European champion Daria Atamanov: Learning from Linoy Ashram and bouncing back from injury

People may not have heard of Daria Atamanov, or maybe it's a name some have only heard in passing. She wants them to know about her, though, ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The 16-year-old rhythmic gymnast has big goals – inspired by the reigning Olympic champion, fellow Israeli Linoy Ashram.

Despite having her recent World Championships debut in Bulgaria cut short by injury, Atamanov shows no signs of being deterred in her single-minded goal to make it to the French capital in two years' time. No surprise, given that in her first year at senior level, the Tel Aviv native has already clinched the European all-around crown.

Speaking to Olympics.com in Sofia, Atamanov had already moved on to focus on her rehabilitation, determined to bounce back as soon as possible. "Things happen and we don't get to choose them," she said matter-of-factly.

"We don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves. It's important to focus on the rehabilitation in order to come back as strong as possible to the new season."

It's a sign of just how serious the Israeli, who trains with Ashram's group, is taking her craft.

Daria Atamanov training with Linoy Ashram

Rhythmic gymnastics has unsurprisingly surged in popularity in Israel since Ashram became the first gymnast from her country to win all-around rhythmic gymnastics gold at an Olympic Games.

That's not to say it wasn't popular before Tokyo 2020 in 2021, with Israel consistently producing medal hopefuls at the Olympics and World Championships. The enduring success of Ashram and the team has served as inspiration to many, including Atamanov.

But that wasn't how she started in the sport – like so many others, she was talent-spotted as a child doing something else. "My mum took me to a dance class," Atamanov recalled. "The teacher said 'she is good, you should take her to the local level'. I stayed there one year, and then another year, and I started to realise I was improving and that I was enjoying it – so I stayed."

After she began taking the sport seriously, she began to train with Ashram and renowned coach Ayelet Zussman.

"Since I was young I've trained with Linoy Ashram. She is with me in the same club, so I saw her develop all the way and how hard she worked in order to be an Olympic champion, and you want to be like her.

"When you work next to her, you understand what needs to be done in order to get to that level," Atamov said of her own ambitions.

What Linoy Ashram taught Atamanov

When Ashram won gold in Tokyo, it opened the door of belief for Atamanov and her training mates back in the gym.

"We understood that if Linoy could do it, then there's no reason for us not to make it too," Atamanov remembered of watching the star win gold. "She also gave us hope that we could do that again."

That spirit surged through the club, and Atamanov went on to win European gold on home soil in 2022.

After returning from Tokyo, Ashram called time on her competitive career and moved into coaching – something Atamanov is now seeing the benefits of. "Working with Linoy is fun, she is a good coach. Many times she helps us from the psychological point of view, it nice to have her with us in the gym."

That mental help has been crucial with Atamanov's injury suffered in Sofia, when she hurt herself in warm-ups. "A few minutes before going up on stage, I did a jump, and unfortunately, I got injured.

"The thing I find the most difficult in this sport is the injuries," she admitted. "You can't stop working and training, and you need to find the strength to come back even stronger from every injury.

"It's important to focus on the rehabilitation in order to come back as strong as possible to the new season."

Atamanov on learning to handle disappointment

For a 16-year-old, Atamanov handled the disappointment of her injury with incredible maturity and a level-headedness that should put her competitors on alert – this woman means business.

"I actually learned from this experience to understand that everything is for the best," Atamanov said matter-of-factly. "If I couldn't compete in this competition, maybe I wasn't meant to compete this time."

In her words, that has helped her "not to get too emotional about this, or not to get upset too much, since these kind of things happen and they are not in our hands, and come back stronger from this.

"It's not the end. There's still next year and this is not the last chance, so all is okay. I'm very happy to have participated in this competition – it's also sort of an experience."

Coming back stronger means continuing working with coaches Zussman and Ashram over the next one-and-a-half years leading up to Paris 2024, including the upcoming qualifier cycle to seal an Olympic quota position.

"Getting to the Paris Olympics is my biggest dream, as I'm sure it is the dream of every sportsperson. No one else, other than Linoy, has given me the strength to do what I am doing now."