Baku-based National Gymnastics Arena continues to attract the world’s attention. A fifteen-year-old Canadian gymnast Nicola Knowles is not an exclusion as she crossed the nine time zones in order to participate in training camp here.

- Nicola, this is the first year you perform as a senior gymnast. What has changed for you?

Oh, it is scary because I’m gonna be competing with the best gymnasts in the world. At the same time it is exciting because now I’m older, so I can have more experience and hopefully go to more competitions to improve and grow.

- Do you like the conditions created at the Arena?
Yes, very much. There are all necessary conditions for gymnastics. And the environment, in my opinion is very positive. And the team is so good, everyone inspired me and I tried to learn something new from them. The gym hall is just amazing, it is something phenomenal.

- What about your participation in the Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships in Gymnastics Disciplines to be held in March, 2015?
It depends on how I will rank in Canada, because now I’m still junior until January. In Canada we all compete in order to determine the best gymnasts. Probably Patricia Bezzoubenko will participate this time, but in the future after I have more experience I will take part in such events.

- Are you in Baku for the first time?
Yes, it’s my first time here and I love it. Everything’s so beautiful. And I think the architecture is really interesting. I saw the Carpet Museum shaped as a rolled carpet during our city-tour. I don’t know what I was expecting because I’ve never been to this region before. But I loved the architecture and the people seem so nice.
 
- Do you want to come back here in future?
I’d love to come again, I want to stay here at all (laughing).