News

«I’m just getting into the flow». Olairi Kosu in an interview with Sport-Express

Last season, 19-year-old Anastasia Olairi Kosu became the best in the Premier League in terms of plus/minus, ranked third in mid-range shooting accuracy, and made it into the symbolic five of the regular season. In the current 2024/25 championship, Kosu has already been named MVP of the Super Cup game in Syktyvkar. This is noteworthy considering that the Russian women’s league remains among the top three leagues on the continent in terms of talent. In an extensive interview with SE, we asked Olairi to comment on the main highlights of her career.

- The most recent achievement: you became the MVP of the Super Cup game and said it is good motivation for the season. What does it mean for you personally, not just for the team?

- First and foremost, it’s an incentive to keep improving my basketball skills and gives me confidence that I’m on the right track.

- Is the workload in the Premier League sufficient for you right now?

- Yes, the workload is enough. The Russian Championship is very strong; teams are improving and looking for ways to strengthen. The RBF does a great job organizing regular season and playoff games.

- This is your third year playing for UMMC. How is this stage of your career going? What has changed the most?

- Since joining UMMC, I feel significant progress in my game. On the court, I get playing time, which I value greatly, and there’s always a desire to give my best.

- Could you share some preparation secrets? For instance, do you arrive an hour before practice or stay an hour after? Do you have a personal coach?

- In my professional growth, I’m supported by individual training coaches and a rehab specialist who work with me throughout and after the season. To make progress, you need to train hard and learn to take criticism in the right way.

- You’re only 19, but you’ve been playing at a high level for quite some time. Could you name the top five players you’ve played with?

- I wouldn’t like to single anyone out. In the team I’m currently playing for, all the girls are true professionals. I enjoy being on the court with each of them and contributing to our success together.

- Was there a player who served as a model of professionalism and work ethic for you?

- In my first season with UMMC, I played with Evgeniia Beliakova, who was our team captain at the time. Throughout her long and impressive career, she won numerous titles both in Russia and abroad. Evgeniia shared her experience and gave us a lot of valuable advice about the game, as well as on proper preparation and recovery during the season.

- By the way, do you see basketball as a job, or is it still a beloved hobby?

- Right now, basketball is my favorite job. It gives me slightly different emotions than it did when I was younger. This sport has changed my outlook on life, and now I strive to get better every day.

- What do you enjoy besides basketball?

- I like taking part in personal photoshoots in different styles. I also love cooking for my loved ones and myself.

- Do you manage to balance sports with your studies?

- I study on an extramural basis in Law, which allows me to balance my education and work. I graduated from school with honors, even though I trained a lot.

- If you have free time, would you choose to watch basketball or a movie/series?

- Lately, I rarely watch movies and series. If I have free time, I’d rather watch a basketball game. - Top five players in basketball history?

- Kobe Bryant, Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, LeBron James, Sergei Belov.

- Who is your role model in basketball right now?

- I don’t have an idol in the basketball world. I try to take the best skills from various professional players.

- Do you follow the EuroLeague? Do you think UMMC could contend for the championship with the current roster?

- Yes, I watch EuroLeague games, and it’s especially interesting to observe players who once played in the Russian league. As for UMMC’s championship chances in the EuroLeague - it’s hard to predict right now. It’s been a long time since we competed internationally, so I find it difficult to answer this question.

- Have you received any offers from EuroLeague clubs since the sanctions?

- I have received offers from European clubs, but I’ve personally chosen to stay with UMMC.

- Did you watch the WNBA games this season?

- When I have free time, I enjoy watching WNBA games. The 2024 season recently ended, and the playoff games were very exciting and entertaining.

- What do you think about being called the main talent of your generation since 2019, when you were named MVP of the European Cadet Championship?

- I achieved good results in youth basketball and deservedly received the MVP award. Now, my goal is to reach this level at a higher stage. It’s important for me to grow and develop as a professional athlete. I don’t want to stop at what I’ve already achieved.

- Back then in North Macedonia, in the final against Lithuania, you recorded a double-double (27+14), including winning the duel against Juste Jocyte. Do you follow how her career is progressing?

- After the Cadet European Championship, I was happy to see her debut in the senior national team and ASVEL.

- In August 2023, you played 3x3 basketball at the CIS Games in Belarus. How was that experience?

- I enjoy 3x3 basketball; it’s a very exciting and dynamic game. The level of contact is higher than in traditional basketball. It allows you to showcase all your individual skills and have a lot of fun playing.

- Tell us about your first coaches, Sergey and Natalia Khomenchuk. What was their unique approach?

- Natalia Yuryevna and Sergey Vasilyevich Khomenchuk were my first coaches, and I’m very grateful to them for their significant contribution to my development. They instilled in me a love for basketball and helped reveal my leadership qualities.

- Could you name the coaches who helped you the most in your professional growth?

- After sports school, my next coach was Momir Tasic, who introduced me to professional basketball. He’s a highly experienced specialist in youth basketball. Under his guidance, in two and a half years, from the age of 13, I progressed to the Premier League and made my debut with Dynamo Kursk.

- You’ve mentioned many times that since childhood you trained with players several years older than you. Was that difficult? Did you encounter any roughness, or did everyone treat you with understanding and offer help?

- I always strived to keep up with the older players and tried to learn as much as possible from their experience and unique skills. Many of the girls helped me and gave valuable advice.

- You started playing basketball at five years old. Do you think that was too early? Do you feel like you’re already getting tired of basketball at 19?

- I’m just getting into the flow (laughs).

- At 15 years, 7 months, and 14 days, you made your EuroLeague debut. What did you feel at that moment? Were you nervous?

- I wasn’t nervous; I just felt a bit excited. I looked forward to my debut with great interest. It was an exciting time, I was invited to photoshoots, interviews, and live broadcasts with famous people.

- Around that time, you signed a personal contract with a major German sportswear and footwear company. Is that contract still active?

- I received the offer from the German brand after winning gold at the European Championship, and it was very motivating at the time. Currently, that company has left Russia, so I am exploring collaborations with other brands and am open to new opportunities.

- Due to COVID-19, FIBA canceled the 2020 World Cup (for players under 17), where Russia was considered one of the favorites. Do you still feel disappointed about that?

- Of course, it was disappointing; I really wanted to play in that championship. At the time, our team was in excellent shape, and we could have fought for medals.

- The most memorable game for you with the Russian national team at any age?

- For me, the most memorable game was the 2019 European Championship final. There have been many great games with the national team, but that match against Lithuania is forever in my heart.

- Your move from Dynamo to UMMC was tough for many fans. Do they still boo in Kursk? How do you feel about it?

- Players switch clubs throughout their careers; it’s more than normal. There are many fans - some were happy, while others were not. I always enjoy it when we go to Vidnoje for games, and Sparta warmly welcomes their former players during the pre-game introductions.

- At the time of the transfer, responding to criticism, you posted a bold message on social media and started it with Andrey Arshavin’s quote, “Your expectations are your problems”. Do you regret that? Would you do the same now?

- It’s only for me to decide what will happen in my life. I’m sorry that Dynamo fans reacted that way, but it was time to move on, and I made the right decision for myself.

- What’s the nicest thing fans have done for you? Were there any unexpected gifts?

- It’s so nice when young fans give me gifts; I really appreciate it. I especially love drawings, crafts, and handmade stuffed toys.

- You mentioned that your parents met in Spain and later moved to Kursk. What are they doing now? Do you often see each other?

- My parents met in Spain. My mother was studying to be a translator, and my father was finishing his basketball career. He played in the second league in several European countries. After they got married, they traveled a lot and even lived in Nigeria for a while. During that time, my father was offered a job in Russia as a coordinator for international students at prestigious universities in Moscow and Kursk. My parents decided to move to Russia, where I was born. Unfortunately, my father passed away early - when I was six. Since then, my mother has raised me on her own and dedicated her life to my development, for which I am endlessly grateful to her.

- Can you recall the best advice your parents gave you?

- The motto of our family is “Everyone is the architect of their own happiness”. And my mother always says to me, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”.

- Do your family members call you Nastya or Olairi?

- The only person who calls me Nastya is my grandmother.

- What is your earliest memory of basketball?

- I was about four years old when my dad set up a basketball hoop at our summer house to practice for fun in his free time. But I was very interested in the basketball, and from that moment, I spent nearly all my time with my dad at the basketball hoop. The following year, my parents enrolled me in sports school.

- What advice would you give to young players just starting their journey in big-time basketball?

- Never be afraid to make mistakes; it’s absolutely normal. Try to learn from older and more experienced players, maintain discipline in everything, and remember that basketball is a team sport where finding mutual understanding with players and coaches on the court is essential.

Source: Sport-Express