in her own way. But photography and painting are merely consequences of what you saw. A camera lens is a piece of equipment: at the author’s command it “grabs” the best moments of a routine here and now; but if those moments didn’t happen, they won’t magically appear in the photo. It’s the same with drawing: there are gymnasts for whom every second of movement is a ready-made picture — choose any. A set of elements performed flawlessly but without soul will not attract the viewer and won’t catch the eye.
Why do I love Maksimenko and especially Mamun so much? Because their programs are magic — the great power of beauty that, if it doesn’t save our world, will at least make it a little better for a moment.

Q16. What impressions did the Kyiv World Championships leave you with?
Tickets went on sale late; I expected them much earlier — that is the only reason I couldn’t make it to Kyiv, though I was planning to go. I had to watch the TV broadcast online and cheer from home. As for the sporting side — the impressions were very sharp! Early in the season, watching the success of the Ukrainian and Belarusian individual gymnasts, it became clear there would be a most intense battle for the podium, possibly for the first time in many years. I also noted the magnificent venue design.
And the lighting during the routines — beyond praise! (You can cut this if you want, but I’ll say it: my main disappointment of the championships was Maksimenko not making the podium in the hoop final. In my spectator’s view it was performed brilliantly, possibly the best in her career.)

Q17. And compared to the Moscow championships?
It’s hard to compare. The Moscow championships became a very large sporting event and attracted a huge number of new fans, including me. The event was extensively covered in the press. The task of showing Russian gymnastics in all its splendor was accomplished 100%. If the Kyiv championships spur interest in this sport in Ukraine, that will be simply wonderful!