The coach of the National Rhythmic Gymnastics Ensemble (girls) Kamelia Dunavska was born on April 21, 1969 in the city of Sofia. Together with her twin sister Adriana Dunavska, she is among Bulgaria's golden girls. In 1987, Kamelia became the world champion with the ensemble of the championship in Varna, and in 1988 she was the European champion in Helsinki. He has already 26 years of experience as a coach. She worked in CSKA and Levski, in Neshka Robeva's team, in 2009-2012 she led the national teams of Greece, and then took over the girls' ensemble of Bulgaria. At the last Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing 2014, her graduates won a silver medal and were recognized by sports journalists as Bulgaria's team of the year in the youth and girls rankings. Especially for "Doctor" Kamelia Dunavska shared how she takes care of her he alth and the physical shape of her gymnasts.
Mrs. Dunavska, which medicine are you a fan of - the official or the folk medicine?
- On the official. I think it's more efficient. I prefer medication and if necessary - surgery. This solves the problem. I am very determined in this regard. I'm not one to try alternative methods.
Are your children named after Saints Constantine and Helena?
- Elena appeared first and she is named after my mother in law. Then the name Constantine came quite spontaneously. I figured there must be some connection between my children's names.
Did you give birth easily?
- Both births were by c-section because of the back surgery.
Are there any scars left?
- I am covered in scars - on my back, on my stomach. They are long, but not terrible. The doctors did a very good job.
What are your impressions of Bulgarian he althcare?
- I have no bad impressions of our he althcare. I ran into him a few years ago. My son had a urological problem and he had to be urgently admitted to "Pirogov".
The pediatric urology team was very good
I fell in love with Dr. Andreev as soon as I entered the office. I behave very adequately, very delicately. I felt that my child was in safe hands and I calmed down. Everyone was very quick to respond and courteous. They spared me negative emotions. I don't know if it's because they recognized me or because that's their practice, but I can't complain. Only the hospital environment is unpleasant, but it is the same in all hospitals.
Do you have any trauma left over from your sports career?
- Yes, I have. My spine is in a metal frame. But I don't know if it's from gymnastics. There are so many children with spinal curvatures. I think sports saved me to some extent. I was 14-15 years old when I got very severe scoliosis one summer. I twisted violently. Maybe I grew up too fast then. I started with exercises, with complexes to strengthen the muscles of the back. But it didn't help. I gave up gymnastics and was operated on in France - at the Kahlo Institute, a whole medical town on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
This was a long time ago - 1988. I had already visited all the orthopedic offices in Gorna Banya district. One of the doctors contacted the French clinic and Dr. Chopin operated on me there.
What was the operation?
- My spine was quite seriously abnormal. The operation lasted four and a half hours. They stretched my spine to free up the intervertebral space and set it in a metal frame. From both sides
i have long irons bolted on
bottom, middle and top. They fix the spine and prevent it from twisting.
Did everything go well?
- Dr. Chopin said I was doing great. So far so good. I still have those rather long metal bands - 20-30 cm each. The good thing is that I will be a grandmother who will not slouch. (b.a. laughs).
After the operation, were you able to continue with rhythmic gymnastics?
- No, I still have some movement restriction. For normal movement, everything is fine, but rhythmic gymnastics cannot be played. I can't have the flexibility needed for our sport.
Do the metal detectors at airports beep when you walk through them?
- At first they screamed. Not now. I have no explanation. Almost five years ago I had an x-ray and the braces were in place.
Since you and Adriana are twins, did your sister get scoliosis?
- No. Adriana had other problems - she suffered a number of fractures. I explain it to myself by the fact that we were more graceful in structure, and maybe we lacked enough calcium.
You haven't gained a kilo over your competition weight. What is this due to?
- Apparently it's genetic, I don't take any credit for it. I don't follow a diet. I eat everything, and in good quantities.
Back in the day, you gymnasts were on starvation mode. Are you keeping your female graduates hungry now?
- As a competitor, I have not been on a diet, I have not sat hungry for the simple reason that I did not bid. My girls and I talk about nutrition all the time now for no other reason than because they are eating things that aren't he althy. Otherwise, they are small and have no weight problems. I tell them that they should eat in normal quantities and of everything in order to get vitamins, calcium and proteins… that it is good to eat sweets before training and not before going to bed, because carbohydrates are burned by physical exertion and they give energy. I don't want them to starve, but to have a he althy way of eating.
What do you forbid them as harmful?
- All snacks, chips, waffles, croissants. Of course, they are children and cannot deprive themselves of everything, but this should not be their main food. I've tried
ban them fizzy drinks
They don't need things without useful substances in them. If they have to drink anything, it's freshly squeezed sodas.
Do today's gymnasts get injured more often?
- I can't judge. Most injuries occur during puberty and are related to growth. My team is generally he althy, but I work hard for that too. We do a lot of exercises for good general physical fitness, we also do specific exercises for individual muscle groups. So the girls become strong and able to withstand the heavy loads, because our gymnastics has become very difficult. Accidents happen occasionally due to carelessness, but they are rare. It must also be responded to promptly when something hurts them. Even a minor problem should not be ignored, but treated. And their combinations are very difficult. If our ensemble has any claim to a prize place, it must show something new, difficult and spectacular. The road to high scores is not easy.
We have a lot of work ahead of us this year because the girls have turned 15 and are moving into the women's category. So we are the second team after our world champions and this year we have to undergo a new development. We change the appliances. This season will be played with five bands in one composition, and in the other - three pairs of clubs and two hoops. The important thing is that the ensemble moves forward and develops.
