What Price Fame? Kateryna Zubkova Speaks

By Jason Marsteller

PHOENIX, Arizona, January 17. RECENTLY, Swimming World had the chance to speak with Ukrainian backstroke star and 2004 Olympian Kateryna Zubkova as she adjusts to life as an Indiana Hoosier in the United States. She also continues to work through the difficulty of being thrust into the limelight for something else other than her swimming ability.

Our readers might remember her from a physical altercation with her father, Mykhaylo, at the 2007 FINA World Championships in Melbourne. As originally reported in March, the father and daughter engaged in an emotional argument captured on television regarding personal issues about Kateryna's choice of a boyfriend.

While Mykhaylo never struck Kateryna, he wound up paying a severe price for the incident as he served a FINA suspension that lasted until being overturned in December. At one point, the ban had the possibility of being one that lasted Mykhaylo's entire life.

THE INCIDENT

"Everything that happened was just a family argument and had nothing to do with swimming," Kateryna said. "After speaking with my friends and family, they all understand that it was just a personal thing. He was just upset about something that happens between a father and daughter, and not between a coach and a swimmer. I am really, really sorry that it became so big of a deal. Luckily, it hasn't hurt my relationship with my family. I still really miss them when I am here in Indiana."

One key issue that Swimming World brought up in its interview with Zubkova is whether she thought the incident may have been misinterpreted due to different cultural values when it comes to parenting.

"My parents have never hit me, and I have really good parents," Zubkova said. "I'm not really sure how it is in other cultures, but all I can say for myself is that this type of incident never happened in my family before. When I was young, my parents were sometimes strict, but it only helped me to become a better person.

Probably the toughest part about this entire saga for Zubkova is that she has been thrown into fame within the swimming community for something that had nothing to do with her ability in the water.

"Everything that happened just made me really upset because it became so official," Zubkova said. "I've explained everything to my friends and family, and they have understood and supported me the entire way. I don't think it hurt my training, as I wound up getting my Olympic time and a second-place finish in the 100 back [1:01.67, second only to Japan's Aya Terakawa (1:01.50) in Thailand] at the World University Games. That was a really good time for me, and I don't think that the fame hurt me at all. I just was not happy with how official everything became because of something personal."

Zubkova also noted her strong emotion regarding her father being able to coach again.

"I am really excited about that," Zubkova said. "When I was at home at the end of December and some in January, it was nice that he could actually coach me again."

Zubkova, however, is quick to point out that her relationship with her father extends much further than just a coach-swimmer relationship.

"Swimming is not really a big part of our relationship," Zubkova said. "He is my father, and that is the most important thing. As a father, he really helped me get ready to come to the U.S. My parents [both of whom are Olympians as mother Natalia Shibaeva swam in Barcelona and her father took fourth in the 200 IM in Seoul] are able to help me mentally about everything, because they know what swimming is like."

Zubkova also made it a point to state that she did not move to the States to avoid the unwanted fame or even to avoid her father.

"Some people have thought that I moved to the U.S. because of all this," Zubkova said. "It had no connection to me moving. I have always wanted to train and study abroad, and it just happened that everything in Melbourne and me being recruited to come to IU all happened in the same year."

INDIANA-BOUND

Over the summer, Zubkova's recruitment moved into high gear and she had a decision to make.

"I'd known about IU for awhile," Zubkova said. "I knew that Sergiy [Fesenko, a student coach and distance star during his time with the Hoosiers] was here, and once Indiana invited me I knew that I wanted to come here. I asked my parents, and they both said I should try it and that it would be a good experience for me. Right now, it is just for a few years while I train and study, then I will return home. The nice thing is that everyone has supported me in my decision."

Zubkova, who is now eligible to compete for the Hoosiers after sitting out the first semester due to NCAA rules, is quickly making the adjustment to Midwestern life in Bloomington.

"I already like being here," Zubkova said. "Everyone here is really friendly. I have only been here a few months, and I already have made good friends. I also like studying here, but it is really different from a European education."

She is also working through the differences between a European lifestyle and one in the States.

"Everything is really interesting here," Zubkova said. "Everything is really new, and is absolutely different from my country. Also, the education is much different. I really like all of my classes, mainly because I get to choose them all."

Zubkova has already started to pay big dividends for the Hoosiers, as she recently posted some quick times to lead IU to a victory at the Irish Invitational. During the meet, she set pool records in the 100 back (54.18) and 200 back (1:58.03), and also won the 100 fly (55.64)

"My first meet with IU was really exciting," Zubkova said. "The girls really helped and supported me the whole time. I like how the whole team supports each other. It was really fun, and I am excited that I am here. Everyone was happy we won the meet, and I hope we can have more good meets."

NCAAs AND BEYOND

The 2004 Olympian has plenty of goals to work towards as Beijing comes rushing towards her. Luckily, she has the experience gained as a 16-year-old in Athens to help her throughout the process.

"I didn't really understand what was happening around me in Athens," Zubkova said. "It was a good experience for me, because I now understand what it is like. I will be ready this year, and know what the Olympics are like. It is absolutely a different competition than even the World Championships. I'm just glad I will have already been part of it."

Amazingly, Zubkova already as a team-first attitude when it comes to talking about goals for the near future.

"I hope that I do well enough to help IU win Big Tens again this year," Zubkova said when asked about her goals this year. "IU won last year, and I really hope to help them do it again."

Zubkova, who is an eight-time Ukrainian national titlist, is also looking forward to the NCAA Championships and training with the likes of honorable mention All-American Presley Bard while at IU.

"I really want to do well at the NCAA Championships," Zubkova said. "It also helps to swim with people as fast as me here at IU. Back in Ukraine, I didn't really have that chance. Here, it's already helped me a lot."

Finally, Zubkova talked about her thoughts regarding the biggest meet of them all in Beijing.

"If I get my best time, it would be perfect for me," Zubkova said when asked how she would define being successful in Beijing. "Even if I don't place well, that is fine for me. The most important thing in Beijing is to get a best time. If I get a really good time, I will probably get a really good place."

We wish Zubkova the best as she continues to move on from the recent away-from-the-pool drama and on to bigger and better things in the pool.

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