Irina Viner: I Am Nobody. Autobiography of a Legendary Coach

The first autobiography of the legendary rhythmic gymnastics coach Irina Viner. For 25 years in a row, her students have won places on the podium—no one has achieved anything like that. Yulia Barsukova, Alina Kabaeva, Evgeniya Kanaeva, Margarita Mamun, Anastasiya Bliźnyuk and other gymnasts brought their country so many Olympic gold medals that no other national team has brought to its country.

At thirty, Irina Viner could have left sports. She stayed. She led Russian rhythmic gymnastics to absolute world leadership and made it beloved by thousands of girls. At 75, she works every day in the gym—and isn’t planning to stop.

For the first time, Irina Viner tells about herself—straightforwardly, sincerely, and boldly. Her life was not just one uninterrupted white streak. Loneliness, misunderstanding, envy—well, she had to live through all of that. She learned how to be firm, how to push through herself, how to stand firmly on her feet, how to soar to the stars—and she taught many others this art. And now she shares her most intimate—love and wisdom—with readers.

— “It was hard. I endured a lot. Viner raised and tempered them for life.” — Alina Kabaeva

— “Every girl wants to be the very best for Viner.” — Evgeniya Kanaeva

— “They told me: ‘How do you put up with this?’—And what do I put up with? This is Mom. Mom does only good for her child. That was her love.” — Amina Zaripova

— “Irina Alexandrovna is a strict mentor, but sometimes she can be soft… She knows: there should be a whip—and also a sweet, tasty gingerbread.” — Margarita Mamun