University of Minnesota Athletics
Kolesnikov Plays Vital Role for Gophers
1/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
There are literally hundreds of small -- and not so small -- tasks that are required to be done around any gymnastics team. Menial tasks such as moving mats and padding to more coaching-intensive items, such as evaluating athletes' routines and giving pointers.
Quietly -- and often behind scenes -- these are exactly the type of tasks that University of Minnesota men's gymnastics assistant coach Konstantin "Kostya" Kolesnikov handles on a daily basis. Although he's often soft-spoken and somewhat unnoticed, the assistance that Kolesnikov provides for the Gopher men's gymnasts team is invaluable.
"Kostya has been with us for six years now," Minnesota head coach Mike Burns said. "When he came he into our program there was a definite increase in the quality of our coaching staff. He brings a real understanding of hard-core training, having been on the Soviet Union National Team in his youth. He brings a lot of insight for techniques and training plans that help this program quite a bit."
Kolesnikov was a member of the Soviet Union National Team from 1991-95, where he earned the honor of Master of International Class in the Sport of Gymnastics from the Russian Ministry of Sport. He credits the training he received during that time for being a guiding force in his life.
"It was a great experience, being even equal to, or more important than finishing college," Kolesnikov said. "Being part of the unbeatable Soviet Union machine, and going through that system was a school of life."
After his time as a gymnast was over, Kolesnikov continued to work for the Dynamo Sports Complex in Voronezh, Russia, where he selected and trained Olympic hopefuls in the Soviet Union gymnastics system.
In 1998, he found an opportunity bring his gymnastics knowledge to the United States. Although Kolesnikov found early success in the States, including helping Paul and Morgan Hamm achieve Olympic status, he also endured several difficulties in making such a large leap.
"The culture," Kolesnikov said, when asked about the biggest adjustment from moving to the U.S. "I grew up in a socialist mentality and moving over here was a culture shock to me. Yet the longer I was here, the more I learned. I like it, that's why I decided to stay here. A country of freedom always attracts millions of people."
Despite the hardships and difficulties that came from training with the Soviet Union National Team and even moving to the United States, Kolesnikov has maintained a very easy-going nature that allows the student-athletes to connect with him.
"I try to teach by progression, working to bring along each individual to teach him difficult things based on his ability" Kolesnikov said. "I also try to stay very positive. I will find the positive aspects for the students and try to develop them. Even small positives, I will make a big deal out of it, but I'll try to ignore the small negatives."
Kolesnikov's patience and willingness to help his charges succeed shows through in what he feels is one of the many perks of being part of the Gopher gymnastics team.
"It's important to see the students developing," Kolesnikov said. "It's very neat to see when guys come in as freshmen and then leave as completely different people when they graduate, being more mature, more understanding of life and they have more skills."
Yet still showing his winning mentality that has been ingrained in him from an early age, Kolesnikov describes the most rewarding part of the job as being, "winning competitions because you can see the results of your hard work and the hard work of your students."
-By Keith Beise, Athletic Communications Assistant
