Hobbies
Watching football. (teamrussia.pro, 14 Jan 2020)
Occupation
Coach
Education
Coaching - Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism: Moscow, RUS
Family
Daughter Alisa [2017]
Spoken languages
English, Russian
Sporting relatives
Her younger sister Nailya has also competed in gymnastics, while her father Farhat Mustafin won a bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. (penzanews.ru, 29 Apr 2018; intlgymnast.com, 03 Nov 2016, 13 Oct 2010; fig-gymnastics.com, 04 Aug 2011)
Injuries
In 2019 she tore a calf muscle which ruled her out of the European championships, European Games and the world championships that year. (news.sportbox.ru, 20 Mar 2020; sovsport.ru, 26 Aug 2019)
In May 2018 she was forced to withdraw from the Osijek Challenge Cup in Croatia due to a meniscus [knee] injury. (gymnovosti.com, 19 May 2018)
She competed at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with a back injury. Despite the injury she still won three medals at the Games, including a gold on uneven bars. (intlgymnast.com, 03 Nov 2016)
In November 2015 she underwent knee surgery and recovered in time to compete at the Russian national championships in April 2016. (tass.ru, 20 Mar 2016; press.sportedu.ru, 13 Apr 2016)
Chronic back pain ruled her out of the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. (olympics.nbcsports.com, 07 Oct 2015, 23 Sep 2015; tass.ru, 18 Sep 2015)
She missed the chance to defend her all-around world title at the 2011 World Championships due to a knee injury suffered when she landed incorrectly off the vault at the 2011 European Championships in Berlin, Germany. She tore ligaments and underwent surgery in Germany. (gympower.nl, 18 Jul 2011; reuters.com, 09 Apr 2011)
Start sporting career
She took up gymnastics at age six in Moscow, Russian Federation, together with her younger sister Nailya.
Awards
In recognition of her performances at the Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016, she received the Order of Friendship and the Order of Honour of the Russian Federation. (kremlin.ru, 13 Aug 2012, 25 Aug 2016)
She was named the 2012 Female Athlete of the Year by the Russian Olympic Committee. (sport-interfax.ru, 14 Dec 2012)
She holds the title of Honoured Master of Sport in the Russian Federation. (minsport.gov.ru, 24 Dec 2020)
Additional information
COACHING AND RETIREMENT
In 2021 she began working as senior coach of the Russian junior national team. In June 2021 she retired as an athlete to focus on her coaching role. "For me, becoming a coach is not about getting a salary, for me it is much more important to contribute to the development of gymnastics, and all the more important because it concerns children. When you do something for a big goal, and not for your own gain, it seems that it should lead to success." (mk.ru, 08 Jun 2021; Instagram profile, 08 Feb 2021; eng.gymnovosti.com, 18 Jan 2021)
COMPETITION BREAK
She took an indefinite break from competition after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She gave birth to her daughter in June 2017 and returned to training in September the same year. "I returned to the gym three months after giving birth. When I first came back, I could not perform even the simplest elements that girls learn when they are five or six years old. It was quite funny for a two-time Olympic champion. I thought that skills would last forever." (news.sportbox.ru, 20 Mar 2020; tass.ru, 28 Feb 2020; gymnovosti.com, 30 Aug 2017; intlgymnast.com, 12 Jan 2017)
Last update : 2024-07-22
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