Anastasia Ermakova is a Russian competitor in synchronised swimming and four-time Olympic champion.
She won gold medals in the duet competition with Anastasia Davydova at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and was part of the Russian gold medal team in 2004 and 2008.
Now, she trains the Italian synchronised swimming team “Rarinantes Savona”, and she is also a collaborator for the Italian national team of synchronised swimming.
Women Fitness joins the synchronised swimmer for an interesting conversation!
Namita Nayyar:
People in general know very little about synchronized swimming. What inspired you pick this sport and pursue it as a career?
Anastasia Ermakova:
Yes you’re right. Unfortunately synchronised swimming is not a very popular sport. Imagine what the people knew about it in 1988 the year when I started doing synchronised swimming, especially in Russia where this sport was on a very low level. I’d say that I picked this sport just by case. When I was 4 years old I started visiting classic ballet classes. I always liked dancing and music and also because of a neonatal disease (I got cerebral palsy of all my right part of body, that was treated by making special massages and fisioterapia) so my mother said that for whole my life I need gymnastics and swimming. And this is also why I started ballet when I was so young. Then we heard that very close to that place where I was doing ballet classes they were looking for the girls for experimental group of synchronised swimming. Why experimental? Due to the age of the children. During that time normally they used to start Synchro at the age of 9-11 years old that is very late (now in Russia the kids start at the age 4-5years). So that experimental group was looking for the girls of 5 years old. I was 5 and with my mother we decided to try.
The biggest inspiration for choosing this sport for me was the possibility in the same time to practice both ballet and swimming. I was very excited about it. The only problem that I didn’t realise in that moment is how complicated this sport is especially because of this full occupation and necessity to work on every part of this sport daily.
Full interview is continued on next page
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Namita Nayyar:
As a kid your first sport was ballet. Then on seeing artistic gymnastics on TV you left the ice for the ribbon and mat, but not for long. At the age of 6 you got involved in swimming. What was your training routine like in a day?
Anastasia Ermakova:
Until I started school at the age of 6 I continued doing both ballet and Synchro. But afterwards with a school schedule it become impossible so I needed to make a choice. My first serious choice in my life ! And so I chose Synchro. First we had 3 times per week training (1 hour landwork and 2 hours practice in the swimming pool) when I turned 7 years old we started everyday trainings 6 days with one day off on Sunday and our swimming pool practice increased to 3 hours. In the morning I went to school as a normal kid.
Namita Nayyar:
Your diet comprises of.. Foods you like to eat and/or those you tend to avoid?
ANASTASIA ERMAKOVA:
I actually don’t like the diet at all. I used to diet when I was practicing Synchro but now I have given it up. I don’t eat a lot. I always try to eat the small portions but I don’t cut anything from my daily meal. I eat pasta, rice, cheeses(I like them), meat, fish, cakes, cookies, chocolate…drink wine…everything what I want! But I never eat it a lot. I know my limits and I know the limits of my body. Now for me it’s like a normal daily routine it’s my attitude to food and once I got used to do it I can’t pig up at all 😉 I just can’t, it’s impossible, my body doesn’t accept it.
Namita Nayyar:
Being a four-time Olympic champion, nine-time world champion, eight-times European champion in synchronized swimming. The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) announced that you will join 17 others as honorees who will enter the International Swimming Hall of Fame as the Class of 2017. What was you first reaction? How does it feel to be honoured for your hard work and contribution?
ANASTASIA ERMAKOVA:
I became a member of ISHOF in 2015.
I was very excited about this big recognition. It was unbelievable. I had never thought that one day I will be called to come to USA to be celebrated in this way and that information about me and my achievements will be recorded forever for future generations among other great and outstanding people.
Namita Nayyar:
What motivated you to write your book « Dancing in the Water »? What does it speak about?
ANASTASIA ERMAKOVA:
People know very little about our sport even now when it becomes more popular every year. Still I used to be asked every time the same question by media and normal people about Synchro. That’s why I decided to write a book where I could reply every possible question about structure, rules(just general information), some technical aspects and my experience. So to underline I responded all questions I was ever asked in my life. That’s why this book suits to the fans of Synchro as well the little athletes and their parents.
Namita Nayyar:
Your present day fitness routine? 5 must do exercises for anytime fitness.
ANASTASIA ERMAKOVA:
I do kundalini yoga, that really helps me: my mind and my body. There are a lot of great exercises for muscle strength, flexibility and toning that even for me who knows something about physical activity was difficult enough for in the beginning. This kind of yoga includes exercises for whole body (abdomen, glutei, back muscles..).
On days I don’t do yoga I always do abdominal exercises one for low belly and one for diaframma , glutei (for example squats with the medical ball 4-5kg) arms exercises to keep my arms strong and toned. And always stretching with yoga roll and without.
Namita Nayyar:
Injury in sport becomes unavoidable in some instances and one is left to faces physical challenges. How did you go about managing the physical challenges of the sport? What is your advice for upcoming swimmers to cope with the stress of competition?
ANASTASIA ERMAKOVA:
Yes , I know something about sport injuries. In 2002 I got a serious injury on my right shoulder. Unfortunately due to a busy schedule of the competitions and preparation for them it was absolutely impossible to have a break or serious treatment (surgery) so I continued training. It was a tough time, it was a challenge, it was a price I needed to pay to become me and achieve all my goals and results.
I think the most important think for everyone and not only in sport is having motivation! Because if you have a good motivation you can move on and follow your dreams despite everything. Whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
My advice is work, go ahead, follow your dreams and never give up! Find your motivation and believe in yourself and your strength. There is no place to stress in sport. You must be strong enough to give your best. Knowing that you are doing your best and that you worked hard day after day , sacrificed your time and your energy and dedicated yourself gives you enough self confidence to cope with any obstacle not only in competition but throughout your life.
Namita Nayyar:
After retirement from sport what are the charity and support groups you are presently working with?
ANASTASIA ERMAKOVA:
I’m not working with any kind of such groups. Maybe because unfortunately Synchro is not a sport that could give any advantage that after retirement I could share or donate. Generally we don’t earn enough money that after there might be a possibility to help others. Usually everyone after retirement in Synchro starts working hard to earn money for life, family and all own needs.
Namita Nayyar:
Many athletes when they quit tend to miss the sport. What do you think about that?
ANASTASIA ERMAKOVA:
You know, I also used to think that I will never return to sport after my retirement. But…I misunderstood. I’m a coach, a choreographer now. Till this moment I have been working in Italy dealing with Italian club and collaborating with Italian National Team. As well I am freelancer and create choreographies worldwide working with the different nations. I also organise international camps with Stephan Miermont where in one week we coach athletes who join us and help them improve technic, strength, flexibility and much more and teach them to work hard with maximum motivation and dedication.
Anyway I believe that there is always a desire to leave sport and start a new life. But afterwards you realise that after you have spent so many years in and made so many sacrifices it becomes difficult just to throw all this experience and years and years of hard work and dedication away for nothing. Or you have really good job offer that you can choose for your successful and happy future life or anyway you return to sport as a coach or manager or director or in any other way.
Namita Nayyar:
Share your future plans?
ANASTASIA ERMAKOVA:
I’m always in search of new experience, new projects and new something. I like to work and I like to succeed. I’d like to add more Nations in my list I work with. I want to improve and I want to be requested. I want to create something important and may be write one more book. Who knows?! We will see.
Namita Nayyar:
Women Fitness works relentlessly with a goal to reach out to women all over the world providing them with best in health, fitness, nutrition, beauty & fashion. What do have to say about the website (Womenfitness.net) and message for our readers?
ANASTASIA ERMAKOVA:
I really like your website I’d say you managed to collect all important and necessary information for every woman. So there is no need any more to spend time surfing the Internet looking for tips and answers that could be interested or necessary in that exact moment.
I’d like to wish to your readers to be in peace with themselves and think always positive. Never forget about themselves, their wishes and dreams. Always move forward and never look back. Every day spend at least 30 minutes for realisation of their ideas and at least 1 hour for care about their body (physical activity, yoga, stretching ), their skin (beauty care treatments) and their mind (meditation, relaxation). Be happy, be in a balance with themselves, love, be loved, smile and enjoy every moment!
You can follow Anastasia on:
- https://www.instagram.com/ermakova.anastasia83/
- https://www.facebook.com/ermakova.anastasia.ru/
- https://twitter.com/ermakova_ana
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http:// www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2019 Women Fitness