"You can't get out only if you're lying dead in a coffin"

After the departure of the Tokyo generation of Olympic champions, Daniel Marinov became the main star of Russian men's gymnastics. Half Bulgarian, but at the same time a staunch patriot of Russia, he remains the only representative of the national team to win a World Cup medal after returning to the international arena. He comes to the press conference with his tripod, jokes a lot and seems to realize his mission — to be one of the main faces of this sport.

At the bright start of the Russian Championship in Kaluga, Marinov, despite intense competition with Arseny Dukhno in recent months, showed the best result in qualifying. In an interview with Izvestia and Sport-Express, the gymnast spoke about his preparations for the European Championships.

"An athlete has to get used to the fact that something hurts"

— What does the goal for the European Championship sound like? What are the medals in the plan?

— Score maximum points with your combinations and purity. It is important to pass with these combinations and this difficulty at the best possible level. If you can do what you want to do, there will be a medal. You have to think about the medal at the last moment, when you have finished the exercise.

— Is everything physically okay, taking into account previous injuries?

— There are no healthy athletes, as they say, something always worries. But as a rule, this happens before and after the approach. You don't think about it during the performance.

— You once said that you would like to live to be 100 years old. How does this fit in with sports that aren't about health? Or am I wrong?

— 50-50. My phrase about 100 years is also 50% funny, 50% true. An athlete must get used to the fact that something hurts. This is one of the key points that you need to learn: it hurts — you've warmed up — you've forgotten, let's move on. So that it doesn't bother my head and it's mentally easier. But at the same time, you can not forget about it. I've practiced three times, so go get some medicine.

— Do you apply any know-how? I remember when there were balls in my ears.

— Yes, Chinese medicine, but it all works on auto-suggestion. If it helps, please. But I've already moved on from that.

— If my lower back is already reminding me of itself without any special sports, I can't imagine how it is with you.

— Often, in the case of such problems, it is sports that help, pumping muscles. Try! Of course, if you don't take care of your health, it will be difficult to live up to 100 years old.

— But there are always stories on the Internet about grandmothers who lived to be 100 years old, drinking cognac in the morning with a cigar.

— Everyone has their own body, individual characteristics. It's okay for someone to smoke before the age of 80, someone should quit at 20. But it's generally bad to smoke, especially on a regular basis. It's tasteless and unhealthy, believe me.

"Have you tried it?"

— Many people think that athletes are not human. In my youth, of course, I tried. I don't recommend it.

"Car — including the designation of the achievement level"

— You are one of the main car enthusiasts among Russian athletes. Are you driving a Mercedes now?

— Yes, it's in the underground parking lot of the Sports palace.

— Do you have a dream car?

— Mercedes AMG GT 63 S, preferably in the most complete configuration. A car that I would never want to sell in my life. For me, this is an indicator of the level of achievements. If I buy such a car, it means that I have really achieved some kind of dream.

— Is it important for you to show it directly on social media? I see photos of cars at your place periodically.

— I would like to show, but not to show off and show off. I want to share my joy with people — look, I'm glad. That's how it works for me. Those who know how to react selflessly to the successes of others will rejoice.

"No Haight?" Like, we're starving, and you're showing off your car?

— You know, to those who are hungry, I can say: I was hungry once too. Childhood was very difficult. What can I do? You have to work, and everything is in your hands. You can't get out unless you're lying dead in a coffin. You can get out of any other life situation.

— Did last year's World Cup medal change anything in your life? In terms of wealth, attention?

— According to the reaction of people, yes. They began to pay more attention, to follow more closely, and began to focus on this — they say, the winner of the World Championship, the status! I try not to react. It's not that I was lucky, but I didn't really make the combination perfectly, but I was good at it. I accepted this situation, but of course I didn't give away the medal. I'm just trying not to focus on titles, but rather on points. This is more important, including for the team.

— Is there a feeling that your work is adequately paid? Maybe there are more advertising offers on social networks?

— Well, it's simple: I got a medal, I got a payment, a rank, maybe they'll raise my salary. Although it's not a fact (laughs). And advertising on social media already depends on how you conduct them. If you are actively watching some videos there, you will be contacted. It already needs to be adjusted to the results. You can be an Olympic champion and not have a social network, and you will have 100 subscribers. What kind of advertisement is there? But I have a desire to develop media, of course.