By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Grace and perfection have been her desires since Darja Varfolomeev first stepped into a sports hall at the age of three.
14 years later the Russian-born German rhythmic gymnast seems to have come near her boldest dreams.
Taking the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris gave proof of her profound development in the sport she loved from the first moment.
The 17-year-old dominated the all-around competition with the hoop, the ball, the clubs and the ribbon (142.850) securing the top position ahead of Bulgaria's Boryana Kaleyn (140.600) and Italy's Sofia Raffaeli (136.300).
The story behind the German success might be one of the most unusual in sports.
Leaving Russia at the age of 12 without her parents, she joined the German federal Olympic training center for gymnastics in Fellbach-Schmiden near Stuttgart. Meanwhile, her father manages her career, near Stuttgart.
"It was a tough time to go to a country I didn't know, without speaking the language," said the 2023 five-time world champion. Thanks to having a German grandfather, she and her mother Tatjana applied for German passports.
"I have worked my entire life to get to the Olympics. I always admired the mental strength of athletes performing perfectly under pressure," she said, adding that she loves to deliver gymnastic routines after choosing the music for her performances.
Under the supervision of 42-year-old coach Julija Raskina, a Belarus-rooted silver medal winner of the 2000 Olympics, the breakthrough followed in 2023 when she won all competitions at the Valencia World Championships.
"From the start, she had unprecedented potential, but we took it easy to allow her to get used to the new environment," Raskina said, adding her athlete has been ambitious every day to gain perfection.
Preparing for the Paris Games, Varfolomeev, nicknamed "Dasha", postponed her school exams "as that can wait as we decided the Olympics comes first."
The strategy paid off in the La Chapelle Arena after months filled with 60 hours of training every week.
"I am sure the school exams come early enough," Varfolomeev said with a smile running over her face.
"I am so happy to have done what I always dreamed of. The Olympic Games are unique, so much better than I thought."
Her grandfather and mother, aside from her friends and her brother witnessed her triumphant march in Paris and tears of joy came quickly after the final score. This is the first German Olympic medal since 1984 and the first German gold in history of the sport.
