2000 OLYMPICS : Interview Nemov & Karbanenko (French Tv)

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• published: 19 Aug 2014
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'00 JEUX OLYMPIQUES DE SYDNEY (AUS) L'or de Sydney : Charles Biétry and Patrick Knaff interview Alexei Nemov (RUS) and Dimitri Karbanenko (FRA) Note : Karbanenko and Nemov are close friends since both used to train in Russia until Karbanenko married a French woman and moved to Antibes. Biétry : Alexei, the best, the n°1... Dimitri, who's going to be our translator, is also champion of France, I'm not mistaken Patrick ? Knaff : Well, he was the best French for the AA, 15th Biétry : Alexei is doing us the great honor to be here, for comparison, it's like interviewing Rivaldo (Soccer, BRA), or other number 1s, Maurice Greene (track and field, USA), Michael Jordan (Basketball, USA), Sampras (tennis, USA) When a gymnast wins the AA, is he the best in the world? Karbanenko : I will translate first what he said, winning the AA is the result of several years of work. In gymnastics the winner of AA is the best, this is the most important. I can personnally add, as I also competed in AA, winning it is something amazing. And he deserves it more than Rivaldo or anyone else (smiles) Biétry (to Dimitri) : Where did you get this accent from? Karbanenko : Since I live in the south of France, I took the accent from there Biétry : Alexei where do you live? Karbanenko : (amused by Nemov's joke) He said I'm living with him, but that's not true, he lives in Russia, in Moscow. He trains there Drawing : "it's like a film in original language at the movie club" Alexei whispers to Dimitri, who laughs and quotes : "tell him I call you all the time". And it's true, not long ago on september 2nd his son was born and he says he'd like him to be with my little daughter because she's very cute. Biétry : Dimitri, as you know him well, what's his everyday life? Because a guy like him, handsome, gymnast, olympic champion... if he'd lived in Paris he would be a huge star, on tv everyday, on magazine covers, he would be overbusy. What is his life like in Moscow? Karbanenko (translating) : To me, the most important is to live from day to day, I try not to care too much about tv appearances and taking part in every show I'm invited to, because I'm not interested in, I try to focus on trainings and do my best. We can't compare life in France and in Russia because it's totally different. I (= Dimitri) can personnally state that he's got his head screwed on, this is what matters in the life of a great sportsperson like he is. Biétry : Patrick, let's talk about gymnastics. Is he good? Knaff : he's excellent, he already won 5 individual medals and one with Russian team 4 years ago. In Sydney he already won 2, thanks to him Russia got bronze although they had a bad start during competition. Biétry : Did he think he could perform that well after the efforts he did during team competition? (Nemov makes a long answer) Biétry : He said yes? (laughs) Karbanenko (translating) : He says the most important to me was to compete the best I could. Then the results comes after. I don't think about others making mistakes, I only think about doing a good competition. If people think Russia was on the podium thanks to me, good. Biétry : it's true that Dimitri is kind, and translates well ! Nemov (in French) : C'est ça ! Oui, c'est ça ! (= that's it) Biétry : No problem ! (laughs) Let's watch a video to see who's this man, and what he's able to do Biétry : Dimitri, why did Alexei show his shoulder? Karbanenko : I think because after Atlanta (1996 Olympics) he had lots of problem with his shoulders, he had surgery. Gymnasts have many shoulder-related injuries because of parallel bars, rings. He showed his to prove to everyone he can still make great performances with a "tired" shoulder. Drawing : Comment fait-il ? How is he doing it ? Biétry : thanks and good luck for the next competition, we're very happy to welcome a champion like you