In the Lilliputian world of women's gymnastics, Oksana Chusovitina may not literally stand tall but she does in any other way. Way back in 1991 she helped her then Soviet team to a gold medal and picked up another gold on floor. Then cast aside by many as a mere child acrobat, Chusovitina has matured into a young women with a style of her own. But the tricks are still there - all of them. And every time the gym world thinks she has reached her limit, she casually pulls another trick out of the hat.

What are your favourite clothes and why?
Sporty clothes. Because I like them.

Which subjects did you hate most at school?
Singing.

What would you do if you could be invisible for a day?
I would find Bin Laden.

Who is the person you would most like to meet?
Tom Cruise.

What are you afraid of?
War.

Who is your favourite pop singer?
Irina Alegrova.


What would you do if somebody gave you 100.000 US $?
I would build a gym with pits in Tashkent.

What makes you pensive?
Unfairness.

What do you dislike about yourself?
Stubbornness.

What is you favourite comic figure?
Zadoriov, Vipokur.

Do you have any hobbies?
Yes.

How do you relax?
I play with my son, read or go for walks.

Which day of the week is your least favourite?
Monday.

Do you have any dreams you want accomplish?
Yes!

Do you like snow?
No.

The most beautiful arena you ever competed in?
Barcelona 92.

Which arena or hotel has the most disgusting shower?
Ghent 2001 World Championships.

Judges are...
They must be competent.

What would you like for your next birthday ?
A car.

Which sights in your hometown are worth visiting?
The bazaar, the mosques.

Where would you like to spend a long holiday?
In Greece.

Which languages do you speak?
Russian, English, a little German.

If you couldn't do gymnastics, what would you do?
I don't know.

What do you like to do when you're at home?
Raise my son.

Are you interested in other sports?
Yes.

Do you think it's colder outside than at night?
Yes, outside...

What's your favourite saying?
Only look ahead.

Who are your best friends in gymnastics?
Zamolodchikova, Lysenko, Boginskaya.

How much money have you got on you right now?
None.

Have you ever been close to death?
No, and I never want to be.

Do you like flying?
No.

How long did your shortest love affair last?
There were no short ones.

What is your favourite competition?
DTB Cup (written in German!).

Do you collect anything?
No.

What was your most embarrassing experience in gymnastics?
1993 Birmingham Worlds.

What song are you thinking of right now?
"Tramvaychik" by Pugachyova.

What makes you happy?
Life.

What annoys you?
Jealousy.

What bores you?
Separation.

Your favourite film/movie?
Top Gun.

What book should everybody have read in their life?
A primer.

What would you like to do after your competitive career?
I haven't thought about that yet.

Money is...
A means to secure a normal life.

What would you like to read about yourself in the papers?
The truth.

Interviews are...
...Information about people.

Getting up early is......
...I don't like getting up early.

Your favourite perfume?
Isimiyaki (?).

What have you always wanted to tell your fans?
Gymnastics is the most beautiful sport!

What have you always wanted to ask your fans?
Are they happy with me?

What did we forget to ask?
About my family and my coach...!