The Azerbaijani trampoline gymnastics school is increasingly making a confident impression on the international stage. Last year, Seljan Mahsudova made a remarkable debut at the Summer Olympics in Paris. It was the first time our country was represented in this sport at the Games.
In an interview with Idman.biz, Vladimir Shulikin, head coach of the Azerbaijani national trampoline gymnastics team, spoke about the team’s major plans:
Earlier this month, a trampoline gymnastics camp organized by European Gymnastics took place in Baku, bringing together young athletes training under international experts from various countries. How did this impact you and the team?
The camp was very productive, and both our young athletes and coaches appreciated it. Many teams and experienced specialists attended, and the training sessions were conducted interactively. I learned a lot myself. I revisited programs used for beginners and various training elements. Overall, it was held at a very high level, and I hope such camps will be held annually or at least once every two years.
You mentioned that the camp was not just about training but also about exchanging ideas and discussions with foreign colleagues. In that regard, could you tell us the current development trends in trampoline gymnastics?
Naturally, we want to develop our sport more in the regions. However, since most of the country’s population is concentrated in Baku and nearby areas, more athletes are attracted here. It’s also easier to recruit boys here. The main task is to train new coaches, and a new program is being developed for this purpose. Specialists can attend training courses and then start working.
How is the interest of the younger generation in trampoline gymnastics? Are you satisfied with the number of participants in the programs?
Interest is high, but we always want more athletes and parents to know about us. Seljan Mahsudova’s participation in the Olympics gave a major boost, and interest in trampoline gymnastics has increased significantly. The results will follow. We are even successfully competing against countries with more athletes.
Let’s talk about the national team. How is the preparation for the second half of the season going, and where will you compete?
The CIS Games will be our main start. The boys’ team is still being finalized, while the girls’ team is already determined. Our main rivals are Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Several other countries will also be invited. In girls’ trampoline gymnastics, Turkiye stands out. Naturally, we have hopes for medals and successful performances. We will also compete in the World Cup, after which all our focus will be on preparing for the World Championship in Pamplona in November.
Young athletes also have opportunities. There will be a world championship for the 15–16 age category, this will be the second edition, and we have not yet won any medals there. Other age groups also have opportunities for successful performances. The good news is that if ten years ago we took teams of five or six athletes to competitions, now their number is close to thirty. We will continue working and aim to reach the leaders.
By the way, our athletes will also compete internationally in mini-trampoline events. We have started developing it, and there is a responsible coach for this type of trampoline.
Speaking of Seljan Mahsudova, how is the work on increasing the difficulty of her program going? How is her current form?
Seljan has a ready program, which she performed at the World Championship in Portugal. She executed a triple salto, a move currently performed by only two athletes in the world. I should note that Mahsudova is now slightly cautious. Having barely earned her license for the Paris Olympics under difficult conditions, if everything goes according to plan, Seljan can secure the spot much more easily. She just needs to further refine her technique and be psychologically ready. Then we will set the goal of competing for Olympic medals. Regarding her form, if Mahsudova is in good shape and not bothered by injuries, she is capable of achieving a lot.
Overall, what are your goals for the World Championship?
We hope for a successful performance. We also have hopes in the tumbling team, our current world champions. The children should show their skills and win medals.
Zaki Feyzullayev
Idman.biz
