“I really don’t want to lose Ukraine. For me it will be fatal. I can say for those who don’t value it, learn to value your homeland. Because it is the feeling of the homeland, the understanding of the homeland that develops character, a person, educates everything. If you, parents, raise your child on lies, you will continue to lose him, you will not gain anything,” the coach said.
She added that she has encountered such parents in her coaching work.
“I just have clients like this now, especially in gymnastics. They don’t understand. I say: “Is it normal for you that you are raising a traitor to your homeland? You don’t understand this,” Deryugina noted.
The coach emphasized that she had visited many countries and was convinced that there was no better country than Ukraine.
“I love Ukraine madly. There is no better country than ours. And I would advise everyone that they find a place in our country. I am sure that they will help us. They will allow us to develop, they will give us the opportunity for this country to exist,” she emphasized.
Video: Visiting Gordon / YouTube
Context
Irina Deryugina was born on January 11, 1958 in Kyiv. She was engaged in rhythmic gymnastics, in which she achieved significant success, in particular, she was twice the absolute world champion (in 1977 and 1979).
In 1982, she completed her sports career, worked as a judge and coach, including for the Ukrainian national rhythmic gymnastics team. Since October 2024, he has headed the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation.
