ZHurnal-Dinamo.----1-7

This girl is considered to be one of the most
wanted brides of the country. And not only
because Aleksandra Gerasimenya is pride
and honour of Belarus. Her kindness, generosity
and willingness to help those in need are really
impressive and crucial for hundreds of people who
would not survive without her attention. She is
simple. But she is also a great enigma.
Indeed, who could have thought that red-heared
beauty would be so upset about two silver medals
of the world’s most prestigious sprint distances
at the Olympic Games 2012 in the sport which is
practised nearly all over the world, where even the
word Belarus isn’t well known yet.
But Alexandra felt offended and worked hard during
the rest of the season to even the score with the
champion of London, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, which
wisely renounced the opportunity.
Where did the simple Belarusian girl get those
ambitions in the country, where every result is
good by tradition, and the national motto totally
corresponds to the local people’s mentality – If
only no war happened? Even her parents don’t
know the answer. However, they started to notice
their daughter’s independent temper since her
very childhood.
It is important to say that she has hardened
herself even more over the years. Sasha expresses
easily her opinion about every question coming
from journalists, and her mental outlook is going
far beyond the swimming pool. After graduating
from the Academy of Physical Culture Herasimenia
entered the University of Economics and at the
same time took a course in the Oxford College to
improve her English and take a look on economics
and management as a western expert.
“In sport, nobody becomes champion at once,
all the athletes start from scratch. In economics,
it works exactly the same way. Before you get
recognition as the professional, you have to learn a
lot of things”, Alexandra says. Then she unveils the
amazin g secret of her actual success, unfortunately
unknown to the champions of the past.
“The best we can do for our country is not
standing on the top of the podium and listen
to the national anthem – to be honest, we win
medals first of all for ourselves – but stepping
down, putting off the crown and working hard to
raise the new generation of champions”.
Alexandra is right. Sportsmen of the highest level
are selfish – it doesn’t depend on the residence.
So being told to come down to earth, they take it
as a personal offence. But it seems that Sasha is
screened off from such reflections with an iron
shield.
Her weekends, as well as training breaks
sometimes, she devotes to the charitable
project Dreams coming true which unites the
best athletes of Belarus, and Sasha is the Chief
Executive officer there. Besides, she sets up
mass track and field events in cooperation with
the Athletics Federation and is the soul of the
national swimming festival Gold fish with prizes
of her name.
It is almost impossible to believe in such a large-scale
activity, but Sasha just smiles when asked about the
reasons. As a future manager, she prefers talking
about practical issues like the underdevelopment of
sport and mass activity in the country.
“The most important thing is to restore the
confidence of people which we get used to bring
to the competitions by directions and papers. They
should enjoy doing sports. So we must take the
lead on the track in sport suits, not to stay on the
tribune surrounded by theses from our speeches.
Go and show an example, do more than the
others do, so people will follow you”.
Certainly, Sasha is right. Except for one thing –
there are so few true leaders at the moment, not
the paper ones.
Unstoppable on her way to perfection, Alexandra
will for sure reveal her potential even more when
it won’t be necessary to be focused on the six-hour
training sessions in the pool and beyond.
But is there anyone who would mind if she continues
her fabulous sport career conquering new heights?
Sasha has only one more – the Olympic gold medal.
Journalists should hardly ask about her motivation for
the next two years before Rio…
Don’t ask whom the best bride of the country is going
to marry. Aleksandra does not comment her private
life and the front place in her wedding limousine is
attractively empty.
She likes to offer riddles to public, unhurriedly
choosing the one who can be stronger than she is —
to reach for new dreams together.
Aleksandra Gerasimenya:
Bride No.1
10 • Журнал «Динамо»