Diving for Glory: A Chat with Uliana Klyueva
Three-time Russian Water Jumping Champion Ulyana Klyueva Discusses Her Athletic Achievements
A water jumper from the city of Volgograd, Uliana Klyueva has made a big splash in the world of diving. With six European Championships titles under her belt and a silver medal from the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, the 22-year-old sports enthusiast recently clinched gold at the 2024 BRICS Games. In addition to her diving career, Uliana is pursuing a master's degree at the Academy of Physical Culture, all while maintaining an active presence online and on social media. Here, she shares her journey, her Olympic aspirations, and her fearless approach to heights in an interview with Stavkinasport.com.
A Whirlwind Beginning
When asked to sum herself up in three points for a wide audience, Uliana describes herself as a "Master of Sports in Diving," a "Volgograd athlete," and a "second-year master's student at VGAKF, a blogger, and an actively developing social media personality." Her initial foray into sport was rhythmic gymnastics, but it wasn't until she was enrolled in acrobatics that her diving prowess truly shone. In an unexpected twist, Uliana's father decided to take her to a diving pool instead of an acrobatics studio, and the rest is history.
The BRICS Games and Beyond
Uliana's victory at the BRICS Games was a major milestone in her career. When evaluating the significance of this win, she acknowledges that while it's not on the same level as the Olympics, it's important for Russia as its most significant competition. She proudly acknowledges that she managed to secure the gold medal.
Speaking about her fear of heights, Uliana asserts that it's all about confronting and overcoming her own fears. She narrates an anecdote about a training camp in China where she jumped from heights up to 27 meters, gradually working her way up from 12, 15, and then 20 meters. This adventurous spirit also extends to her other passions, such as skydiving and bungee jumping.
Balancing Act
Juggling her academic pursuits with her sports career hasn't been easy, but Uliana manages to maintain her grades with exemplary dedication. When she started her professional career, she graduated from the Volgograd State Academy of Physical Culture with honors, and she continues to excel as a student.
China's Dominance and the Road Ahead
The Chinese diving school is known for its remarkable strength, winning all eight gold medals at the 2024 Olympics. Uliana believes that the Chinese team struggled this time, making more mistakes, and it's possible to compete with them on equal terms. According to her, key factors in competing with the Chinese include investing in training infrastructure, developing innovative training techniques, fostering a strong competition culture, and securing financial support from governments and private sponsors.
In an Olympic dream, Uliana hopes to represent her country on the world stage once more in the future. She plans to continue training hard and aims to return to the international stage as soon as possible.
Three pieces of advice from Uliana to those aspiring to succeed in life and sports? "Do what you love. Develop yourself and be disciplined!" she encourages. Keep diving, Uliana!
Uliana Klyueva mentioned her passion for sports extends beyond diving, as she enjoys adrenaline-pumping activities like skydiving and bungee jumping, similar to her diving feats. In the world of sports, Uliana aspires to follow in the footsteps of the Chinese diving team, who dominated the 2024 Olympics, by investing in training facilities, developing innovative training techniques, and securing support from sponsors to compete on equal terms.
Bookmakers predict the Chinese team's dominance in diving events will continue at future Olympics; however, inspired by her joined aspiration in life and sports, Uliana believes she can challenge them and aims to represent Russia once more on the international stage. With her persistence and love for sports, she encourages aspiring athletes to follow their passions, develop themselves, and maintain discipline to achieve success in sports and life.
