Interview with Santa Morozova – per aspera ad astra

Interview with Santa Morozova from Latvia. Questions: Marko Suomi, Photos: Santa Morozova’s archives

I had the opportunity to interview Santa Morozova after her performance in the biathlon competition 5th of February 2011 in Hyvinkää, Finland. She placed second in that competition, with 179 jerks and 258 snatches using the 12kg kettlebell. Here are her merits in kettlebells sport, after trained only for 2,5 years:

I became Latvia’s champion two times, absolute Latvia’s champion for two times, to Baltic countries champion 3 times, European vice champion for two times, to World vice champion for one time, I own 4 Latvia’s records in different weight categories. For two times I had 3rd place in international juggling competitions. Usually I compete in the smallest -58 kg weight category. My record with 16 kg is 184 lifts and with 24 kg-56 lifts. Now I am a candidate for sport master.

How did you get started with kettlebell lifting?

I started to train kettlebell lifting in summer of 2008. I had few friends who were doing kettlebell lifting and few times I was going to see how they competite and in that summer one guy, who became to my coach (Nikita Sekretov) said that I should try to lift. In that training first I lifted 8 kilograms kettlebell and it was quite easy, so he said that I should try 16 kg, I tried and he said that it is so good that he wants to train me and that week later will be competitions in Ventspils (Ventspils Atlants). I got two trainings before Ventspils Atlants and I was really afraid, because I hadn’t tried something like that before and in those two trainings I wasn’t able to understand how I should lift something.

But it was my first and most important experience. I lifted 16 kg in that Ventspils Atlants only 26 times and that was the only competitions when I didn’t get medal, but only there I understood What means this sport, how it is to competite and that there are many goals I can reach.

I remember seeing you and your team in Ventspils 2008. Wow, pretty brave to compete after 2 trainings! Did you have experience in competing in other sports before that?

I had competite in running at school, but not much. Before I started training I was quite unsporty person.

What is the thing or things that motivate you to train and compete more? Why do you do it?

Motivation- to be better, to do more, to prove myself that I am not weak, to be fit, to reach my goals-became to sport master.
Before I became more self-confidence in sport, important motivator was my excoach Nikita Sekretov who trained me and always believed in my success.
And now I am doing that also because I have accustomed and I can’t imagine my life without this sport.

So, good coach is important. In Finland, we really don’t have kettlebell sport coaches yet, the sport is so young here. How would you advice a beginner when starting out?

Yes, I know that you don’t have them, but good trainer is a half part of success.
To be beginner is the hardest. I advice- not to be afraid, go and try,always do your best, compete. Even if you lose, you are a winner for yourself, because you have done your best and now you have more experience, you know where are your weak sides and what you need to train more. Also I reccomend to be careful, do exercises correctly,think criticaly, health is the most
important. And I advice to establish goals- it will be good motivation.

What are your best or most memorable experiences with kettlebell lifting?

The most memorable were my second competitions when I became to absolute Baltic champion and got huge cup, I was very surprised and then I started believed that I can do more than I can even imagine. One more interesting were Baltic championship in Riga Festival, where were competiting the best lifters of Baltic countries. And there were more than hundred audience, it was incredible emotions when everyone was supporting me. The best feelings I have when I know that I am representing my country and that my friends and parents are proud of me. And I always remember how painful and hard was and is the way to success- abraded hands, sore muscles, tears, failures. It is like my life moto: “per aspera ad astra” (through torns to stars).

Yes, I’ve noticed for many people that once they get over the first time, all the fear, the second time is always easier and they can focus more on the lifting. And very often they say it was great 🙂

You also do juggling, is that something every lifter does in Latvia?

Not many lifters are doing juggling, because it requires very much time and strength, but I really like that. From the first time when on Ventspils Atlants I saw Oksana Nikifor Juggling show I understood that I really want and will do it, too.

How often do you practice lifting? Do you train with a group or alone? Who is your coach now?

In Riga I am going to training three times a week. Usually I am doing there both- strength and kettlebell exercises. When outside is good weather I am going for run.
Im training with my team- guys from military academy. And my coach now is Robert Innus, who have huge experience and knowledges not only in kettlebell training, but also in other sports and he always advice and teach me.

What kind of strenght exercises do you do?

Well, usually Im doing different exercises by barbell for legs and back. For triceps and biceps I use dumbbell. Also I am doing many exercises with kettlebells and trainers. A lot I am doing exercises for abdominal muscles.

The 10 minutes of lifting is a long time and taxing for the mental side also. How do you prepare for that?

Yes, 10 minutes is a long time and I’m thinking that the most hardest thing in this sport is withstand and resist. I’m usually very concentrate on lifting before and while lifting. In trainings I’m often lift 10 minutes to prepare and get accustomed my organism. For mental strength I am usually running long or fast distances.

Do women do jerk and long cycle in Latvia? You have tried in at least one competition, what do you think about it?

Women in Latvia are not doing jerk at all. Usually in Latvia’s kettlebell lifting cup we have 5 competitions. In 3 of them we are doing snatch (12 or 16 kg), in 2- long cycle with one hand (12 or 16 kg). I have differenet opinions of the fact that women are doing jerk. On the one hand, it is not interesting to do always only snatch, so for diversity it is good. But on the other hand, it may more harm the woman’s health because it creates too much strain on back, and can fend chest muscles. It can affect women reproduction capacity. And I don’t think that women should do those both exercises in one competitions. And also I think that more emphasis is needed to place on snatch , because only that women are doing in international competitions.

How many people are training kettlebell sport in Latvia? How many women / men?

In Latvia average number of sportsmen are about 80. Usually so many people compete in Latvian championships. But as I know there are many people who are doing this sport, but competite only in small and local competitions. For example, students from post schools. As I saw in Latvia kettlebell lifting are doing about 15 women. And other are men.

Do you have kettlebell lifting in the school or army?

Not in all, but we have possibilities for kettlebell trainings in crafts schools (Käsityökoulu) and in army competitions there often are included kettlebell lifting. Also when we are orginizing some sport events for citizens, we are including kettlebell lifting like one of the discipline.

How about what kind of greetings you would like to say to the finnish lifters? A lot of people were very impressed by your performance at the competition, including me. It was great to have you and also Eduard as examples of what real kettlebell sport can be in the high level. It cool to see that even we don’t share the language always etc we share the love for the sport. 🙂

Yes, there are some Finnish people for whom I want to express my gratitude. I am very appreciate to Martti Nappari, because of him in Finland I have a place where I can train for kettlebell lifting. Also I am indebted to Marko Suomi (thank you very much :)) for involving in Finnish kettlebell lifting events and of course to all lifters who were at competitions in Hyvinkaa, I felt huge support and friendship. You are a great lifters because you have strength and endurance. And I wish that in my and your country kettlebell lifting will become more popular, because in my opinion it is not just sport it is the way we live 🙂

Also I would like to give away my greetings to my couch Robert Innus and send the best wishes to Jānis Āboliņš – man who started kettlebell lifting in my home city Jēkabpils and was my support for these years and of course greetings to my parents and friends.