Just like that of famous James Bond, the life of Aleksei Bondarenko is shrouded in a veil of mystery. His apartment "headquarters" on the Round Lake sports base is densely protected on all sides by the suburban Moscow forest from invasions by inquisitive journalists. The road there is very rough and treacherous - if you miss the commuter train to Lobnya station, then in order to get to the sports base you have to follow the "secret path" known only to the locals. But my desire to get some "secret information" out of the all-around European gymnastics champion was so great that I decided to set off on my elusive quest. And here is our superhero in front of me, smiling and cheerful, ready to share his opinions on the recent European championships.

Aleksey Bondarenko: We had a very heavy competitive schedule. In the past, the Europeans for seniors and juniors happened at different times, but in St. Petersburg the organizers put us together. Because of that, there were a lot more competitors than usual. Furthermore, Aleksei Nemov and I had just gotten back from Canada practically the day before the competition started in St. Petersburg. We had just competed in the last stage of the World Cup, so we had not quite adjusted to the time difference. But the main problem with the team happened two days before the meet, when Yuriy Kryukov broke his leg during practice. So, our rookie Dmitriy Lvov took his place and unfortunately fell twice on the floor - probably because of inexperience.

Olga Alekseyeva: If Yuriy had not been injured, do you think our team could have placed higher?

A.B. I had been quite sure that we would win this championship in a walk. Of course, the French got lucky, but we have to give them credit - they performed really well, and we just had one fall after another. Dima Karbanenko was great! The French team really owes him a lot because he basically carried them to gold.

O.A. What were you thinking when Aleksei Nemov fell off the high bar?

A.B. It was awful. Basically, until that moment we had competed pretty well. The high bar is not so forgiving to us lately, we have to pay more attention to this particular apparatus in order to go on the podium and do our routine as if on autopilot.

O.A. On the high bar, parallel bars and rings it was one of the rookies who went up first, then you, then Aleksei Nemov. But how come this order was reversed on the pommel horse, where the rotation was you, then Nemov, then finally Nikolai Kryukov?

A.B. My pommels composition is somewhat easier, and Kolya Kryukov is our horse specialist, so in going up last we hoped he would get a higher mark. What a shame Lyosha Nemov fell off the horse - if not for that mistake... Afterward, he apologized for letting the team down, but what can you do - sport is sport!

O.A. How did the all-around championship happen for you?

A.B. That morning, before the competition, I was not thinking of victory, I just wanted to go out and do my routines and let the chips fall where they may. I was really calm, so maybe this state of mind helped me win.

O.A. When did you realize you were the European all-around champion?

A.B. When I finished my high bar routine I realized that no one could pass me. "Karban" [Dmitriy Karbanenko] would have needed a 10 on floor to win.

O.A. Were you happy with your result on the last day of the meet when you also won many medals in the event finals?

A.B. Sure. I got a medal in virtually every event final I qualified for - bronze on floor, silver on pommels, and gold on p-bars, though I came fourth on rings. But I did take five medals home - two gold, two silver and one bronze.

O.A. For this season, you still have two very important meets left - the World Cup final in Japan and the Goodwill Games. How are you preparing for them?

A.B. For the World Cup final Nemov and I are the only Russian representatives. I will be up on floor, rings and vault, according to my results at the last year's worlds. In Canada, just before the Euros, I managed to win floor, so we will see what happens in Japan. Let's just hope that this time Sabae is a lucky city for our team!

Afterward, we will be getting ready for the Goodwill Games. My coaches, Valery Alfosov and Vladimir Artamonov, and I are trying to add difficulty to some of my routines. Here just is not enough time to train though, we just have one meet after another!

O.A. How has your living situation been decided?

A.B. So far, nothing has been decided. The head coach at Dinamo, Andrei Zudin, said that the decision is apparently already made at the "top", so all I can do is wait. Of course, it is time to get my own place and get out of these dorms! This is not good. You have to live in normal conditions to be prepared well for the Olympics!

From the author: Hopefully now the economic division of MVD [interior ministry] of Russia has a good reason to finally fulfill its promise and give an apartment to the person who saved the honor of the country at the last European gymnastics championships in St. Petersburg.

Thanks to Nika Kim for the contribution