Alena KRYVASHEYENKA Interview

Rising Star – September 2013

Standing at 180cm tall,  Alena Kryvasheyenka’s height is about as great as her ambition. She has known success since her first days of international competition. In 2009 she made her debut against the world racing the junior women’s pair at the World Championships where she earned a silver medal. In 2010 she took her first of two World Rowing Under 23 Championship titles in the lightweight single. In 2013 Kryvasheyenka debuted at her first senior World Championships and finished sixth. Her dream is to represent Belarus in the lightweight women’s double and with the promise she has shown so far, she is likely to make this dream a reality.

My sporting hero is… Michael Phelps.

I row because… I like to represent my country on the world stage.

My least favourite training session is… ergo training.

My favourite training session is… training on the water because I like not only to train in the open air but also to battle against the natural elements (wind, waves, rain etc.)

In 10 years time I will… be an Olympic Champion.

My toughest race was…  the 2013 World Rowing Championships final in Korea. Racing in a different climate and time zone was difficult.

A typical day… starts when my alarm goes off at 07:00. After 30 minutes of morning exercises I have breakfast. My first training session is from 09:00 to 11.00. After lunch I sleep or rest from 13.00 to 15.00. I have a second training session from 17.00 to 19.00. After that I have some time to myself. I spend free time watching TV, playing on the computer, reading books or with my friends.

I get annoyed when… someone gets on my nerves by asking silly questions.

2k or 5k on the ergo? 2k

My favourite boat to row is… the single because of the confidence you build when you know that how the boat goes is only dependent on what you do.

My favourite food is… pizza.

My favourite tv programme is…“Let them talk”

My favourite book is… Anna Karenina.

I’m afraid of… spiders and snakes

The best moment of my rowing career so far is… winning gold at the 2010 World Rowing Under 23 Championships. It was my first big achievement and it happened in my home country.

My 2013 highlight is… my first gold medal in Olympic boat class: the lightweight women’s double at the Universiade in Kazan. This medal is a part of Universiade history as it is the first ever Universiade gold medal in rowing for the Belarusian rowing team. Winning it is a small step towards my main goal – an Olympic medal.