Margarita Mamun is a Russian gymnast, Olympic champion, seven-time world champion, four-time European champion, multiple winner of the Grand Prix and World Cup stages. With the light hand of the coach, this gymnast is called the “Bengal tigress.” And not only because in the girl’s veins her father’s Bengali blood was mixed with her mother’s Slavic blood. The main thing is the expressive plasticity and amazing “lyricism” of her movements.
Margarita Mamun was born in 1995 in Moscow. When her daughter turned 7 years old, her mother took her to the rhythmic gymnastics section. The girl was already flexible then, and the Olympic village was very close to their home.
Her father Abdullah Al Mamun is from Bangladesh and is a marine engineer by profession. He died on August 26, 2016 from cancer. Mother Anna is a former gymnast.
She coached Margarita from the age of 11. Later, Natalya Kukushkina “had a hand” in the training of the promising athlete.
For some time, the gymnast competed for the Bangladesh team, which is explained by the origin of her father. But soon the girl decided that her “main” homeland was Russia, so she would only compete for it.
Gymnastics
The sports biography of Margarita Mamun was marked by her first victory in 2011. The gymnast became the national champion in exercises with a hoop, ball and clubs. Then came the victory in the all-around. They paid close attention to the talented gymnast and began to involve her in the training of the national team in Novogorsk. In the same 2011, the athlete was sent to the World Cup competition stage, which took place in Montreal.
Margarita Mamun training, rhythmic gymnasticsMargarita justified the trust and took the honorable third step, managing to climb onto the adult pedestal for the first time. And in exercises with the ball, the girl took first place.
In 2012, the “Bengal tigress” was already the absolute champion of Russia, having managed to repeat last year’s success. It seems that the girl firmly decided to take new heights every year, because in 2013 she again became the champion of Russia.
Margarita Mamun at the 2013 European Championship in ViennaOn the eve of the 1st tournament of the Grand Prix series, Irina Viner-Usmanova announced an update to the composition of the Russian team and named Mamun the leader of the team. And the athlete justified this trust by opening the new all-around season at the Golden Grand Prix in the capital. Margarita won first place for exercises with clubs, a ball and a hoop. But the exercises with the ribbon turned out to be somewhat weaker - here the athlete managed to take only 3rd place. But at the next stage of the Grand Prix, the gymnast took gold in all types of exercises.
The next step in Margarita Mamun’s sports career was overcome at the European Championships in Vienna. This was the athlete's first international championship. In the same team with colleagues Daria Svatkovskaya, the girl won gold. Another gold medal was won by the athlete the same year in Kazan.
Margarita Mamun at the 2013 World Cup in KyivMamun’s debut World Championship, which took place in Kyiv in 2013, could well have turned out to be triumphant. Here she was considered the main favorite. Two gold medals and one bronze – this was a brilliant result for the young athlete. Unfortunately, she lost ground a little in the final and took 6th place.
However, the “Bengal tigress” knows how to overcome failures, learning from them. Therefore, in the next 2 years there were many victories in her career, the most striking of which was the Grand Prix final in Innsbruck, where Margarita was the absolute winner. She won gold in all types of the program.
Margarita Mamun at the 2015 European Championship in MinskThen again the pendulum swung in the opposite direction: the European Championships in Baku brought the gymnast only 5th place. But at the Japanese “Aeon Cup” Mamun was again waiting for triumph. And again in all types of exercises.
In August 2016, seven-time world champion in rhythmic gymnastics Margarita Mamun performed as part of the Russian team in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 Olympics. Margarita took gold in the individual all-around.
Margarita Mamun at the 2016 Olympic Games in RioIt is noteworthy that a year before the Games, Margarita was injured, and many believed that the main favorite at the Olympics was Yana Kudryavtseva, Mamun’s main rival and at the same time close friend. But Yana had a loss in the exercise with clubs, which determined the final. In turn, Margarita performed all four exercises flawlessly and at the same time was remembered by the public for her touching image of the Black Swan.
Mamun dedicated her victory to her father. During preparations for the Olympic Games, he was already seriously ill. But still, he managed to congratulate his daughter and hold her gold medal in his hands.
At the end of the season, Margarita decided to suspend her sports career. At that time, there was no talk of its completion; Mamun stated that she needed time to rest and recover.
Personal life
Mamun admits that at one time she suffered from the thought that life was passing by. Her classmates and peers went for walks, went to discos and movies, ate ice cream, but for Margarita all this was forbidden. Yes, she often visited abroad, but at the same time she saw only the hotel and the gym where grueling training and competitions took place.
In 2013, at the Universiade in Kazan, Margarita met swimmer Alexander Sukhorukov. The young man admits that he immediately liked Rita, and he decided to write to her on a social network, asking when her next performance would be. I really wanted to root for her. Subsequently, he always supported the girl in everything.
For a whole year after the Universiade they lived in different cities and on different continents. Mamun is in Moscow, Sukhorukov is in Los Angeles. For Margarita, Sasha was the first love, and for the guy it was the first serious relationship. While apart, they chatted for hours on Skype and wrote long letters. Then they realized that they could no longer live without each other.
Alexander Sukhorukov proposes to Margarita Mamun at the Olympic BallAlexander Rite did it in December 2016 - at the Olympic Ball. The young man got down on one knee and, under the guns of cameras and cameras, asked Rita to become his wife. Of course, the girl agreed.
Took place on September 8, 2017. For the celebration, the bride chose a dress from Alena Akhmadulina. It was made of French lace. And the embroidery in the Russian style took 3 kg of pearls and 150 hours of handwork.
In principle, she is no stranger to such rich outfits. Each of her swimsuits at her performances is a true work of art.
Margarita Mamun now
2 months after the wedding, Margarita announced that she was ending her sports career. Now the former gymnast works as a fashion model, advertising clothing brands, attends social events and participates in master classes and shows.
She excludes returning to the sport as a gymnast, but it is possible that Mamun will take a coaching position in the future.
Documentary film about Margarita Mamun “Beyond the Limits”In an interview, the girl admits that she is ready to become a mother. And her husband, who is 7 years older than her, also spoke more than once about children. But, judging by the photo in her “ Instagram"until this happened.
In 2018, the documentary film “Beyond the Limits” was released, showing the most important year of Margarita Mamun’s sports career - the period of preparation for the Olympic Games.
Awards
- 2013 – gold medal at the European Championships in Vienna (ribbon)
- 2013 – gold medal at the European Championships in Vienna (team)
- 2013 – gold medal at the World Championships in Kyiv (ball)
- 2013 – gold medal at the World Championships in Kyiv (clubs)
- 2014 – gold medal at the World Championships in Izmir (team)
- 2014 – gold medal at the World Championships in Izmir (ball)
- 2014 – gold medal at the World Championships in Izmir (ribbon)
- 2015 – gold medal at the World Championships in Stuttgart (team)
- 2015 – gold medal at the World Championships in Stuttgart (hoop)
- 2015 – gold medal at the European Games in Baku (hoop)
- 2015 – gold medal at the European Championships in Minsk (team)
- 2015 – gold medal at the European Championships in Minsk (hoop)
- 2016 – gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (all-around)
The Olympic champion of Rio in the individual championship visited St. Petersburg at the Sports and Youth Sports School "Zhemchuzhina" and performed in front of young gymnasts
Sergei ZIMMERMAN
from Saint-Petersburg
Margarita answered the questions of the young athletes, received a sea of flowers and congratulations from them, and the government of St. Petersburg and CSKA also congratulated the Olympic champion. There were a huge number of posters and banners in the stands, including "Rio Rita".
WIENER SAID: "HOW DID YOU FALL BEAUTIFULLY"
- What did you like most about Rio?
The atmosphere that worked well there. But I still haven’t realized that I became an Olympic champion. This will probably come with time. But it’s good that everything worked out for me in Rio.
- How do you cope with your fears and worries?
This comes with experience. For example, in Rio I was not afraid to perform, although at first I thought it would be scary. The main thing was to focus completely on yourself and the subject. During my first appearance on the carpet I was worried, and then less and less. In general, those who are sick and those who perform are two different things. There is incredible excitement in the stands. We need to tell ourselves that these are ordinary competitions. Then everything will be fine.
-What is your favorite subject?
All. And then you can’t mark just one. The rest will be offended, become jealous and stop listening to me.
- Has your life changed after Rio?
So much attention now! But I myself have not changed.
- What does a personal trainer tell you if you are wrong?
She tries to support me. He says: “Calm down, forget about it.”
- How did you react to your victory?
When I called her, she immediately congratulated her and said: “How beautifully you fell at the end.” She was happy.
- What is the most difficult thing in your career?
Overcome yourself and don’t give up when you’re in a bad mood, when you don’t get enough sleep, when your coach scolds you.
- What was the most difficult subject in Rio?
All. Although it seemed that the main problems would arise with the tape, because in Rio it was wet, hot and the air conditioners were blowing. Although Irina Alexandrovna should not hear this - in principle, this cannot be said in front of her.
- Do you have superstitions?
They used to be. If you performed successfully, you need to put on the same slippers as yesterday and walk in the same place. Now there is no such thing. Everything depends not on traditions, but on how you work.
Today. Saint Petersburg. Margarita MAMUN at a meeting with young athletes. Photo by Sergey ZIMMERMAN, "SE"
THE PARALYMPIANS WERE TREATED DISCOUNTLY
- Will you stay in sports until the Tokyo Games?
Four years is a very long time. I won’t guess for now.
- It seems like you're a little embarrassed?
This is the first meeting after Rio at my school, I’m surprised that the reception is so fantastic. Thank you all very much. I am very happy. To be honest, I’m not used to such attention.
- Is the medal in Rio difficult?
I’m holding it now and I feel that the work of a huge number of people has been invested in it. Personal trainer, head coach, our entire team: directors, doctors, choreographers. I have a large personal team. I am very grateful to her.
- What do you want most now?
In the last days - relax, be with your family. But I understand that I will still have time.
- What moment of the Olympics would you call the most difficult?
Probably a month before the Games. It was the most stressful training camp I've ever had. Training, training... There I realized that the Olympics are a very special competition. We prepared in such a way that it was impossible to find fault with a single step or a single detail.
- Could you imagine at that moment that you wouldn’t go to Rio?
We were worried about this, of course. We followed all the news. I can’t even imagine if they treated us the same way as they do now with the Paralympians. We went, but they didn’t. This is ugly and inhumane.
- Is friendship possible in your sport?
We don't run or swim side by side - we go out onto the mat and compete with ourselves. I did everything I could, but such a loss happened. But the fact that Yana became second, and I became first, did not affect our friendship in any way.
- Did you allow yourself to relax at least somehow after the Games?
I didn’t allow myself anything like that, and I don’t want to, to be honest. I continue to adhere to the regime. I’m just trying to sleep more now, but it’s not working very well. And then, we can’t go more than ten days without training, and they’re just about to expire.
- You are a student at the Lesgaft Academy in St. Petersburg. Can you say you passed the summer session?
It is a great honor to represent this university. In general, it’s the fourth year. We have already discussed what to do next. So everything is the same as everyone else.
Margarita Mamun is one of the most talented young rhythmic gymnasts in Russia, she is a member of the national team and has the title of MSMK. Born on November 1, 1995 in Moscow. Margarita is half Russian, half Bengali. Her father is from Bangladesh. It is the eastern roots that explain Mamun’s incredible expressiveness, lyricism and plasticity.
At the age of seven, Rita began going to the gymnastics section, where her mother brought her. Fortunately, the Olympic Village is located not far from her home. She consciously began preparing for a career as a gymnast at the age of eleven. She trains under the guidance of coach Amina Zaripova. At the Sports and Youth Sports School she trained under the guidance of Natalya Valentinovna Kukushkina. In the national team, Mamun’s mentor is Irina Aleksandrovna Viner-Usmanova.
In 2005, as part of Karolina Sevastyanova’s team, she took part in the Miss Valentine Cup, held in the Estonian city of Tartu. For a short time, Margarita took part in competitions for the Bangladesh team, but soon made the final decision to compete for Russia.
Mamun achieved her first great success in 2011, when she became the Russian champion in exercises with clubs, ball and hoop. Margarita also became the Russian champion in all-around.
Margarita began to be involved in training with the national team in Novogorsk. In the same year, she was sent to compete in Montreal, where the World Cup took place. Mamun, with a score of 106.925 points, took third place in the all-around and climbed to the senior podium for the first time in her career. In exercises with the ball, Rita scored 27.025 points and took first place.
In 2012, at the World Cup in Kyiv, Mamun won three bronze medals: in exercises with ribbon, ball and clubs. In the same year, Margarita became the absolute champion of Russia, repeating her last year’s success a year later. At the competition in Tashkent, Rita was one step away from the podium, scoring 113.200 points in the sum of all exercises and taking 4th place.
In 2013, Mamun became the champion of Russia for the third time. She opened the season with gold in the all-around at the Moscow Grand Prix. She took the first step of the podium in exercises with clubs, ball and hoop, and in exercises with ribbon Mamun took third place.
At the Thai Grand Prix, Margarita won all possible gold medals: in exercises with ribbon, ball, clubs, hoop and all-around. Rita completed her performances at the second stage of the World Cup in Lisbon in an identical manner.
Soon Mamun took part in her first European Championship, which took place in Vienna. As part of her team, together with Daria Svatkovskaya and Yana Kudryavtseva, she won gold medals. In the individual competition, she took first place in exercises with a ribbon and came second three times in exercises with clubs, a hoop and a ball.
In July 2013, at the Universiade in Kazan, Margarita won 2 golds. First, Mamun became the champion in the individual all-around, scoring a total of 73.466 points. A day later, Margarita, with a score of 18,300 points, became first in hoop exercises
But Margarita didn’t listen to anyone. She is only 21 years old, but it seems that she has a long life behind her - she has had to go through so much. One day she saw on TV. And the girl liked the way they moved to the music so much that Margarita asked her mother to enroll her in the section. She was 7 years old.
“It’s quite late, because girls my age already knew a lot,” says Margarita. - For some reason, my mother thought that you need to start studying when you go to first grade. It turns out that this should be done at 3-4 years old.”
“Sasha came all this way with me”
- At the age of 13, you had to make a choice - to stay in big sports or quit school?
I was scared to take this step because I studied quite well. But, after consulting with my parents, I decided to stay in the sport and switch to external studies. At the Olympic Training Center, Amina Zaripova drew attention to me, then showed me to Irina Viner. This is how our work together began.
- What does it take to get noticed? After all, there are many talented gymnasts...
Amina Vasilovna always said that I was a girl with a bright appearance and I was immediately noticeable among the others. They also talked about emotionality during the exercises. But this came with time. And before that, it was impossible to get a smile out of me. I'm a private person. I’m used to it, I was raised in such a way that I am a partisan - I endure it, no matter how difficult it is. I, he is reserved and calm, and my mother is more emotional. Dad loved me and my younger brother very much. So lucky to have a boy and a girl. He is 13 years old, he studies in a math class and enjoys snowboarding.
- Where did your parents meet?
Mom did rhythmic gymnastics for only 2 months, but they write as if she is also a champion (smiles). Previously, we went to kindergartens, schools and recruited children into various sections - my mother was chosen for gymnastics, but she could not walk. There was no one to drive - grandfather worked on a ship, grandmother and mother were always with him, respectively.
And the parents met in Astrakhan. Dad came to Russia from Bangladesh. Parents studied together at the Astrakhan Technical University at the Faculty of Engineering. And then they moved to Moscow, where I was born.
- Not so long ago, dad passed away?..
We fought this disease together for a long time, but we couldn’t cope. I'm glad dad saw my gold medal.
And I managed to see him. When we left, and we left two months before the start of the Olympics, he was given 3-4 days. Of course, they didn’t tell me about this. But dad lived to see my victory and waited for me. He's just a hero. I hope I made him happy.
- When you received the medal, did you call him first? Or is he for you?
He didn’t call because he didn’t speak well anymore. Our last Olympic flight was delayed by almost six hours. As soon as I arrived, I immediately ran to my dad to... He didn't let go of her. I so wanted to leave it to him, but I couldn’t, because the next day we had a reception with the president.
- But before this, did you have a tradition of calling each other on the eve of an important day?
Before performances, dad always called himself to wish him luck. And then I didn’t call the whole competition. He congratulated me afterwards if I won something. But my mother didn’t even watch the Olympics and didn’t leave the house. I turned off my phones so that no one would disturb me. When it’s all over, everyone writes to her, congratulates her, but doesn’t explain why. (smiles). She still doesn't realize it, and neither do I.
Love story
- How did you meet Alexander Sukhorukov?(swimmer, silver medalist at the Beijing Olympics)?
At the Universiade in Kazan in 2013. We probably liked each other mutually. Because he immediately, on the same day, wrote to me.
- You are constantly at training camps and training...
It happened that we didn’t see each other for 3-4 months, because he was training in America, and I was in Novogorsk. I don't know what we would do without social networks and Skype. How did people live before when letters took six months to arrive? This saved us so much, because living at a distance is hard! But we supported each other as best we could. Sasha was with me at the Olympics and, in fact, went through this entire journey with me.
- The Olympics are behind us, but what’s ahead?
The Olympic Games are the pinnacle. There is nowhere higher. I am very glad that I managed to become a champion. The Olympics have just ended, and they are already asking me: well, in Tokyo? Those who do not understand what a difficult path is behind us. I won't guess. Maybe I'll rest and come back. But it's crazy work. If you continue, you need to throw yourself into the sport headlong. You can’t train half a day and spend half a day with your family. You always have to sacrifice something.
Margarita Mamun is a Russian gymnast who won gold at the 2016 Olympics in 2016, a seven-time world champion, and a winner of international sports competitions and championships in rhythmic gymnastics.Childhood and family of Margarita Mamun
Margarita was born on November 1, 1995 in Moscow. The athlete’s father is marine engineer Abdullah Al Mamun, originally from the Republic of Bangladesh. He died of cancer in August 2016. At the very beginning of the 90s, he came to the Soviet Union to study and at the Astrakhan Technical University he met his love - Anna, Margarita’s mother. 
The girl has dual citizenship, and thanks to her Bengali roots, fans gave her the nickname “Bengal Tigress” (another, more affectionate one is “Mamunya”). Until the age of 10, she often traveled to her father’s homeland - in Bangladesh she was impressed by the bamboo thickets and lotus plantings, the ubiquitous cows and chickens that the locals kept instead of pets.
Mamun began practicing rhythmic gymnastics at the age of 7 - the Olympic village was located not far from the house where the girl’s family lived. Before that, she had briefly practiced figure skating, but she stopped because of her mother - Anna was afraid that her daughter would fall and break on the ice.
By today's standards, 7 years is a rather late age to start classes (4 years is considered the ideal age), but the baby was accommodated halfway. And, as it turned out, not in vain. The gap in skill between peers and the distrust of coaches only spurred the purposeful Rita.
Sports career of Margarita Mamun
In 2005, 10-year-old Margarita took part in the Miss Valentine Cup gymnastics competition, which was held in Estonia. In subsequent years, the girl competed once for the Bangladesh team (at a championship that was not held under the auspices of the International Gymnastics Federation), but then she always represented only Russia.In 2006, a promising girl decided to connect her life with professional sports. The girl’s personal trainer was Amina Zaripova, Honored Master of Sports in artistic gymnastics and wife of musician Alexei Kortnev.
In 2011, Mamun became the Russian champion in all-around and apparatus exercises. In October 2012, Margarita again became the absolute champion of Russia, and then competed at the Aeon Cup World Club Championship, where she took 4th place in the individual all-around.
In 2013, the gymnast again received the title of Russian champion and automatically became the leader of the Russian team. Then Mamun took part in her first European Championships in Vienna. Margarita's team, which also included Daria Svatkovskaya and Yana Kudryavtseva, received gold medals.
In the summer of 2013, at the Kazan Universiade, Mamun received a gold medal in the apparatus exercise and in the individual all-around. The girl again showed brilliant results at the final stage of the World Cup in St. Petersburg, and at the World Championships in Kyiv and at the Aeon Cup in Japan
2014 was no less successful for the young gymnast - championship in the all-around at the Moscow Grand Prix, three-time medalist at the Grand Prix in Thieu, a “silver” place at the World Cup in Stuttgart, 4 medals in Minsk - and this is not the whole list. Margarita's only failure that year was her performance at the European Championships in Baku - the girl suffered three unfortunate losses and took only 5th place in the all-around.
The following year, Mamun again proved to the world that she is a real champion - gold, silver and bronze medals at all stages of the World Cup. The girl also confirmed her absolute leadership at the Japanese Aeon Cup and distinguished herself at the World Championships in Stuttgart.
Margarita Mamun at the Rio Olympics
Traditionally, starting 2016 with numerous victories at international tournaments and championships, the girl went to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.Margarita Mamun with clubs. Grand Prix 2016
Irina Viner-Usmanova became Mamun’s mentor in the national team. On August 20, 2016, Margarita took gold in the individual all-around, ahead of her main rival and friend, Yana Kudryavtseva, who was awarded a silver medal. The 20-year-old athlete scored 76.483 points based on the results of 4 exercises (hoop, ball, club and ribbon).
Margarita Mamun in Rio at the Olympics
Rita's victory came at a double price - in Rio she began to become dehydrated and her temperature rose to 39 degrees. Due to the treatment, she had to forget about training for a week.
“Of course, I'm happy. Overall I was calm. As Irina Viner says, she maintained Olympic calm.”
After the end of the Olympics, for her high achievements in sports, Margarita received the Order of Friendship and the Medal “For Strengthening the Military Commonwealth.” After the Olympics, the girl took a short vacation to rest and recuperate.Death of Margarita Mamun's father
Rita, who returned home with a medal, was greeted by fans and parents. Her father held her award in his hands and was moved to tears. And two days later he was gone. 
As coach Mamun later said, the father of the Olympic champion was slowly dying from a serious illness (according to information from open sources, it was oncology). When Rita flew to Rio de Janeiro, doctors gave Abdulla Mamun about two days to live. He lived for another two months - he witnessed his daughter’s victory, albeit on TV, and met her, congratulating her on the greatest achievement in the life of an athlete. It’s hard to call it anything other than a miracle. On September 8, 2017, the lovers signed at the registry office in Barvikha. The date was not chosen casually: their romantic relationship began on the 8th, on December 8th the Olympic Ball took place, at which Alexander proposed to Rita, and they submitted an application to the registry office on August 8th, that is, 8.08.
Margarita Mamun's wedding
Rita’s wedding was attended by her entire team - doctors, first coach, Irina Viner-Usmanova, physiotherapists and, of course, friends and relatives. Mamun considers Basta’s song “The Master and Margarita,” which her husband performed during the celebration, to be the most touching wedding gift. Margarita and Alexander spent their honeymoon in the Maldives.
