Olympic spotlight on...Mikhail Youzhny - 俄網 Tennis

Q: This will be your second Olympic Games. How amazing an
experience was Athens for you?
MY: The Olympic Games is great for all athletes, even just
seeing and experiencing the atmosphere.



Q: How did you feel when you came out with the team for the
opening ceremony?
MY: First of all when you are waiting with all the
athletes, you can see how many countries are taking part.
When you walk into the arena it is a great moment as you
understand that you are already at the Olympics even though
you haven’t started to play and you don’t know how you
will play. But you can see lots of great names.


Q: Do you remember which other athletes were either side of
you?
MY: I don’t remember exactly as there were so many big
names. You have a chance to speak to other athletes about
their sports and the atmosphere.


Q: Did you stay in the village?
MY: Yes, I really enjoyed staying in the village with all
our team because it's something different in the Olympics,
and you feel this special atmosphere. We travel all the
year and we see the same faces all the time, the same
hotels. This is something new, something special. We can
stay all together.


Q: Did you make new friends in Athens?
MY: I can't say I made new friends, but when you meet up
again with fellow athletes, you can share memories from the
Olympics.


Q: What challenges will there be for players in Beijing?
MY: It's not the same as Athens. It is much tougher for
tennis players. I think in all other sports they have four
years to be ready for the Olympic Games. Tennis players
don't have even have four days to be ready. The calendar is
very tough, particularly with the time difference and
everything. So it will be a tough Olympics for all players.


Q: Are you planning to watch any other sports in Beijing?
MY: Yes, I'm ready to watch all sports. Even athletics,
which I wouldn’t watch if it wasn’t the Olympics. At the
Olympics, if you see a Russian name, you take notice and
you really want them to win a medal.


Q: Are there any particular sports you want to see?
MY: Actually in Athens, I didn't have any chance to go
watch anything. It doesn’t matter which sports I go to see
in Beijing, because the atmosphere would be really nice. If
I have time I’ll go to any one. We don’t have too much
time to enjoy the Olympics Games because of the other
tournaments before and after.


Q: What other sport would you like to be able to play at
the Olympics, if you couldn’t play tennis?
MY: This is a tough question, because I don’t exactly know
the answer. The Olympics is the Olympics. I don't want to
choose one sport ahead of the other because if you have a
medal, it doesn't matter in which sport, you are Olympic
champion.

http://www.itftennis.com/olympics/news/newsarticle.asp?articleid=19029

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