"At RUDN University, you can find me everywhere!" - Elisaveta Batyrova

Back at school, I wanted to be a lawyer or economist. Once I graduated, I applied to these faculties. And then, fate stepped in: there was a mistake in the Tashkent examine database, and I found myself on the list of applicants to become psychologists. It was incredibly frustrating, but my parents told me, “If it happened this way, why don’t you give it a try? If you are accepted, psychology is really your thing!” I ended up earning enough points to qualify for free tuition, and now I have no doubt that I did everything right. Here is how RUDN University chose me!

When I moved to Moscow, I was quite worried that I would not be able to feel at home. But the city welcomed me! It was like I came to my homeland: the rhythm of life, the spirit of the capital are totally my thing.

I was rather nervous during my first days at university: it took some time to figure out how things worked. But as soon as classes started, everything went smoothly. Now that I am in my second year, the university is my home: I am here from morning till night. I perform at events, I sing and dance — you can find me everywhere! I also started learning Chinese, and I want to learn more about the psychology of Chinese people as a nation.

My main extracurricular activity, however, is powerlifting. I started three years ago, back in Uzbekistan. I went to the gym to keep my dad company, where the coach suggested that I try — and I liked it. When applying to university, I was sure I would have to give up sports. But in my first year, I needed to choose my PE specialization, and it turned out that they have a weightlifting team!

Now I represent my university at the championships. Recently, I have become a first-class athlete. In the future, I plan to become Master of Sports.

Many girls worry that weightlifting negatively affects your health and body shape. This is a stereotype: if you do everything right, you will have toned and beautifully defined muscles, not grotesque ones. When I came to the section, I weighed 48 kilograms, now I only weigh 52. At that, I have never had any traumas, because I thoroughly warm up before the workout and increase the weight gradually. The main rule is to stick to the technique and to take your time: results will come, but not at once. For example, now I lift up to 95 kilograms, but it is not my limit.

Powerlifting is good for my studies — it gives me a lot of research material. For example, now I am working on an article about motivation in sports, and I often use my own experience, along with watching my teammates. What helps people bear what seems unbearable, and not give up? I want to find a scientific answer to these questions.

Similarly, my specialization helps me work out: I can observe my condition, and this helps me calm down and not be distracted by emotions. This is incredibly important in sports, because nervousness leads to mistakes, and mistakes lead to injury.

I’ve noticed that there are three types of psychological barriers in powerlifting. The first one is fear of the barbell: newcomers look at it and simply refuse to try. The second barrier is fear of failure, and the third one is the fear of not being accepted by the team. How does one cope with them? Of course, by trusting the coach, listening attentively and remembering. It is important to put yourself in the right mood: for example, I need my coach to support me loudly, and my fans — my relatives and friends — to motivate me during competitions. Some people are motivated by music. Also, I am very lucky with my team, the guys are very friendly, and it creates a warm atmosphere. Healthy competition is useful: if there is a person with a similar level next to you, you can compete encouraging each other.

I see my future in sports psychology. When I become Master of Sports, I will be able to work as a coach. My scientific background will allow me to understand the people I am coaching, and help them become stronger morally. The first thing I will tell my disciple is: you are not competing with others, you are competing with yourself, so the person you have to beat is yourself!