Weightlifting fairy: Natalya Lapshina, a student from Altai State University spoke about her sports career, studies and hobbies

Studentsport.ru published an interview with Natalya Lapshina, a 3rd-year student at the Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Altai State University, who is at 20 Candidate for Master of Sports in kettlebell lifting.

Over seven years of kettlebell lifting, Natalya managed to achieve considerable results. The athlete is the winner of the All-Russian kettlebell lifting tournament in memory of Mikhail Evdokimov, silver and bronze medalist of the Russian championship, winner of the silver medal of the All-Russian tournament for the prizes of the Honored Master of Sports of Russia Sergei Leonov. Now Natalya is preparing for the Russian Kettlebell Lifting Championship among juniors.

– Natalya, how did you get acquainted with kettlebell lifting?

– I started lifting weights in the sixth grade. I came to training for the first time with my friend in April 2016. To be honest, I didn’t want to do kettlebell lifting at all, but I didn’t really have a choice. I'm from a village, and the number of sections we have is limited. My parents wanted me to go to at least one training session. But even the first training session made a great impression on me, and I liked everything. My friend and I continued to go to training, and then we took part in the first competitions.

– How do your friends and parents feel about your training in kettlebell lifting?

– My parents have always supported me, both morally and financially. They always watch live broadcasts of performances as well as my friends, who support me in every possible way. Of course, there is a stereotype about girls in kettlebell lifting, that such a sport is not for women. But such stereotypical thinking appeared among classmates and groupmates only at the very beginning, as soon as they found out what kind of sports I was involved in. Over time they got used to it. Kettlebell lifting helps a girl to be more resilient, disciplined, and morally strong.

– What weight category do you compete in?

– Over 68 kg. I don’t follow a diet, only those who are losing weight for a smaller category stick to a strict diet.

– What is the heaviest weight you have lifted in your life?

– The heaviest weight was 32 kg, but that was only during training. My working weight is 24 kg, the record is 139 lifts.

– What is your main goal in this sport?

– To fulfill the standard of the master of sports.

– What exercises, in your opinion, are most effective in kettlebell lifting?

– Running is my most effective and least favorite exercise. But running for 30 minutes significantly improves endurance. My favorite distance is 3 km. It is much easier to compete in competitions with running at least 2-3 times a week for at least a couple of weeks before a competition. Another effective exercise is the snatch. This is the base that you can’t do without in kettlebell lifting.

– Do you have any ritual before competitions in order to gain more self-confidence?

– I used to wear earrings with snakes, I thought they brought me good luck. But now there is nothing like that anymore.

– What was the hardest thing for you in sports? Was there a moment when it seemed that your strength had run out?

– Yes, definitely. It seems to me that it’s hard for me at every competition, because I have to do my best. But the most difficult competition, both physically and mentally, was the All-Russian tournament for the Sergei Leonov prizes. There I had to fulfill the standard for a master of sports, everyone supported me and believed that I could do it, that I would succeed. Because of this, because of other people's expectations, I felt a lot of responsibility on myself, it was hard for me. I think that’s why I was mentally burnt out and couldn’t do it. These competitions greatly undermined my self-confidence.

– How do you cope with anxiety before competitions?

– I try not to increase the level of excitement, not to watch the performances of other participants, and generally think about something else.

– What motivates you to new victories?

– Various films, TV series, anime, and dramas. For example, I recently watched the drama “Weightlifting Fairy” about a sports university. She really motivated me to train hard in the new academic year.

– Tell me, what are you studying for and why did you choose this particular direction?

– I'm studying to be a biologist. I wanted to study at the Faculty of Biology because I liked biology at school. In addition, I wanted to travel, and the university offers on-site internships. We have already gone three times to Lake Krasilovo and the Charysh River. I also remember how in zoology practice we got up at 4 in the morning so that at 5 we could go on an excursion and listen to the birds singing.