Harnasko: Nerves of steel, stability are key to Olympic success

"In general, emotions are overwhelming. Thank you all very much for your support. We felt it, although we performed with almost no spectators. But we're used to it. It's been a tough year," Alina Harrnasko said.

The athlete said that the medal was not an unexpected one for her. “Huge work, injuries, and recoveries are behind this medal. Nerves of steel and stability decide everything at the Olympics. It is the last routine - the ribbon, as Irina Leparskaya [coach of the national team] says, that makes the competition. The ribbon decided a lot. I made a mistake. I have a lot to work on now. In general, I did not know the results of my competitors, I just went out and did what I could. That helped me. No extra information in my head, just my performance. Later I learned the score that secured me a bronze medal,” the athlete said.

Alina marked her 20th birthday in Tokyo. “I was not thinking about my birthday there. This medal was a great birthday present for me,” she added.

2020 Tokyo rhythmic gymnastics bronze medalist Alina Harnasko of Belarus chose Minsk Children's Olympic School No.4 of the Belarusian Sports Society Dinamo, where she held her first practice sessions, for Br10,000 assistance from the Presidential Sports Club as part of the country's Olympic Choice project. Liubov Charkashyna chose the school as part of the Olympic Choice project during the 2012 London Olympics. Alina Harnasko was a scholarship holder of the Presidential Sports Club in 2016 and 2017.