Idman.biz
Selcan Mahsudova, the leader of the national trampoline team, is preparing for the first start of the year. A little over two weeks later, the "flying gymnasts" will open the season in Baku. The World Cup will be held in the capital on February 21–22.
The Olympic participant told Idman.Biz that she plans to perform in three program types at the same time.
"Training is in full swing and there is not much time left until the start of the first rating competition. Preparation is quite intense, we are getting in shape. I will perform in three types within my native walls – in individual performance, synchronized jumps with Shafiga Humbatova, and synchronized performance with my brother Mahsud in mixed pairs," said Selcan.
The brother-sister tandem shows quite successful results in the synchronized program. The duet won a bronze medal at the world championship in Pamplona, and before that they won the World Cup in Cottbus. In this regard, they are considered one of the main candidates for the Baku podium.
The first start of the year will also be the first stage of preparation for the European Championship.
"This will be the main competition of the first half of the year for us. The championship will be held on April 8-12 in Portimao, Portugal. I aim to perform successfully and be among the top three prize winners," Mahsudova said.
Last year, the athlete achieved a unique success that other trampolinists could not achieve. She performed a quadruple triple somersault in one combination at the World Cup in Germany. However, considering that there is still time to qualify for the Olympics, she is not thinking of further complicating her program.
"The qualification for the Los Angeles Games has not yet approached, but it is already approaching. The license marathon will begin next year, and we hope to win the next qualification for the Olympics," said Mahsudova.
Meanwhile, 66 athletes from Kazakhstan, Poland, Turkey and the USA have already registered for the World Cup in trampoline jumping and tumbling, which will be held in Baku. The Americans will participate with the largest number of teams - they will come to Baku with 16 athletes. Also, two teams will compete under a neutral flag. One of Mahsudova's main rivals could be Anzhela Bladtseva, who finished fifth at the Paris Olympics.
