Alexander Zavyalov: I have to give up my family and a great job for the sake of the salary of the head coach of the Russian national team of eight thousand rubles?!
The Russian cross-country skiing championship continues in Syktyvkar. The championship, to which the team approached without the president of the federation (Vladimir Loginov voluntarily resigned after the failure at the Olympics) and in fact without the head coach (Yuri Charkovsky, after the athletes wrote to President Dmitry Medvedev, publicly announced his unwillingness to work with people who betrayed him). Alexander Zavyalov, one of the most famous Russian skiers, world champion and Olympic medalist, World Cup winner, and now the official representative of Fischer in Russia, commented on the state of affairs in Russian cross-country skiing to the Sports Information Agency “Ves Sport”.
Alexander Alexandrovich, Vladimir Loginov, during whose presidency the number of medals fell significantly, resigned. Will something change in Russian cross-country skiing?
- Everything will depend on who will take his place. It does not matter what the name of our president will be - Loginov, Ivanov, Petrov or Sidorov! The problem is that we do not have athletes, children's sports are completely ruined ... We have veteran, amateur sports - but children's sports have long been gone! What can we talk about if parents are forced to buy equipment for their children with their own money. If mass sports remain at the current level, in a few years we will simply have no one to train. Only amateurs and Paralympic athletes will remain (smiles). Lastly, I want to say a special “thank you”: it’s amazing what these people in Vancouver, completely forgotten in our society, managed to achieve!
- Isn't President Vladimir Loginov partly to blame for this systemic crisis?
- I don't agree with you. I think that at the Olympic Games in Vancouver we performed not so badly. Four medals, one of them gold - the second result among all sports. On our common background, this is not a failure.
Yes, but all these medals were won in the sprint by the efforts of two coaches. Why did a remote team go to the Olympics in Vancouver?
- I cease to understand something: is a sprint not a cross-country skiing?! What difference does it make where we win medals if we win them! We created a separate sprint team, a new generation of young guys grew up, and the result came. It's great!
- Do you think that in four years at the Sochi Olympics one sprint will be enough for us? It's just four sets of medals.
- You are strange people ... Maybe over the next four years we won’t have a single sprinter at all, but distance workers will fall down! Or maybe not ... We need to look to the future. But first, of course, carefully analyze everything and understand what was done wrong. As a former coach, I simply cannot calmly look at the state of children's mass sports now. There will always be money for the first team, but then ...
Do you support athletes who have directly addressed a letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev?
- Let's be honest! If now any of the athletes of the first team tells me in the face that they receive a salary of 15 thousand rubles - and nothing more, I am ready to turn both cheeks. I personally, as a representative of the company, issue equipment and I know that the athletes are dressed and shod from head to toe. I have no idea who came up with this letter, who slipped the guys the text, but to read that someone is missing something, it just hurts me!
- Aren't you offended to read the words of the President of the Federation that the athletes are "waste material"?
- What, isn't he right? I ran off my own, and then our state ceased to be needed, turned into that very “waste material”. Olympic champions at least receive a presidential stipend of 15,000 rubles, and I, as an Olympic medalist, receive a regular pension of 6,300. And the younger generation sees everything. And it is not surprising that the guys then say: “Why should I even go to these skis ?!”
But Loginov was not talking about veterans, but about current Olympians, some of whom are still very young athletes.
- I'm not inside the team now and I can't judge for sure what mistakes were made, what is really happening there ... For my part, I know that the equipment and conditions of the team are always created at the highest level. Yes, there are certainly moments in which we miss, lose, underperform. But they most likely come from our poverty.
Last year, you were already offered to lead the Russian national cross-country skiing team. Are you ready to take on the position of head coach now?
- This is a very serious conversation. I can't come to an empty place. Who will be the seniors, personal trainers, doctors - all these questions are open. Words must be answered. I have a family, four children, a good job, freedom. Fischer, where I work, has a great relationship and I feel great. Why should I give up all this? For the sake of the head coach's salary of 8 thousand rubles?!
You know as well as I do that the same Charkovsky and other coaches have other sources of income and live far from 8 thousand rubles.
- Agree. But again, I still need to analyze everything. You still need to think a lot, communicate with people, think again .... I don't have a definitive answer to your question yet.
| 16:20 06.08.2019
Olympic medalists Natalya Nepryaeva and Alexander Bolshunov will compete at the Rollerski World Championship On August 8-11, Madona (Latvia) will host the Rollerski World Championship. There will be individual classic races, individual freestyle sprint races, freestyle mass starts and team freestyle sprints. The Russian national team included 22 athletes - 10 women and 12 men. Among them are the leaders of the Russian national cross-country skiing team, winners of the 2018 Olympic Games and the 2019 World Cup Natalya Nepryaeva and Alexander Bolshunov. Also in the team is the Olympic champion of 2006, 36-year-old Evgeny Dementiev. The full composition is reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 17:58 26.04.2019
Alexander Grushin: next season, our young team, having worked on the mistakes, will improve, and the long-awaited victories will come A joint meeting of the presidium and the executive committee of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR) was held in Moscow. The Presidium of the Russian Ski Racing Federation recognized the performance of the Russian national ski team in the 2018/2019 sports season as satisfactory. Alexander Grushin, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Ensuring Participation in Olympic Sports Events of the ROC, commented on the results of the season in cross-country skiing to the portal of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), who trained 15 Olympic champions during his coaching career. Agency "All Sport" quotes. |
| 21:30 25.04.2019
Alexander Bolshunov and Natalya Nepryaeva will continue to train under the guidance of Yuri Borodavko; Evgeny Ustyugov and Yulia Belorukova - in the group of Markus Kramer; Maxim Vylegzhanin and Yulia Chekaleva - self-training Today, April 25, a joint meeting of the presidium and the executive committee of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR) was held in Moscow. It approved the composition of training groups for centralized preparation for the 2019-2020 season. 42 athletes (24 men and 18 women) will work in four groups, as well as two men and four women will undergo self-training. The silver medalists of this year's overall World Cup standings - multiple Olympic and World Championship medalist Alexander Bolshunov and Olympic and World Championship medalist Natalya Nepryaeva will continue to train under the guidance of Yuri Borodavko. Two-time world champion Sergei Ustyugov and two-time Olympic and world medalist Yulia Belorukova remained in the Marcus Kramer group. The agency "Ves sport" leads the line-ups of the groups. |
| 19:46 25.04.2019
The second president of the ROC Leonid Tyagachev became the chairman of the board of trustees of the FLGR Today, April 25, a joint meeting of the presidium and the executive committee of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR) was held in Moscow. It approved the composition of the Board of Trustees of the FLGR. Leonid Tyagachev, the second president of the Olympic Committee in Russia in 2001-2010, became the head of the Board of Trustees of the FLGR. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 12:53 14.04.2019
Alexey Shemyakin is the champion of Russia in the 70 km cross-country ski race Today, April 14, in Monchegorsk (Murmansk region) took place the championship of Russia in the ski marathon for 70 km freestyle with a mass start among men. Aleksey Shemyakin won, 28.5 seconds ahead of Ivan Yakimushkin. Andrey Melnichenko and Nikolai Khokhryakov shared third place (+30.4 each from Shemyakin). This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 13:32 13.04.2019
Elena Soboleva is the champion of Russia in the 50 km cross-country ski race Today, April 13, in Apatity (Murmansk region) the Russian championship in the ski marathon 50 km free style from the mass start among women was held. Elena Soboleva won, 18 seconds ahead of Diana Golovan, 19.5 seconds ahead of Svetlana Kuznetsova. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 13:20 09.04.2019
Alexander Bolshunov and Natalya Nepryaeva will continue to train under the guidance of Yuri Borodavko; Evgeny Ustyugov and Yulia Belorukova remained in the group of Markus Kramer The cross-country skiing coaching council, which was held last week as part of the Russian championship in the Arkhangelsk region, recommended the composition of training groups for centralized preparation for the 2019-2020 season. 40 athletes (24 men and 16 women) will work in four groups. The silver medalists of this year's overall World Cup standings - multiple Olympic and World Championship medalist Alexander Bolshunov and Olympic and World Championship medalist Natalya Nepryaeva will continue to train under the guidance of Yuri Borodavko. Two-time world champion Sergey Ustyugov and two-time Olympic and world medalist Yulia Belorukova, who spent an unconvincing season, remained in the Marcus Kramer group. The final composition of the training groups will be approved at a meeting of the Presidium of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR), which will be held on April 25. |
| 13:37 08.04.2019
Olympic champion Nikita Kryukov announced the end of his sports career Today, April 8, the 2010 Olympic champion in the individual sprint, the silver medalist of the 2014 Games in the team sprint, skier Nikita Kryukov, announced at a press conference that he was ending his sports career. He plans to hold a farewell race and open his own ski academy. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 12:10 07.04.2019
Maxim Vylegzhanin - champion of Russia in the 50 km ski marathon; Udmurtia team won the 4x10 km relay Today, on April 7, the Russian cross-country skiing championship ended in the Arkhangelsk region. In the 50 km marathon in the classical style from the mass start, the three-time silver medalist of the Olympic Games Maxim Vylegzhanin won, 11 seconds ahead of Ilya Semikov, 23 seconds ahead of Sergey Ardashev. In the 4x10 km relay, the first team of Udmurtia (Dmitry Yaparov, Sergey Ardashev, Konstantin Glavatskikh, Maxim Vylegzhanin) excelled. The top three also included the teams of Udmurtia-2 and Tatarstan. The results are reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 11:26 06.04.2019
Alisa Zhambalova - Russian champion in the 30 km ski marathon; Komi team won the 4x5 km relay Today, April 6, in the Arkhangelsk region is the championship of Russia in cross-country skiing. Alisa Zhambalova won the 30 km marathon in the classical style from the mass start, ahead of the silver medalist Lidia Durkina by 1 minute 3.5 seconds. Bronze - Diana Golovan. In the 4x5 km relay, the Komi team (Anastasia Vlasova, Olga Tsareva, Victoria Melina, Yulia Belorukova) excelled. The top three also included teams from Tatarstan and the Moscow Region. The results are reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 21:48 04.04.2019
Natalya Nepryaeva and Andrey Melnichenko are Russian champions in freestyle cross-country skiing; Andrey Parfenov and Natalya Matveeva are the first in the sprint; Alexey Chervotkin and Anastasia Sedova are the best in skiathlon The Russian cross-country skiing championship is taking place in the Arkhangelsk region. Natalya Nepryaeva and Andrey Melnichenko, who became the second in the overall standings of the World Cup, won the freestyle cuts, Andrey Parfenov and Natalya Matveva won the individual sprint, Alexei Chervotkin and Anastasia Sedova won the skiathlon, Andrey Parfyonov / Alexander Bolshunov and Olga won the team sprint Tsareva / Yulia Belorukova. On April 6 and 7, marathons in the classical style from the mass start will take place. The results are reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 19:11 27.02.2019
Alexey Vitsenko and Evgenia Shapovalova won two victories each in the Russian Cup final Today, February 27, in Syktyvkar ended the final of the Cup of Russia in cross-country skiing. Andrey Parfenov and Aida Bayazitova won the individual sprint free style, Stanislav Volzhentsev / Alexey Vitsenko and Polina Kalsina / Evgenia Shapovalova won the team sprint classic; in the "cutting" for 10 km - Shapovalova, for 15 km - Ilya Semikov; in the skiathlon - Svetlana Plotnikova and Vitsenko. The results are reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 14:02 26.01.2019
Russian skiers are silver medalists of the Finnish World Championship in the 4x5 km relay Today, January 26, in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in skiing continues. Russian juniors Egor Trefilov, Andrey Kuznetsov, Yaroslav Egoshin and Alexander Terentyev won silver in the 4x5 km relay. The Americans excelled, beating the Russians by 3.8 seconds, the Germans by 6.3. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 12:21 26.01.2019
Russian skiers are silver medalists of the Finnish World Championship in the 4x3.3 km relay Today, January 26, in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in skiing continues. Russian juniors Anastasia Faleeva, Kristina Kuskova, Veronika Stepanova and Anna Grukhvina won silver in the 4x3.3 km relay. In the fight for victory, the Norwegians snatched one second from the Russians. Bronze - the Swedes. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 14:48 25.01.2019
Andrey Sobakarev - winner of the World Youth Championship in the 30 km cross-country ski race; Ivan Kirillov and Ivan Yakimushkin - winners Today, January 25, in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in skiing continues. Russian skiers took the entire podium in the 30 km classic style race from the mass start: Andrey Sobakarev won, 3.5 seconds ahead of Ivan Kirillov, 4.9 seconds ahead of Ivan Yakimushkin. The fourth was Anton Timashov. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 11:44 25.01.2019
Anna Zherebyatyeva - winner of the World Youth Championship in the 15 km cross-country ski race; Lidia Durkina - silver medalist Today, January 25, in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in skiing continues. Among the youth, the 15 km ski race in the classic style with a mass start was won by Russian Anna Zherebyateva, ahead of her compatriot Lydia Durkina by 23.5 seconds. Bronze - German Katarina Hennig, fourth - Russian Yana Kirpichenko. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 14:48 24.01.2019
Andrey Kuznetsov - sixth at the world championship in the 30 km cross-country skiing Today, January 24, in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in skiing continues. Juniors competed for medals in the 30 km cross-country ski race in the classic style from the mass start. In the sprint finish, the Italian Luca del Fabro snatched 0.4 seconds from the Norwegian Havard Mosebi, 0.5 from the Swiss Cyril Faendrich. The best of the Russians Andrey Kuznetsov was sixth, 6.1 seconds behind the winner. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 12:01 24.01.2019
Kristina Kuskova is sixth at the Finnish World Championships in 15 km cross-country skiing Today, January 24, in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in skiing continues. Frida Karlsson from Sweden won the 15 km mass start cross-country skiing among juniors. Silver was taken by Norway's Elena Maria Fossesholm, bronze by Finland's Anita Korva. The best of the Russians Kristina Kuskova finished sixth. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 14:54 23.01.2019
Ivan Yakimushkin - bronze medalist of the world championship in the 15 km ski race among youth Today, January 23, in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in skiing continues. In the 15 km freestyle among youth (under 23), Russian Ivan Yakimushkin took bronze, winning three seconds from Kirill Kilivnyuk. The Frenchman Jules Lapierre won, Czech Michal Novak won the silver. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 11:55 23.01.2019
Maria Istomina - winner of the world championship in the 10 km ski race among youth Today, January 23, in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in skiing continues. In the 10 km freestyle among youth (under 23 years old), Russian Maria Istomina won, ahead of Finnish Evelina Pippo by two seconds, and Norwegian Tiril Veng by 29.6. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 17:11 21.01.2019
Sergey Ardashev and Aida Bayazitova are winners of the Finnish World Championship in the individual sprint Today, January 21, in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in skiing continues. The second two sets of awards were played by cross-country skiers in the youth category (under 23). Norwegian Eric Valnes and Sweden's Moa Lundgren won the individual sprint in the classic style. Russian Sergey Ardashev took silver, Aida Bayazitova - bronze. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 21:52 20.01.2019
Alexander Terentyev won the junior world championship in cross-country skiing Today, January 20, in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in skiing started. The first two sets of awards were played by skiers in the junior category. Russian Alexander Terentiev and Norwegian Kristin Skistad won the individual sprint in the classical style. Russian Anastasia Faleeva took sixth place. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 13:40 20.01.2019
Andrey Feller and Svetlana Nikolaeva won freestyle races at the Russian Cup stage In Kirovo-Chepetsk, the third stage of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing has ended. Andrey Feller won in the 15 km freestyle persuit, snatching 2.1 seconds from Artyom Nikolaev. Andrey Parfenov finished third. In women's 10 km, the first is Svetlana Nikolaeva with an advantage of 2.9 seconds over Larisa Ryasina, 13.1 over Svetlana Kuznetsova. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 12:18 18.01.2019
Artyom Nikolaev and Diana Golovan won the classic race at the Russian Cup stage In Kirovo-Chepetsk, the third stage of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing continues. In the 15 km race, Artyom Nikolaev won the classic style with an advantage over Andrey Feller in 23.8 seconds. The third was Vladislav Skobelev. At a distance of 10 km, Diana Golovan excelled. The second time - at Larisa Ryasina, the third - at Svetlana Nikolaeva. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 14:58 16.01.2019
Ermil Vokuev and Anastasia Moskalenko won the classic sprint at the Russian Cup stage Today, on January 16, the third stage of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing started in Kirovo-Chepetsk. Ermil Vokuev and Anastasia Moskalenko won the individual sprint in the classic style. Andrey Parfenov and Evgenia Oshchepkova were second, Andrey Feller and Dina Nekrasova were third. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 14:56 11.01.2019
29 Russian skiers will compete at the World Championships in Finland On January 20-26 in Lahti (Finland) the world championship in cross-country skiing among youth and juniors will be held. The team includes 16 juniors (eight boys and girls) and 13 "unders" (seven women and six men). The composition of the Russian national team was reported to the All Sport Agency by the press service of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR). |
| 15:59 26.12.2018
Olympic medalist Alexander Bessmertnykh - winner of the Krasnogorsk ski track in the classic style race Today, December 26, in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, the All-Russian competitions and the stage of the Continental Cup in cross-country skiing - "Krasnogorskaya ski track" have ended. Olympic medalist Alexander Bessmertnykh won the 30 km race in classic style, ahead of Ilya Semikov by nine seconds. The third time was shown by Alexey Vitsenko (+1.08.5). This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 14:07 26.12.2018
Alisa Zhambalova - the winner of the race in the classic style on the "Krasnogorsk Ski Track" Today, December 26, in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, the All-Russian competitions and the stage of the Continental Cup in cross-country skiing - "Krasnogorsk ski track" are coming to an end. In the 15 km race, Alisa Zhambalova excelled in the classic style, 20 seconds ahead of Olga Tsareva, 30 seconds ahead of Yana Kirpichenko. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 15:16 25.12.2018
Ivan Yakimushkin and Natalya Matveeva won the Krasnogorsk Ski Track in the free style sprint Today, December 25, in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, the All-Russian competitions and the stage of the Continental Cup in cross-country skiing - "Krasnogorsk ski track" continue. Ivan Yakimushkin and Natalya Matveeva won the individual freestyle sprint. Alexander Terentiev and Olga Tsareva were second, Yermil Vokuev and Evgenia Oshchepkova were third. Olympic medalist Nikolai Morilov - fifth, Olympic medalist Alexei Petukhov finished the fight in the semifinals. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 12:24 25.12.2018
Olympic medalist Alexei Petukhov overcame the qualification of the individual sprint freestyle at the Krasnogorsk Ski Track seventh Today, December 25, in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, the All-Russian competitions and the stage of the Continental Cup in cross-country skiing - "Krasnogorsk ski track" continue. In the individual sprint free style, Alexander Terentiev showed the best time in qualifying (2:56.22). The second was Andrey Feller (+1.79), the third - Andrey Krasnov (+2.38). The TOP-6 also included Ivan Yakimushkin, Ermil Vokuev and Mikhail Smirnov. Bronze medalist of the Olympic Games, world champion in 2013 Alexei Petukhov qualified seventh (+5.36). This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 11:39 25.12.2018
Tatyana Aleshina won the qualification of the individual freestyle sprint at the Krasnogorsk Ski Track Today, December 25, in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, the All-Russian competitions and the stage of the Continental Cup in cross-country skiing - "Krasnogorsk ski track" continue. In the individual freestyle sprint, Tatyana Aleshina won the qualification with a time of 3:21.79. She was 7.60 seconds ahead of Natalia Matveeva, 8.92 seconds ahead of Polina Seronosova. The TOP-6 also included Evgenia Oshchepkova, Khristina Matsokina and Aida Bayazitova. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 14:56 23.12.2018
Ivan Yakimushkin excelled in the 15 km race on the Krasnogorsk track Today, December 23, in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, the All-Russian competitions and the stage of the Continental Cup in cross-country skiing - "Krasnogorsk ski track" continue. In the 15 km freestyle race, Ivan Yakimushkin excelled with an advantage over silver medalist Artyom Maltsev in 28 seconds. The top three was closed by Ilya Poroshkin. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 12:24 23.12.2018
Tatyana Aleshina won the 10 km race at the Krasnogorsk Ski Track Today, December 23, in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, the All-Russian competitions and the stage of the Continental Cup in cross-country skiing - "Krasnogorsk ski track" continue. In the 10 km freestyle race, Tatyana Aleshina won, ahead of Olga Khlopotina by 13.9 seconds, and Olga Tsareva by 14.6 seconds. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 15:47 22.12.2018
Ermil Vokuev and Natalya Matveeva won the sprint at the Krasnogorsk Ski Track Today, December 22, in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, the All-Russian competitions and the stage of the Continental Cup in cross-country skiing - "Krasnogorsk ski track" started. Ermil Vokuev and Natalya Matveeva won the individual sprint in the classic style. Sergei Ardashev and Tatyana Aleshina were second, Ilya Semikov and Polina Nekrasova were third. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 11:34 17.12.2018
Artyom Maltsev and Larisa Ryasina won the cross-country race at the Russian Cup stage Yesterday, December 16, the second stage of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing ended in Chusovoy. On Sunday, the 10 and 15 km pursuit races were held in the classic style. The results of the three-day race were won by Artyom Maltsev and Larisa Ryasina. Ermil Vokuev and Olga Tsareva were second, Vladislav Skobelev and Dilyara Sabirzyanova were third. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 19:40 14.12.2018
Roman Tarasov won the 15 km cross-country skiing at the Russian Cup stage; Andrey Parfenov - the first in the sprint Today, December 14, the second stage of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing is taking place in Chusovoy. Andrey Parfenov won the freestyle sprint. The top three also included Artyom Maltsev and Olympic medalist Nikolai Morilov. In the 15 km freestyle race, Roman Tarasov excelled. The second time - at Maltsev, the third - at Kirill Vichuzhanin. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 13:41 14.12.2018
Larisa Ryasina won the 10 km ski race at the Russian Cup stage; Evgenia Oshchepkova - the first in the sprint Today, December 14, the second stage of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing is taking place in Chusovoy. At a distance of 10 km freestyle Larisa Ryasina won, 15 seconds ahead of Alena Perevozchikova, 30 seconds ahead of Maria Kozekaeva. In the freestyle sprint, Evgenia Oshchepkova excelled. The top three also included Irina Kovalenko and Alyona Melnikova. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 13:27 02.12.2018
Olympic medalist Alexander Panzhinsky, Artem Nikolaev, Olga Tsareva and Olga Vokueva - winners of the starting stage of the Russian Cup Today, December 2, in Krasnoyarsk, the starting stage of the Russian Cup in cross-country skiing has ended. The silver medalist of the Olympic Games Alexander Panzhinsky and Olga Tsareva won the classic sprint, Olga Vokueva won the 10 km freestyle, and Artem Nikolaev won the 15 km freestyle. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 14:48 27.11.2018
Evgeny Belov, Andrey Melnichenko and Maria Istomina won the cross-country skiing at the international tournament in Finland In Kontiolahti (Finland) the starts of the International Ski Federation (FIS) in cross-country skiing took place. Maria Isitomina won the 5 km classic and became the second in the 10 km skating, losing only to one of the women's biathlon leaders Finnish Kaise Makarainen. Evgeny Belov won the 10 km classic style and was the second skater in the 15 km, Andrey Melnichenko - second and first respectively, Denis Spitsov - twice third. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
| 20:50 26.11.2018
Petr Sedov, Alexei Grigoriev and twice Maria Kozekaeva won the "Syktyvkar track" All-Russian competitions and starts of the International Ski Federation (FIS) - "Syktyvkar Ski Track" took place in Syktyvkar. Maria Kozekaeva won the 5 km classic and 10 km freestyle races. Aleksey Grigoriev was the first in the 10 km classic move, Petr Sedov was the first in the 15 km skate. This was reported by the All Sport Agency. |
Pavel Kopachev, as part of the series, spoke with Alexander Zavyalov, the only Russian skier who took the Crystal Globe.
Alexander Zavyalov is unique, although in domestic skiing there were and are more titled ones - Zimyatov, Vedenin, Prokurorov, Ustyugov. But San Sanych has his own achievements - a two-time winner of the World Cup (1981, 83) and a gold finisher in the World Cup-82 relay. The last relay we won.
There are other medals in his collection, including personal Olympic medals, but the Crystal Globes are the most valuable. In addition to Zavyalov, only Vladimir Smirnov took the World Cup from ours. But his victories are for Kazakhstan. And Zavyalov is his own, from a village near Moscow.
- From the age of 2.5 I grew up without a father, with two sisters. I loved sports, but I never thought about the Olympics and World Championships. I came to skiing in the 9th grade, and began to show more or less decent results only at the institute. But when I got stronger and matured, I realized that any goal is real, if you really want to.
Two World Cups
- In the 80s, the king of skiing was Nikolai Zimyatov, a 4-time Olympic champion, and you won the World Cup, twice more. How did it happen?
- Kolya knew how to lead to the main starts, and I kept my form all season. We then had crazy competition - to get into the top 30 on the Krasnogorsk Ski Track, we had to try very hard. The team was taken only on the basis of results. There was no such thing as: oh, young, promising, let's join the team. It was necessary to show the result here and now. Second place did not suit anyone.
- Then, probably, the World Cups were not valued.
- Yes, he won - well done. Two lines in the newspaper. Although I remember the first World Cup. 1981 post-Olympic season. The political situation is tense. After the Americans did not come to the Summer Games in Moscow, the sports committee tried to ignore the starts in America. And we have the last stage, where the fate of the Globe was decided, just in the USA. And just imagine: all the skiers from Holmenkollen fly across the ocean, and we, the Soviets, return to Moscow and wait for the go-ahead.
As a result, common sense won out: the bosses gave the go-ahead and got an American visa. Let him go for the World Cup! In the overall standings, I was ahead of the Norwegian Oddvar Bro, two-time Cup winner, by only three points. The counting system was different from the current one: seven races were mandatory - two of 15 and 30 km each, one fifty dollars and two more to choose from. Then they ran only the classics - they learned about the “horse skate” only in the 85th.
In America, according to the “tag” program, they arrived the day before the start, the time difference was 12 hours, the start of the race was at midnight Moscow time. Acclimatization is brutal, given the road with two transfers. There is ice on the track, fresh snow fell at night, it melted for the race. In short, I had to run in a herringbone, and sideways, and ... In general, I'm seventh, Bro - fourth. This was enough to not lose the advantage.
I was even surprised: with such adventures they got there. And yet the first!
- Did you get the cup?
- Even two! That year, Raya Smetanina also won, but she did not fly to America. I had to take her trophy too. There is still a photograph where I pose with two cups. Fate seemed to anticipate that in 1983 I would take another one. The goblet itself, by the way, as now, is crystal - only with the Norwegian crown on the bowl.
I was paid 200 rubles for the victory. You couldn't buy good skis with that money. And for the second World Cup they gave more - 1500 rubles. A VCR was donated. However, it was taken away at customs. But the sports committee provided the necessary documents, they returned it - they only had to pay for storage.
- What were the fees for Olympic medals?
- $229 for a Lake Placid bronze, $750 for two Sarajevo silvers.
Skis, structures, money
– What are you doing now?
– Officially, my position is Deputy General Director of Fischer in Russia. I am responsible for working with sports federations. One way or another connected with the company since 1977. This year will be the 40th anniversary.
Cross-country skiing, biathlon and biathlon teams select and test skis themselves - they have special service groups. And I work with the rest - regions, clubs, teams; I go to a factory in Austria and select skis for stiffness and weight. Recently selected 450 pairs, still need 600.
Is it true that the manufacturers leave the best variants of their national team: Madshus - to the Norwegians, Fischer - to the Austrians and Germans, Rossignol - to the French?
- Look: I am not for whites and not for reds, I am for sports. It is clear that work is being done more closely with their athletes. Surely Martin Fourcade is Rossignol's priority. But to say that his skis are an order of magnitude better than the rest is a myth. This is not a decisive advantage.
Previously, under the contract, we received 8 pairs of skis. Six were given immediately, and two were given either before the World Cup or before the Olympics, if new items were released. But, by and large, the whole season I ran on one pair. The skis themselves do not go, even if they are from space; it all depends on the preparation and functional state.
- They say that the correct selection of skis is 70% of success. And paraffins, ointments, powders - only 30%.
- In skating style - yes. It is important to choose a model for yourself, depending on the length and stiffness index. A few years ago, biathletes had a fashion for too hard skis, then they seemed to have moved away from it. But even a warm pair of skis can be caught, which will ride all season. Much depends on coordination and other physiological parameters.
For the classics, a slightly different theory. You can pick up the perfect skis, but apply an extra half a centimeter of ointment - and you will crawl.
How much depends on the structure?
– Of course, this is a whole industry! Elementary example. Cold snow, and the structure lies "warm", deep and long; Naturally, the powder is clogged and it is almost impossible to drive. Or, on the contrary, a cold ski, with a fine sanding - what can be shown on wet snow?
- Now there are more troubles?
- Why?
– Business. A structure for one pair of skis costs 30-35 euros. Just imagine - 10 pairs, already 350 euros. And there are also special machines that cost a lot of money. Plus the work of specialists, novelties that are hunted.
- The most difficult skiing tracks? Biathletes call Ostersund and Khanty-Mansiysk.
“Now the competition has changed dramatically. The largest circle is from 3 to 5 km. Basically, they ride around the stadium. All for the sake of television and viewers. And before we ran "fifty kopecks" in two circles of 25 km. Real big circle. And the heaviest? Perhaps in Holmenkollen. There the weather is "zero" - it's hard to pick up an ointment. And this is immediately - "zalet".
- Did you have powerful strikes?
- Certainly! The most memorable was December 1980, the first stage of the World Cup in Ramsau, 0 degrees, fresh snow, we can’t get smeared. Skis sometimes stick, sometimes they don't hold. Frustrated, I meet Gerhard Taller, Fischer's flight director, he is now 77 years old, we still meet. Him: “Alex, what happened?” I explain to him. Gerhard cleans off our ointment and applies his own, semi-liquid. I win a minute and a half! And the coaches... punish me. Like, you were not smeared in a team, you will run the relay only with the second team. No problem, I smeared myself, won the relay, although I went to the last stage 9th. Those were strict rules.
Georgia, Pikhler and wall newspaper
- Loads in skis have changed a lot?
“We used to have running, walking/imitation and rollerblading. Oh, and strength training. No bike. 5 km walk + 10 km run or vice versa - depending on the task. In Bakuriani, we went to the lakes for 30-40 km. There were no hikes for less than two hours. Imitation - at least 5 laps of 5 km. Nothing, not even fun.
In October, we left for the first snow - to the top of Tyoi, to Khakassia. In 38 days I rolled 1700 km! I took with me a 3-liter jar of cut lemons with sugar, the same jar of honey with walnuts, they already got pine nuts.
Before the second workout - salso. They say it now - oh, be careful, liver, stomach. Previously, they ate everything natural - meat, lard, fish, cereals, cottage cheese. 2 cups of sour cream - and go! We were naturally healthy. Until the age of 2.5, I sucked my mother's breast - they specially took me to my aunt in the village to wean me. And now children are fed mixtures for the second week after birth. Here is such a difference.
I did 500 push ups. In Bakuriani, they argued with the Georgians for a box of wine. In jest, of course. There were ideal conditions - middle mountains, spacious tracks, sun, snow, blue skies ... Relatively speaking, the right track for the national team, the left track for the rest. But they used, of course, the left one - it was knurled.
- Were there sober training camps in Georgia?
- Yes. 100 percent. Discipline is very strict. We were not allowed to go to the training camp with our family, we were not allowed to go on New Year's Eve. They didn't drink beer; so, they could afford a little champagne for the holiday. When we left, they gave us two bottles with us - Kindzmarauli and Khvanchkara.
And with alcohol there was one memory. I got into the national team in '77. For me, a rural kid, it was such a breakthrough. And so we went to the first snow. Although I plowed, I was invariably the last to arrive at the control. Moreover, the gap from the penultimate place is one and a half minutes. And Vanya Garanin, seeing that I was tense, suggested to me: "Sasha, get drunk." I obeyed - the next day not a single turn passed. It was so embarrassing. And bad.
- Strange, here the biathlon coach Wolfgang Pichler assured that beer is the best reducing agent.
- AND? What is it and how does it restore? Maybe Pichler is so used to it. But it's not right. It is necessary to recover not with beer, but in the course of work. Especially now there are a lot of different heart rate monitors and other devices that control the body. And before they listened to themselves, kept diaries.
And, you know, the key to victory is competition. Everyone worked together - 10 people - and each other was driven on rollers, in running, imitation; it is now two in one group, three in another. What can they learn? Who? Therefore, there are no results. So, shoot, unique. And there is no work in a team - namely in a TEAM - no.
Vladimir Smirnov wrote in his book that "there was a friendly team in the Union: they played cards, chess, checkers together, made a wall newspaper, and on November 7, the guys performed a concert in front of the girls."
- We were for each other. If I had not invited Kulakov or Smetanina to my birthday, I would have immediately become enemy number 1. Each had his own duties - Kolya Zimyatov perfectly drew and wrote, he was engaged in a wall newspaper. Someone collected political information, someone about sports. Then they changed. In the evenings we watched films - "Dragon Island" with Bruce Lee, "Greek Fig Tree".
We used to not even lock our rooms in Choi. I went to have tea with Kolya Zimyatov, he - to me.
Nikolai Zimyatov
- At the same time, you never lived together with Zimyatov.
We weren't close friends. At the training camp, I lived with Zhenya Belyaev or Rosalin Bakiyev. When the results already appeared, he settled alone. I have my own principles: I'd rather go to training 5 minutes early than be late for a second. By the way, I've never done a workout. He got up, went for a walk - but without unnecessary gestures.
About Alexander Zavyalov (from the book by Vladimir Smirnov "The Man-Winner")
- "Zavyalov always had the most beautiful car - a beige Volga, with a radio tape recorder and large sound speakers, curtains on the windows, stickers and all kinds of lotions everywhere"
“Zavyalov always had a tape recorder in his room, and later a video player. Yes, and San Sanych dressed in the most beautiful Adidas suit - he was a real Moscow Dandy "
Two Olympics
At the 80 Games in Lake Placid, Zavyalov took bronze at the Olympic "fifty dollars", however, he was left without a relay.
- Why?
“I went there young and inexperienced. They didn’t bet on the thirty, they said they were on the tag, but in the weakest group. He arrived 7th - the second of ours, only Zhenya Belyaev (4th) was better. At fifty dollars - 3rd. In theory, he was selected for the relay. But the coaches decided that I still have a long way to go.
- Lived then in the American prison. About her .
“Actually, ordinary cells with bunk beds. It was really impossible to sit on the bottom tier because it is low. But we mostly sat in the lobby. Before the competition, they settled in a house near the stadium, which was rented for staff. In Sarajevo, they also lived in a hotel near the stadium.
Meeting of the Soviet delegation in the Olympic village of Lake Placid
But to me, honestly, it doesn’t matter where and how to live. At 22-30 - lights out. I always fell asleep calmly and did not think about the race.
- Come on, even the great ones are worried, especially when it comes to the Olympics.
- I'm serious. I hung my number on a chair and didn't think about anything. You can't run any faster than you're ready. You can win a couple of seconds. Not more! And it’s worse to run really - if you go crazy and don’t sleep. Well, then - the same rivals, the track is well-known. What else do you need to know? You can't influence the weather anyway... And readiness is measured in volumes - I drove 10,000 km in front of Lake Placid, 12,000 in front of Sarajevo.
The start of the season is much more exciting. It is very important at the first stage of the World Cup to understand how the opponents feel and what you can offer them. If you finished in 6-ke, then everything is in order. You will be high in season.
- You caught the era of Gunde Svan - a Swede who turned cross-country skiing. Was it already clear then that he was great?
– Thanks to him, by the way, I won the first World Cup. In America, he started in the last numbers, surprisingly finished third and moved Bro to 4th place; This was enough for me to keep a tiny advantage in the overall standings.
And so, of course, a healthy elk, which, despite its high growth, was coordinated. Svan was created for the skate - plastic, sharp, hardy. He was a weirdo, like any Viking - he walked with one stick, he could walk on one ski, bending the second. The balance is amazing!
World Cup-82
The most famous race with the participation of Zavyalov is the relay race at the 82 World Cup in Holmenkollen. Golden finish with the Norwegians, the same result and two gold medals.
- No weather - 0 degrees, fresh snow. But we are stronger than the Norwegians in terms of composition - in individual races, everyone was in the top ten. The Norwegians have only Bro and Eriksen. But the start did not work right away - Volodya Nikitin lost 1 minute 40 seconds. The coaches are shocked. We encourage: "We will not give up, do not worry." At the second stage, Sasha Batyuk pulled himself up, and Yura Burlakov completely passed the baton to me with an advantage of 12 seconds.
How did it happen? There was a capricious place on the final descent - a stream flowed there in the summer, it froze in the winter, but still oozed. Naturally, it was covered with snow before the races, but the ice crust remained. And then Mikkelsplass, who ran the third stage, inadvertently ran into this ice and ... collapsed. Burlakov took advantage of this wisely.
Everything was decided at the last stage - me against Bro. There was no point in tearing from the start right away - there was a 3 km drag; could have suffocated. I went calmly, realizing that he would catch up with me anyway, but at the same time I picked up speed. Played with him, in short. On the ascents, he left me, on the descents - I caught up with him. So we checked each other.
The last finish kilometer turned out like in a western. We left the bridge, I was a little ahead and moved from the right track to the left - Bro began to press me; as a result, his stick fell between my skis and broke. I fell. Nothing to him, the coaches after 50 meters gave a new one. And I'm on my knees, and I need to catch up, otherwise everything will run away, an infection.
The last rollout is a long descent. I caught up with him, he was already finishing his push, and I just put sticks. He saw that he did not have time to be the first to cross the line, and he lunged with his left foot, pressing down on my right ski. And I threw out the left one! On half a shoe, but in front.
After Lake Placid, hundredths of a second were canceled in skiing. There, in America, the Finn Juha Mieto lost four hundred square meters to the Swede Vassberg for gold. Well, thanks to the new rules, they gave two gold to not offend anyone.
- Have you been talking for a long time?
- Ha, the scoreboard immediately went out. Nothing was repeated. And the decision was made quickly. In the evening, the Norwegians and I were already awarded gold, and the Germans and Finns - bronze. This is such an unusual world championship.
In Sarajevo-84 you went as a favorite - a year before that you took the World Cup. But they didn't win the gold. Even in the relay.
“I have been ill with pneumonia. He came to life only at the last selection in Bakuriani. And at the Olympics I ran a good thirty (silver), and in the relay there were good chances for gold. But Zimyatov at the last stage could not stand the pace of Svan, who then really blossomed. Although at the finish line, Swan failed to turn and drove into the "pistol". In the end, we were separated by 10 seconds!
But this is a sport. There are no complaints about Kolka. For my anniversary, he gave me forged skis with a dedicatory inscription "From the Tsar." Wow, how beautiful, look:
For the sake of such gifts, one had to work in skis for so many years!
Photo: RIA Novosti / Sergey Guneev (1.6), Vladimir Astapkovich (3), Dmitry Donskoy (4.5); globallookpress.com/Alexandr Yakovlev (7)
- In the yard - mid-January. Snow has finally fallen everywhere where it has long been expected, and the forum of our site, as usual at this time, is filled with questions: “How to choose the right skis and which ones are better?” To answer some of these questions, "Skiing" asked our famous skier, and now an expert of the company "Fisher" Alexander Zavyalov.
- Alexander Alexandrovich, have you been associated with Fisher skis for a long time?
Yes, a long time ago, since 1977, i.e. for over 30 years.
Then, probably, your experience will be useful to those amateur athletes who ride a lot, in various weather conditions, and at the same time choose their own skis. Interested in the question of the preferred use of Fisher skis in the COLD and WARM temperature ranges in the Moscow region?
Here the situation is as follows. Warm and cold skis naturally have different bases. Warm base - 28th. There is a 5th base, but it is mainly for water, and the athletes of these skis usually have one pair. What is the difference in plastic? Warm skis have a higher percentage of graphite. This is done so that there is no so-called moisture infiltration, since a larger percentage of graphite creates a greater porosity of the sliding surface, which prevents moisture infiltration. In the Moscow region, athletes mainly use warm base skis due to high humidity and the fact that the slopes are almost always soft, and warm skis also have softer socks with heels. This allows the ski to glide better on soft trails. In cold skis, the percentage of graphite is less, their sliding surface is smoother and has a slightly grayish tint. The design of cold skis is more rigid, designed for frosty, and, consequently, tougher tracks, and this is done so that the ski does not collect this snow under it. In the Moscow region, the tracks are prepared mainly by light equipment - snowstorms, so we should choose warm skis.
So how, after all, with the help of Fisher skis, to solve the problems of different weather conditions during the winter, and you also mentioned skis “on the water” with the 5th base. What can you advise here?
Here the situation is as follows: if we take “warm” skis - with a 28 base (not every amateur athlete can afford to have skis that are both “warm”, and “cold”, and “super-warm” at the same time), then with the help of knurling and creating an appropriate structures can solve the problem at different temperature conditions. It is very desirable, of course, that the knurling be pressing, and not cutting. The result of knurling disappears after two or three treatments (applying-removing paraffin), and again the factory steinslip remains. On "cold" skis, Fisher has a cold joint, on "warm" skis - a universal one. Fisher skis are considered universal - you can easily close the entire season with one or two pairs when using knurling. Skis from other companies, for example, "Madshus", are also very good, but they have a narrower steinslip. National team athletes can afford to have a large number of different pairs of skis, but for amateurs with their limited financial capabilities, this is difficult.
Three years ago, when severe frosts occurred in Moscow, in which plastic skis practically did not slip, I noticed that those who were on the Fischer classic at temperatures below minus 30 degrees still rode very well. Does the Fisher company and you, as a practitioner, have any recommendations on how to prepare skis for such a frost?
It all depends on the structure of the ski - a "cold" ski should be almost smooth. In severe frost, the snow is dry, and if we put a small structure on the ski, the snow powder will fill this structure, and we get the so-called suction due to the clogging of the structure with snow powder. If you take a smooth ski and at the same time cover it with cold, “glassy” paraffin, for example, previously produced green SWIX or STAR, and then process the ski correctly, then the paraffin will cover the entire structure and there will be no suction due to snow powder. In this case, you can even use "warm" skis, but they must be without structure. If you do not close the structure, then the snow powder clogs the structure and the ski starts to slow down, as if riding on sand.
From conversations with athletes, it seems that for skating, Fischer skis should be chosen a little longer than the standard recommendations suggest. Is it their design features?
No, there are no design features in terms of choosing the length of the Fisher skis. The new ski sizes seem to carry a slightly smaller size, i.e. to a size of 177 cm, you need to add another 3 centimeters. Previously, there were sizes of 180, 185, 190cm. Now the longest length of Fischer skating skis is 192 cm. The choice of ski length should be determined by the height of the athlete and his qualifications. If the athlete is well coordinated, then he chooses longer skis. Now skating is divided into sprint and distance. Sprinters choose shorter skis. This is necessary in order not to “get confused” at a distance with a very high frequency of steps, which is positively affected by a short inventory. If a person runs distance races, he has good coordination, a powerful push, then he chooses longer skis. If coordination is insufficient, and this can be attributed, for example, to veterans, then in this case the skis should be chosen shorter. When choosing the length of skis for skating, the parameters of the track also play a role. Now the tracks are well prepared, but where this is not the case, where the ski tracks are narrow, there the skis should be shorter. Therefore, I repeat, everything comes from how the athlete is prepared, how the track is prepared and what kind of competitions it is.
- Tell us, please, about the new model of skis "Soft Track"?
Under the Soft Track brand, Fischer began producing classic skis for warm weather with a lot of snow on the track. In our country, such skis are often called "defective" - when the first such skis appeared, their socks and heels diverged when squeezed. This is the 902 model, which, like the 812 model, is divided into “warm” and “cold”. Model 902 skis are generally stiffer than regular skis. When there is a lot of snow on the track, then at the moment of repulsion the toe of the ski rises, and the ski does not collect this snow. A ski of a conventional design in such conditions collects a little snow in front of it and due to this it slows down. In the 09/10 season, the same Soft Track model will appear among skating skis.
Since last season, Fischer has been installing the NNN platform on its top-level skis. Many hobbyists continue to use shoes with SNS soles and install appropriate bindings on top of the NNN platform. How, in your opinion, should the increase in the overall stiffness of the ski be taken into account in this case?
When the NNN platform is glued to the ski, the stiffness of the ski increases minimally. When we install the SNS platform on the screws, the final stiffness of the ski increases, and in my practice I have repeatedly had to take this into account, but, I emphasize, this difference applies specifically to the glued NNN platform.
- Thanks for answers!
downloadVisiting the "Masters of Sports" - Alexander Alexandrovich Zavyalov, Soviet skier, three-time winner of the Winter Olympic Games, world champion, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, Honored Coach of Russia. The conversation turned to the payment by the Federation of the expenses of the Russian team, the prospects for the development of skiing in Russia, in particular, in schools.
KOLOSOVA: Today we are talking about skiing, about skiing, because today our famous athlete is our guest, you all know him, three-time winner of the Winter Olympic Games, world champion, Honored Master of Sports Alexander Zavyalov. Alexander Alexandrovich, hello.
ZAVYALOV: Good evening everyone.
KOLOSOVA: I somehow suddenly thought: Alexander Alexandrovich. And, probably, all San Sanych?
ZAVYALOV: That's what they're called.
NETSENKO: Well, that's right, why be trifled here. I am also Alexander Alexandrovich, a familiar story. Let's just say that Alexander Alexandrovich won the World Cup twice more, it's cool, I must say.
KOLOSOVA: Quite recently, we even talked with Sasha and Anfisa Reztsova, and somehow we touched on the question of which award is the most expensive. And she says, "Of course, the World Cup." How about for you?
ZAVYALOV: Well, any award, it seems to be expensive. Well, the World Cup, that's when it all started. Then there was the World Cup of such a plan, there were 9 stages and 7 credits. The standings necessarily included two races of 15 kilometers, two races of 30 kilometers and a race of 50 kilometers. The other two are optional. Therefore, all 9 were in the standings.
KOLOSOVA: Well, this is a difficulty.
ZAVYALOV: And practically the first stage began in December, somewhere in the middle of December, now it is held a little early at the end of November, and ended already at the end of the season or somewhere, as always, in Alaska. As I had - one in Alaska, the other in Vancouver, so I had to get there. And if you tell how the final World Cup was, the first World Cup, it was something incredible.
KOLOSOVA: Well, tell me, why?
ZAVYALOV: It's no secret that after the 1980 Olympics, all of us, not only winter athletes, but also summer athletes, of course, were forbidden to travel to America, this was due to the fact that they ignored the summer Olympics in Moscow. Well, until the last stage of the Cup, the penultimate stage was in Norway in Holmenkollen, as usual, such, you know very well these starts, everyone flies to Whitehorse, this is the so-called White Horse city in Canada, and we all return home. Well, I win until the last stage, on the penultimate one I win in the overall standings, the second is Oddvar Bro, we have a loss with him, in general, two, in my opinion, points from each other. Well, of course, they all fly there, and we fly to Moscow. We are sitting, waiting, Boris Mikhailovich, God rest his soul, our great coach of the men's team, we are sitting, waiting - they will give a visa, they will not give a visa, they will allow it, they will not allow it. Well, they do, no problem. Let's fly. We fly 12 hours to Gabor, there we transfer to another plane, fly a little more, then sleep, of course, the next day we fly a little more again. Well, we arrive somewhere in the area, maybe 10 o'clock in the morning. And we are flying, only I, of course, Boris Mikhailovich, another coach of our team, and an interpreter. I say: “Well, you need to see the track.” OK then. First, the difference is 12 hours. Well, we arrived there at the start, the translator calls someone there, says: “How, here, what, how is the start?” They say: “Oh, wait, now, just a second, I will show you. You now determine what kind of track is there. ” Well, he brings the athlete down, he doesn’t have a cheek like that, it’s cut off, something is on his ear. He says: "Here, look at this young man, here he was skating today, and draw a conclusion."
NETSENKO: Along this highway.
ZAVYALOV: Well, I went to look, there was bare ice. Well, the guys have already been there for a week, as if everything, they immediately flew there. Well, I went and looked, everything is fine, good, everything is fine. I went somewhere, there was a race of 15 kilometers, I think that, probably, I walked and watched for more than an hour, because some gates were made like straw bales. Well, the track is perfect, of course, there is a lot of snow…
KOLOSOVA: Well, did you go skiing or do you just go like that?
ZAVYALOV: On skis, of course, but in a different way, only on skis. Well, and, in short, looked at everything, came, well, fine. Start the next day. Start at 12, 12 hours difference. Well, okay. The skis have been smeared, everything is fine. Well, and most importantly, fresh snow fell during the night, it closed, everything is fine, you can not be afraid of anything. And then, somewhere around 11.30, we smeared ourselves, tried skis, everything is perfect. The coach comes out, it is necessary to correct for the track, well, well, correct. They just left, literally after some 10 minutes the sun comes out, and everything started to flow. And I'm already smeared, and I have nothing. But it started up fine. But he remembered how to climb up the stairs like a herringbone, like what, what. I'm finishing. I am in 6th place overall. Oddvar takes 3rd place. That's it, I lose two points. Well, okay, fine. Well, why, while he took off his skis, while he changed clothes, for now, what. And there, from somewhere in the back numbers, some young Swede, well, I’m sort of analyzing now, I just need a protocol, I didn’t even look, in my opinion, it was Gunde Svan, young from junior age, wins 1 or 2 seconds, he is 3rd, Oddvar 4th, me 7th. From the third to the fourth, 4 or whatever points are there, and from the 6th to the 7th, two. Everyone, I win. Then Boris Mikhailovich: “Let's go,” he says, “with Benedict Ivanovich, we go like that, silence at the stadium, well, that means we won.”
Listen to the full interview with the guest in the audio file.