Oksana Grishina admits she was speechless after winning the Pro Fitness title at the Arnold in March.
Now she has her sights set on the Olympia, where she plans to do one better than 2013 and take the fitness crown. Darren Burns recently caught up with the SAN Nutrition-sponsored athlete to talk about what the future might hold.
IM: Thanks for talking with Australian Iron Man. It was great to meet you at FitX this year. I heard that you had planned to perform your routine from the Arnold, but something happened. Would you like to explain what occurred?
OG: My new performance, using the pole, is a very challenging performance for me. Working on the pole is a whole new experience, with so many new muscles coming into play, muscles I don’t use for my regular performances or working out with weights. Prepping for the Arnold meant training for both the usual fitness elements and my pole moves — really, twice the workouts. My body experienced stresses and strains that were completely new to me. I hurt my back, had tension and pains all over my body, and really needed time to recover. It wasn’t possible or wise to do my routine so soon after competing.
IM: Congrats on winning your first Arnold title. I really loved your speech after you won and it was pretty clear that it was a very emotional moment. What was the feeling like?
OG: It’s hard to describe those first feelings. I was surprised, happy and speechless. My heart was really touched and anything I tried to say was overwhelmed by my emotions, which were so strong at that moment. I was about to burst into tears and I was really just trying to control myself.
IM: Was this your first time in Australia? I’m interested in your thoughts on the place and the FitX expo?
OG: This was my first time and I found Australia to be a beautiful country, and so different from what I know. The people were all very friendly and helpful, especially Mollie Stewart-Gibson, who was my guide in Melbourne and showed me around her farm. That will always be a great memory. I wish I could have stayed longer. Next time, I’ll allow more time to visit and tour a bit. FitX was a super expo, run by a strong organisation. Tony Doherty and his team did a great job!
IM: You are known for your incredible routines, which often involve characters from Hollywood movies such as Avatar and The Dark Knight. What else inspires you when developing the choreography for a routine?
OG: Yes, those two performances had Hollywood characters, because those characters touched me in a way I could not ignore. But all my performances really come from my life — the things that move me, are important to me, and shape who I am. For example, my drama routine ‘The Letter’, or my ‘Marilyn Manson’, where I worked on the street in an animal costume, or my ‘Black and White’…these are the things that touch my soul and that I want to share with an audience. They are all special to me and have their own story. If I love an idea, I will do anything to bring it to the stage for others.
IM: Here in Australia, there is currently a lot of interest in Bikini, Figure and now Women’s Physique, but we only have one Fitness professional. What would your advice be to other Australian women wanting to compete in fitness?
OG: As a competitor, I understand that Fitness is a tough sport. It takes great effort and time to prepare for. It’s a sport that requires constant focus with no time off, so you don’t lose ground or risk injury. I understand that can scare people. But if you have a background in dance or gymnastics or acrobatics and enjoy performing, it is an amazingly rewarding way to combine your training and performance and share that on stage with the fans in a way that they will always remember. Even if you don’t have any dance background but love to perform, trust me, you can do it. My big inspiration in this case is Adela Garcia — she has no dance background! It is a way to express your personality and reveal your soul. I know it’s tempting to find easier ways to succeed, but the most valuable successes take something extra. Don’t be afraid. If you take the time, and make the effort, it’s worth it.
IM: You seem to have a really busy life, so when you do get a chance to relax, what is it that you enjoy?
OG: For me, I enjoy going to the ocean. It’s a place that helps me to relax, find ideas, and think about my future.
IM: With the Arnold Classic Australia being held next year in Melbourne, is there a pretty good chance that we’ll see you back in Australia next year?
OG: Of course, it would be an amazing opportunity to come back and compete at the first Arnold Classic Australia, but we’ll see how the next year goes.
IM: Oksana, it was an absolute pleasure to have an opportunity to sit down with you and talk a little about your trip to Australia, your inspirations and I’m sure that you are also an inspiration to many women worldwide. From everyone here at Iron Man we are all excited that hopefully you will visit us again at the first Arnold Classic Australia.
OG: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be in Australian Iron Man. I look forward to a return visit to Australia. To all your readers, find what you love to do and do it with all your heart, with no excuses. Just do what you have to do.
Courtesy of: Australian Ironman
