Maria Paseka is one of the most titled Russian gymnasts. He is the world champion (2015) and four-time medalist of the Olympic Games.
The beginning of a sports career
Maria Paseka, whose biography is presented in this article, was born in 1995 in Moscow. She was always distinguished by a strong character and determination. Already at the age of six, the girl expressed a desire to engage in rhythmic gymnastics and began her sports career with the School of Sports and Sports at the Dynamo Sports School under the guidance of honored trainers N. Galtsova and V. Silifanov. Later, they were replaced by D. Kamalov in the Olimpiysky Sports Complex, and in 2009 the gymnast fell into the hands of famous mentors in this sport - V. N. Ulyankin, M. G. Ulyankina and I. A. Savosina.
The first serious competition and the true spirit of rivalry, Maria Paseka, whose photo you can see in the article, experienced in 2008, when she got to the open UK Championship in gymnastics, held in Hampshire. It was there that the young athlete won her first international class medal - bronze in the vault and gold in the team. Then, for family reasons, the gymnast had to leave this sport, as it seemed to her then, for her whole life.
In order to get a little distracted, the girl took up acrobatics, but she quickly realized that there is only one sport in which Maria Paseka can become famous - gymnastics. After a two-month break, she decides to return to training. At first she began to work with Olga Sikorro, but then very quickly passed under the care of Marina Ulyankina. The coach was not afraid of the tests, but on the contrary, she saw the potential in a new face.
A series of physical exertion and serious training began, as a result of which a new Maria Paseka, a world-class gymnast, appeared before the audience.
First victories
The year 2009 was very significant and difficult for Maria, because thanks to her active work and constant training, the athlete won the gold medal of the European Championship in team championship and silver in the vault in 2010 already. Also this year, at the Championship of Russia, Paseka received a gold medal in the all-around for a vault and parallel bars, thereby showing that one can pin hopes on her.
Maria’s relatives believe that the key to her achievements is a persistent and energetic character - at the age of 14 the girl began to drive a scooter and with pleasure drove it along the local streets. It is the love of speed that helps her not succumb to nervous fluctuations, but to gather at the most crucial moment.
Health problems
After such a successful start, the athlete was waiting for a series of serious health troubles. In early 2011, she underwent a complex operation on the heels, which was performed by Alexander Viktorovich Balberkin, MD. By the way, it is for this reason that Mary does not appear on the log. In this type of competition, the emphasis is on the edges of the log - and this is unbearable pain for injured heels.
In addition, participation in the World Cup in Tokyo (2011) was canceled due to a thigh injury while preparing for competitions at the training base. The most annoying thing was that Maria Paseka showed herself excellently at the Cup of Russia in 2011 - she received a bronze medal for a vault and claimed to be in the national team for competitions in Japan.
This year the gymnast completed her participation in competitions in Belgium in Ghent, showing the fifth result in floor exercises and the sixth in a vault.
2012, the Apiary began with participation in the Moscow Championship, where it won the first gold medal this year for a vault. The athlete fought in three categories - bars, floor exercises and vault. She comments on her achievements by the fact that she wanted to give everything as much as possible and tune emotionally for further competitions of the international level.
In the same year, Maria Paseka won a silver medal at the international gymnastics competitions Koshele Antonina. When the girl was asked about the result, she said that without defeats there are no take-offs and she still has something to strive for.
Test of glory
An important stage in Maria’s sports career is the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Here Paseka received silver in team performances and a bronze medal for her signature vault. Relatives and friends from the team even noticed how the gymnast looked down on everyone a little and thought that she could do everything. Maria herself recognizes this fact and thanks her mother, who at that moment found the necessary words and brought her daughter to feelings.
2013 was marked in the girl’s career by the fact that she took third place in the European Championship on uneven bars. Also in the same year the Universiade in Kazan was held and there the bronze for the vault and gold in the team championship was replenished with a collection of personal victories.
Plans are crumbling
And again a black stripe came in the sports life of the gymnast - she received serious injuries. In 2013, her plans included participating in the World Cup, but due to a back injury, the competition was held without an Apiary. Maria notes that it was a very difficult period in her life - a long rehabilitation and nervous tension. Due to excess weight and weakened physical fitness, each training session was very difficult, but the gymnast did not stop and went on. Further, there was a guideline for the World Cup in 2014, but the athlete turned up her leg and was not able to fight for the medal.
However, Maria Paseka has an extremely strong character and stubborn disposition. Having gathered all her will, she constantly trained and tuned herself only to victory. There was no talk of participation for show — she knew that she could do more!
The long-awaited victory
Thanks to this attitude and the support of coaches, Maria Paseka won the gold medal for the vault at the Glasgow World Championships in 2015. Every fan of this sport remembers that moment. After all, the difference between the first and second places was minimal, but the judges gave the victory not to the athlete from China Hon Un Chon, but to the Russian Maria Pasek. Tears poured from the eyes of Mary during the awarding ceremony, because for her it was a long-awaited day. In all interviews, she warmly thanked her coaches for their support and their work. She also tremblingly recalled her mother, who, as a child, struggled with her daughter's unwillingness to go to training and engage. Only on the pedestal did the athlete realize and gratefully accept the strict attitude of her mother.
The next important event in the sporting life of this strong girl was his participation in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. For Mary, it was a difficult struggle, largely due to the fact that everyone was already more demanding of her and had high hopes. It was this fact that made the athlete a lot of nervous and did not allow to gather. But she coped with the tension and performed professionally, winning two silver medals - in the vault and in the team championship.
Future plans
Despite all the regalia of this young girl, she is an ordinary person who loves to spend time comfortably at home in an embrace with her beloved cat Timofey or have fun with friends. In addition, Maria V. Paseka is seriously interested in photography and loves to drive by car.
In the future, the athlete plans to continue to participate in competitions, and when she feels that her health is already inadequate, she wants to start training the kids and raising new champions.