Read the interview we had with Rita Ivanova, a volleyball player from Belarus who has been training volleyball for almost 10 years.
1. Can you tell us something about yourself? What is your name, how old are you and where are you from?
"My name is Rita Ivanova. I'm 19 years old. My birthplace is Mozyr, a small town in Belarus."
2. 2. When did you become interested in volleyball and when did you start training??
"I met the volleyball coach in 2014. He invited me to training. After a few training sessions, he offered me to join sports classes. It started as a hobby, but over time my interest grew more and more."
3. How much are you tall and what position do you play?
"I am 178 cm tall. I play outside hitter. I'm not too tall, but I'm training for big jumps."
4. Who are your idols in sports in general and who in volleyball?
"I don't have an idol, but some time ago I became interested in the Russian volleyball player Dmitry Musersky. He was a hero in London 2012. You can find that match and you have to see this video."
5. In which club did you start training and in which club are you today?
"Of course, I started in my town, Mozyr, when I participated in the children's league. Then I finished school and moved to Mogilev, where I play for the Kommunalnik club."
6. 6. Can you single out some success and tell us more about it?
"Our best success was in 2020. Then we took the 1st place in our country with the school team. Sorry, but I can't describe this. It was so good. We were like a real family. I will never forget those emotions and, you will understand, only if you try."
7. 7. What are your future plans for volleyball?
"I like traveling very much and I want to visit many countries and meet many interesting people. Volleyball can help with that. In the future, I would like to live in Japan and continue playing volleyball there. This is my dream."
8. Would you recommend the younger generation of boys and girls to try volleyball?
"Professional sport is difficult. It can be dangerous to your health and sometimes requires a lot of effort. But with the right training schedule, which includes exercise, rest, and proper nutrition, you, your body, and your health become much stronger. Sport is beauty and strength. Also, there are many emotions, which you can only find there. In my opinion, you should try and, if you like what you're doing, keep going, no matter what others say. It's worth."
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