| "Silver" by Dmitry Lobkov looks like little consolation The World Championships at individual distances, which ended in Seoul, brought the Russian team only one silver medal, which was won by Dmitry Lobkov at a distance of 500 meters. The forecast of the President of the Skating Union Vladimir Komarov that the Russian team can count on two medals - Dmitry Lobkov and Evgeny Lalenkov in the "one and a half" - was half justified. Lalenkov did not make it into the top three winners and was listed seventh in the final protocol. The results of the performance of the five remaining Russian participants were also not encouraging. The overall result is that the team failed the last international start of the season.
Theoretically, the Russian team could field 17 participants in Seoul. According to the regulatory requirements of the International Skating Union (ISU), this is exactly how many of our athletes qualified for the world championship, the third of the season. However, only seven went to Seoul. “We limited ourselves to this number, considering it unnecessary to bring notorious extras to Seoul, especially since the trip was expensive. Therefore, the coaches chose only those guys who could qualify for prizes or get into the top ten,” explained national team coach Boris Baryshev. For the team coach, only Lalenkov’s failure was unexpected. “Before the start of the championship, we did not create any illusions. The athletes showed results for the season. So Seoul didn’t reveal anything new to us,” summed up Boris Baryshev.
A different point of view regarding the results of the championship was expressed by the President of the Russian Skating Union Vladimir KOMAROV.
“We love to move from side to side and go to extremes,” he told a correspondent for the Vremya Novostei newspaper. - And now we couldn’t do without it. They spent the whole year transporting athletes to tournaments, spending money, but only seven were sent to the final championship. Why then did they carry everyone around for a year? Well, we would limit ourselves to those who can claim something. The money would have been better. I don’t see any logic in the coaches’ actions. My opinion: the full team should have been fielded, regardless of age. Although I said in a previous interview with your newspaper that this season only three athletes can really cling to the awards: Lobkov in the 500 meters and in the “one and a half” Skobrev and Lalenkov. At our other distances, no one is close to the leaders. Why does this happen? Coaches should first of all address this question to themselves.
- It seems that you did not participate in the formation of the national team.
- And so it was. The formation of the team took place behind the scenes and without the participation of the leadership of our union. State trainers got together and decided who to send and who not. They believe that if they are registered with the State Sports Committee and this organization allocates money for training, then they have the right to decide everything on their own. But sending people to championships and forming a team is the prerogative of the Skating Union. And next year, the leadership of the union will suppress all attempts to act according to such a scenario. I have already tried many times to get an appointment with Vyacheslav Fetisov. But apparently he has no time for our problems. And I would really like to say to his face: “Guys, wake up. We have only three athletes for the entire team who, with the appropriate training methods, can compete for medals at the Olympics. Starting next year, two more medals will be added in team competitions. Who will we exhibit? Three athletes will not cover the embrasure.” I'm happy for Lobkov. The guy worked all year and deservedly received the award. But I don’t want anyone to hide behind his medal like a fig leaf. Lobkov's "silver" is good. It’s bad that there’s nothing behind this guy and a couple of others like him. Olga ERMOLINA |
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