Hungarian Blondes: Natasha and Danuta
This time famous sportswomen answer questions from KanoeSport: Natasha Dushev-Yanich and Danuta Kozak. It is pleasant to talk with a beautiful girl about this, oh, this … And with two, it’s doubly pleasant! Information and entertainment portal about rowing CanoeSport is very grateful to the girls for the interesting communication! We sincerely wish you good luck in the new 2014 season !!!
Natasha Dushev-Yanich
Born on June 24, 1982 in Serbia. At the age of 18, she won the first gold medal at the World Championships (K-1 500). In the same year in the same discipline, she first performed at the Olympics and took fourth place, speaking for Serbia and Montenegro. In 2001, she changed her citizenship and moved to Hungary. In 2004, at the Olympics, first won the “gold” in the K-1 500, and an hour later, in a pair with Catalina, Covax won another medal of the highest dignity. Natasha has scores of medals brought from European and world Championships, most of which are gold.
Danuta Kozak
Born on January 11, 1987. Danuta has Polish roots, although she was born and raised in the capital of Hungary, Budapest. Since 2007 she has been participating in the largest international competitions in the national team. Danuta is a multiple champion of Europe and the world, the winner of the world cup and national championships. In 2008, in Beijing, an athlete won silver in the K-4 500 discipline, and from the London Olympics she took two gold medals: in K-1 500 m and K-4 500 m.
“Stress is part of a big game.”
Natasha Yanich: “It is very important to start training from childhood. I started at the age of six, but I trained only in the summer and a little. But by the time I turned 11, I already attended classes every day.
Of course, I like to compete at the peak of form, but if I want to win the race, I know that first I have to work hard. I can’t say what kind of training I like more than others … I don’t really like them at all, always waiting for it to end! ”
Danuta Kozak: “I started rowing when I was 9. At this stage, the most important thing is to fall in love with sports, because without this it is impossible to achieve results.
I always try to try something new, I do not like the routine. There are no favorite trainings, because, fortunately, they are constantly changing and are highly dependent on my mood. I know one thing for sure – I love going out on the water!
I move forward in small steps and do not make global plans for a year or a season. What is really there, sometimes I do not even think about the week, even about tomorrow! I just concentrate on doing the current task, and this approach helps me a lot. My great dream was to win the Olympics, and last year I fulfilled it. Now I dream to do it again, but being 4 years older!
It’s a shame, but the secret of calm is still unknown to me, so during competitions I always worry and get nervous. Stress is an integral part of the “big game,” and it may even be necessary to be in the best possible shape. ”
Natasha Yanich: “I love Italian cuisine, especially lasagna. My favorite dish from Hungarian cuisine is “shepherd’s” goulash soup (“gulyas leves”). I love to eat and do not belong to those who follow the figure with the help of diets. Besides, my mother is an excellent cook! ”
Danuta Kozak: “I do not have a special diet. In winter I eat more, and in the competitive period I pay special attention to the choice of products. At this time, I exclude fatty foods and lean on low-fat fruits, vegetables, and meat. I control my weight daily, and if it is above normal, I try to moderate my appetite. I know that today it is considered an old-school way, but it is simple and in my case gives the result. My favorite dish looks like Russian dumplings with sour cream, but instead of meat, we put blueberries. ”
Natasha Yanich: “Here in Hungary, all kinds of sports are popular in which we win medals: water polo, swimming, rowing and canoeing, wrestling … Hungarians love sports and are proud of us! Hungarian rowers are so good because they train hard. The team succeeds from year to year thanks to the constant education of the young generation of athletes who will become champions in the future.
I know about the existence of CanoeSport, this is an entertaining and informative Russian-speaking rowing project. I have a lot of friends in the Russian national team, and they even came up with a nickname for me! ”
Danuta Kozak: “I think that the Hungarians have no special formula for success or a training secret. We just have a lot of girls and boys who love rowing and, growing up, strive to become the best in Hungary, in Europe, in the world. It looks like a national tradition.
