She started cross-country skiing in first grade and started biathlon at the age of 12. For some time she combined two sports and became a master of sports in cross-country skiing. The first coach, Anatoly Valentinovich Akimov, did a lot for the athlete’s training, and also supported her financially - he helped purchase equipment. Tatyana speaks warmly about her childhood training and calls those training sessions friendly and partly family-like.

As a junior, she was only able to qualify once for the European Championships, held in Ridnaun, Italy, and took 17th and 10th places there in the sprint and pursuit, respectively. These results allowed her to get into the Russian youth team and conduct her first training sessions as part of the national team. At the junior level, Tatyana demonstrated high speed, but did not always cope with shooting at her main competitions.

The first significant success happened in 2013 at the World Winter Universiade in Trentino - in Italy, Tatyana managed to win bronze medals in the sprint and pursuit, as well as gold in the mixed relay. A year later, on the Izhevsk Rifle, Tatyana fulfilled the selection criteria and won the right to compete at the World Cup and European Championships in Estonia. However, due to the lack of qualifying points, she was forced to start first at the IBU Cup stages.

She held her first race within the World Cup at the beginning of the 2015/2016 season, for which she was preparing as part of the national team. In the first races, she did not show a stable result and was sent to the IBU Cup stages, from where, having won sprint gold, she returned to the World Cup competitions. Her best personal result that season was 12th place in the sprint at the stage in Khanty-Mansiysk. In addition, Tatyana became a participant in the 2016 World Championships in Holmenkollen, where she competed in the sprint, pursuit, individual race and relay.

At the end of the 2015/2016 season, she received the Rookie of the Year award from the International Biathlon Union.

The 2016/2017 season was Tatyana’s first full season at the World Cup stages. In the same season, she won her first victory there: on December 16, 2016, Tatyana won gold in the sprint at the World Cup stage in Nove Mesto. The next day, in the pursuit race, she retained her place on the podium, finishing third.

The Biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria, brought Tatyana a bronze medal in the mixed relay. On February 9, 2017, the Russian team, for which Olga Podchufarova, Tatyana Akimova, Alexander Loginov and Anton Shipulin competed, became third, losing only to the teams of Germany and France. Tatyana finished the 2016/2017 season in 16th place in the overall Women's World Cup standings.

The leader of the Russian women's biathlon team, junior sergeant of CSKA Tatyana Akimova, talks about meeting Dmitry Guberniev, why she does not envy Daria Domracheva, and whether she will communicate with Gabriela Koukalova when she learns English.

After the stage in Antholz, the leader of our women's team, Tatyana Akimova, returned to Russia for a couple of days. She is the only Russian woman who became a winner and medalist at the World Cup this season and is among the top 10 strongest biathletes in the world. Tatyana Akimova flew to Russia to renew her Schengen visa. On Tatyana’s day, she gave an interview to Soviet Sport.

“MY SUCCESSES INSPIRE MY HUSBAND”

Tatyana, you flew to Moscow for two days to extend your visa, and if there was no such need, would you have stayed in Italy?

Yes. We need to prepare for the World Cup. Tomorrow we will fly back to Italy. Training camps will take place in Ridnau, and from there on February 5 we will go to Hochfilzen.

- When was the last time you were in your native Cheboksary?

Last September. When there was a pause between training camps, I came to see my husband in Tyumen. On New Year's Day he came to visit me in Hochfilzen for a week. Before that, we had not seen him for a month and a half. If anyone doesn’t know, my husband is also a biathlete - Vyacheslav Akimov, two-time European junior champion. He and I are the same age. Slavik's father is master of sports in biathlon Anatoly Valentinovich Akimov. He and his wife Venera Petrovna have treated me as their own daughter since childhood. They are second parents to me. After all, since I was 10 years old, I have been training with Anatoly Valentinovich in cross-country skiing and biathlon. He is my personal trainer.

- You come from a large family, right?

Yes, there are three of us from our parents, and I am the youngest. My older sister was involved in sports, but while studying at school, she set herself the goal of enrolling in the Faculty of Chemistry at Moscow State University. She is an excellent student, she realized her goal, entered the budget, then graduated from graduate school, lives in Moscow. Today we met with her. I also have an older brother, and he has two wonderful daughters, Sofia and Ksyusha. In general, when I return to Cheboksary, I bring a suitcase of gifts.

- Your husband is not yet in the national team. Doesn't it bother him that you are more successful in this sense?

On the contrary, he is only happy for me. Constantly supports. My successes inspire him. We help each other with advice. Today my husband had a start at the Russian Cup, I was rooting for him.

- When in December you won gold at the World Cup for the first time in your career, did you dedicate the victory to your husband?

I dedicated this victory to all my loved ones who supported me and my family. To my husband, his father, who always believed in me, and in this way I thanked him.

“IT SEEMES TO ME THAT GUBERNIEV HAS ALWAYS COMMENTED ON BIATHLON”

- When did you decide to specialize in biathlon?

It's hard to remember. I didn’t think much about it as a child. We just moved to another track where there was a shooting range. I switched to biathlon with pleasure.

- Is it because he was shown on TV more often?

I think yes. In 2002, at the age of 12, I enjoyed watching broadcasts from Salt Lake City from the Olympic Games. There, Ole Einar Bjornadalen won four gold medals.

- With comments from Dmitry Guberniev?

Certainly. It seems to me that he always commented on biathlon. It was very pleasant when I met Dmitry in person last year. After all, it was only last year that I joined the Russian national team for the first time, and performed for the first time at the World Cup and World Championships.

You can say that.

- What goals do you set for yourself?

I never set sky-high ones. I trained day after day, did my job and hoped for the best. I tried my best during each race - and the result came.

“WAS NOT READY BEFORE”

- You performed for the first time at the World Cup stage at the age of 25. Are you late with your debut?

Previously, I was not ready to perform at this level. If you don't make it to the main team of the country, you can't count on success in the World Cup. I was probably ripe for big things. It seems to me that 25 years is the optimal age for a debut at the World Cup. Failures in selection for the main team hardened me, and I became stronger.

Daria Domracheva at the age of 27 became a three-time Olympic champion, Gabriela Koukalova at 26 won the Big Crystal Globe.

Domracheva and Koukalova did not achieve good results right away. I’m 26 now. It’s reasonable to draw conclusions about a career, whether it’s successful or not, how talented someone is, after it ends.

- Is shooting from a standing position your weakest point?

Until recently, shooting was generally my weak point. Therefore, before the season and now I pay a lot of attention to shooting training. Thanks to the Russian national team coaches Pavel Lantsov, Nikolai Zagursky, Vitaly Noritsyn, they helped me.

- What exactly have you changed in shooting training?

I increased my “idle training”, that is, I spend more time working with the rifle without ammunition. We do a lot of preparations. My approach to doing exercises has changed. Now I have begun to approach the shooting process more consciously. It bore fruit. Besides, with each new race I become more confident in myself.

“FEAR IS GOING FURTHER”

You are thinking about the fact that right now you can achieve great heights, earn fame, authority, money for the rest of your life.

I don't think about it. Every day I set the task of defeating myself, surpassing my own results, in shooting, in running. Continuous improvement and working on my weak points are my goals. For me, an achievement is when I feel that things have improved for me in some component of biathlon. During racing, I am not at all inclined to rely only on luck. My task is to be prepared for all the surprises on the course, to understand how not to make mistakes on the track and to know how to correct them.

Daria Domracheva is “supporting” from behind, Kaisa Mäkäräinen is “cutting” from the left, Dorothea Wierer is rushing ahead. How do you like this company?

Last season I went to the start line tense and shaking. Now I feel more relaxed about my work. I respect all my rivals, I think that they are all strong, but I am no longer afraid of anyone. I don’t want to make things worse for myself, because fear freezes your muscles. I learned to concentrate on my actions, and not on others. The fear goes further and further with each new start.

- After winning the World Cup in Nove Mesto, did you feel like the leader of the Russian team?

No. We have all strong and capable girls on our team. I hope success comes to everyone.

You and Olga Zaitseva were born in the year of the Horse, only 12 years apart. At one time, she shouldered the burden of leadership.

I'm not interested in horoscopes. I didn’t train with Olga, we know each other, I respect her very much as an athlete. But I repeat, in our team today everyone can be a leader.

- Who is the main leader in the Russian women's team?

All of us are leaders. And the funniest of us is, of course, Victoria Slivko.

“I’M LEARNING ENGLISH – I WANT TO COMMUNICATE”

Your boss at CSKA, two-time Olympic champion, Lieutenant Colonel Svetlana Ishmuratova, used two means of psychological relief during the competition - knitting and shopping. How do you take your mind off the upcoming race?

My psychological relief is communicating with my husband and family on Skype. Plus I’m learning English because I want to communicate with foreign athletes. For example, Pole Justyna Kowalczyk, a two-time Olympic champion (2010 and 2014) in cross-country skiing, once came to talk to us Russians during a training camp. It was very interesting to listen to how they are preparing for the season. I also like to read psychological books, fiction, and biographies of great people.

“I DON’T ENVY DOMRACHEVA”

- There is a new stage in the biographies of your idols Ole Einar Bjornadalen and Daria Domracheva. Are you jealous of Daria?

I don't envy anyone. On the contrary, I am very glad that after the birth of the child, Daria is gaining shape. The example of this wonderful couple energizes me, inspires me, you look up to them.

- How soon do you plan to become a mother?

In the near future - no.

When you learn English, will you communicate with the Czech biathlete Koukalova, who speaks negatively about Russian athletes?

Every person has their own opinion. From her position, she thinks so. I can't judge anyone. I will say hello to every biathlete and smile at each one. For example, in the changing room we often exchange emotions after the race with Wierer, with all the French women, the American Susan Dunkley, and the Italian Federica Sanfilippo.

Russian national team coach Vitaly Noritsyn is seven years older than you. Is the age difference between the athlete and the mentor too small?

At first I was surprised that we would have such a young coach. Then I realized that this was even good. Because quite recently he was an athlete, he remembers all the sensations, he knows perfectly well what bothers the athlete. It's easy to communicate with him.

- Do the coaches tell you the composition of the team for the relay race on the morning of the race?

No, the night before the race at the team meeting.

- After which you cannot sleep from pre-race excitement...

No. I'm sleeping. Everything is fine. I'm already used to it.

- What is your favorite stage in the relay?

There is no favorite. I ran both the first and second stages. It’s a pity that I didn’t take part in relay races much. We didn’t have teams in the region, so you can count on your fingers how many relay races I’ve run in my life.

After the last relay race with your participation in Antholz, the head coach of the Russian national team, Alexander Kasperovich, said that two falls on the track would be a lesson for you. What did you take away from that incident?

No need to ride next to the grid. There I drove onto ice and my ski slipped. The second lesson is that you need to pull yourself together after a mistake and improve the race efficiently.

After you won two medals at the World Cup in Nove Mesto, the hail of critical arrows towards women's Russia has almost dried up. Did you feel it?

I try not to read negative comments. People are different. There are also a lot of good reviews. Of course, we would like to be supported not only after victories. We really try to give our best in every race.

Anna Frolina (née Bulygina, world relay champion in 2009 as part of the Russian team) accepted Korean citizenship in order to compete at the Olympic Games in 2018. Could you change your citizenship for this opportunity?

I can't blame anyone. Every person acts depending on the circumstances in which he finds himself. Personally, I had no thoughts of changing citizenship. I always dreamed of playing for Russia.

“OVER THE YEARS I HAVE BECOME STRONGER”

Were you very worried on January 21 in Antholz during the extended meeting of the IBU Executive Committee, where McLaren’s report was discussed?

There were no worries, especially when nothing depends on you. As they decide, so they will decide. I always hope for the best and believe that everything will be fine.

- What will you take with you from Russia to the World Championships in Hochfilzen?

Since I didn’t get to Cheboksary, it’s okay. Nothing from food either. There is enough food in Europe. True, not everywhere they serve milk porridge for breakfast, which I love. Instead of porridge - muesli. But, for example, in Antholz the hotel had rice porridge.

- Where do you keep the gold and bronze medals for the December successes in Nove Mesto?

They are with me, I will take them to the World Championships in Hochfilzen. You will be able to come home to Cheboksary only after the end of the season.

- At the Cheboksary Polytechnic University they are already waiting for student Akimova.

The rector of this university, Alexander Viktorovich Agafonov, supports me. Calls and texts constantly. I graduated from the Faculty of Management at this university and am now studying law. After all, biathlon is not forever.

The World Championships in Hochfilzen will end on February 19, and on February 22 the III Winter World Military Games will start in Sochi. As a military woman, will you take part in them?

I plan to come to Sochi for two races, a sprint and a mixed relay. Among the candidates for participation in the Games are other CSKA biathletes: Ulyana Kaisheva, Anastasia Zagoruiko, Galina Nechkasova. The coach of the CSKA biathlon and cross-country skiing team, Major Nikolai Pankratov, and the coach of the sports team (winter sports), Lieutenant Viktor Vasiliev, constantly support us. And we will try to perform well at these Games in Sochi.

Remember the lines from Agnia Barto’s poem “Our Tanya is crying loudly”? Do you cry often, and what can make you shed tears?

Since childhood I have been very vulnerable. I don't need much effort to cry. I'm very sensitive. I can also cry from joy. It used to be easier to offend me, but over the years I have become stronger.

Tatiana AKIMOVA (Semenova)

She was born on October 26, 1990 in Cheboksary, where she started playing sports. First and personal trainer Anatoly Valentinovich Akimov. Graduate of the Youth Sports School named after. A. Tikhonova Master of Sports in cross-country skiing. Performed under her maiden name Semenova

Winner of the XXVI World Winter Universiade in the mixed relay, bronze medalist in the 7.5 km sprint and bronze medalist in the pursuit race (2013, Trentino).

On June 1, 2015, she married biathlete Vyacheslav Akimov and changed her last name. Her debut at the World Cup happened last season in Östersund, where she finished only 83rd in the sprint with three penalties in the standing position.

Winner and medalist of the World Cup stages. Master of Sports of International Class (2015). Winner of the IBU Awards in the category “Rookie of the Year” for the 2015/2016 season, and took 45th place overall (145 points).

After six stages in the overall standings of the 2016/17 World Cup, it ranks 10th (393 points).

At the 2016 World Championships in Holmenkollen she started in four races. She finished 28th in the sprint, 26th in the pursuit, 39th in the individual race, and together with the team in the relay she became 11th.

Higher education. Lives in Cheboksary.

Tatyana Akimova: Women don’t have their own Shipulin yet

Tatyana Akimova is currently at a training camp with the Russian national team, but still found time to give an interview to Soviet Sport.

“MY TALISMAN IS MY FAMILY”

Tatyana, this season is special. Any thoughts: would it be quicker to get to Pyeongchang, to the track, or is this Olympics at the wrong time, to gain more experience?
- I really don’t have enough experience yet, but no one will reschedule the Olympics for me. I look at everything optimistically. If I’m lucky enough to qualify for the Olympics and compete at the Games in Pyeongchang, then I need to prepare well for it. Now we need to work hard and progress. Well, then the result will show what I deserve.

- You performed in Pyeongchang. What advice would you give, what surprises should you be prepared for?
- Each track has its own characteristics, but there is nothing unusual on the Olympic track in Pyeongchang. The vagaries of the weather there cause problems: sometimes there is ice, sometimes there is porridge. At least that's what happened last year.

- But you still need to get to the Olympics...
- There is a lot of competition in our team; no one is guaranteed a place in the team. Therefore, in all training and competitions you need to show your maximum.

Last year you made your debut at the World Championships and won bronze in your first race, in the mixed relay. Do you remember how you felt before the start?
- The coaches brought us to the main start of the season at the peak of shape both physically and psychologically. You know, I was absolutely calm. But at the same time she is highly motivated and charged to fight.

- Do you have a mascot that you will take to Pyeongchang?
- I don’t have a talisman. The best talisman will be the support of my loved ones - my husband Slava and my coach. Do we talk on the phone often? Several times a day.

PRIVATE BUSSINESS
Tatiana AKIMOVA
Born October 26, 1990 in Cheboksary
Winner and medalist of the World Cup stages, bronze medalist of the 2017 World Championships in the mixed relay.

“I EXAMINED SKIERS’ STROKING TECHNIQUES”

- You warmly thanked Svetlana Sleptsova when she announced her retirement. Why?
- Sveta surprised many: ending her career on such a note, it’s impressive. She was an example for many young athletes. I have great respect for her.

- Do you have girlfriends on the national team, or are you just colleagues?
- During training, on the track, we are competitors, but off the track we get along great. Did you become particularly close to anyone? There is no such thing, we all communicate well - we are friends with the whole team. We usually share a room with Irina Uslugina, so we communicate with her a little more.

- It is believed that competition among women is tougher than among men.
- You're right. In our team, everyone can show high results, everyone is approximately equal. It is Anton Shipulin who stands out among men; among women there is no such leader yet.

- When faced with injustice, do you find it difficult to contain your emotions?
- If I see injustice, I can’t ignore it, I try to express my opinion in order to somehow influence the situation.

- What other sport do you like?
- Ski race. In Ramsau we met our skiers. It was interesting to talk with them, to see how Nikita Kryukov and Sergei Ustyugov train.

- Did you see anything useful for yourself?
- Technique of movement. It was also interesting to see how much work they put in during training. We asked their coaches questions, they did not hide anything, they gave us useful advice.

“IMPRESSED BY BJERN DALEY’S BIOGRAPHY”

- You've been reading a lot lately. What literature are you interested in?
- First of all, biographies of great athletes. I read with interest the biography of Björn Daly. After reading such books, it’s as if wings grow.

- When do you find time to read: during flights?
- Yes, during flights I try not to waste time. Whenever I have a free evening, I also devote it to reading.

- You recently had a birthday. And that day in training you shot zero. Is this somehow related?
- I think yes. I had emotional and mental peace throughout the day. I completely focused on my work, didn’t get distracted by anything, and this was the result.

- I know that your husband has prepared a surprise for you on this day. Tell me what it was?
- I came to the hotel after training. The reception called me and said that a courier had arrived and brought a gift. I immediately guessed that it was from my husband, I was intrigued. I went downstairs and flowers, balloons and a gift were waiting for me. I’ll leave it a secret what my husband gave me. I would like to thank him for giving me joy with such unexpected surprises.

- I know that you are studying English intensively. What methods do you use to master a language?
- In the spring I studied with a tutor. Now we communicate with her on Skype, she gives me tasks, I carry them out.

- Did you try out new knowledge on any foreigners?
- We communicate well with Federica Sanfilippo (Italian biathlete - editor's note), she knows Russian well. And when I can’t say something in English, I switch to Russian and Federica understands everything.

- Which biathlete is always positive?
- Of course, Italians. It's easy to communicate with them. But we also communicate well with girls from Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

- The main thing in a language is to learn words. You can wear headphones during training, and that’s double the benefit.
- You guessed it, that's what I do. During cross-country courses I take an English course. But during ski training or shooting classes, you need one hundred percent concentration - there is no time for headphones.

“I AM A VULNERABLE PERSON, BUT I HAVE LEARNED TO HIDE IT”

- You give the impression of a vulnerable person. This is true?
- Yes it's true. But in recent years I have learned to fight this vulnerability - to restrain myself. In today's life, vulnerability gets in the way.

You criticized the authorities on social networks for the too slow construction of the biathlon center in Cheboksary. Did your cry from the heart accelerate the construction?
- After that, I came to Cheboksary and did not see any progress. I want this complex to be finally completed. They have been promising it to us for many years. In Cheboksary, many young people are involved in biathlon, they need to train in normal conditions. Therefore, I appeal from the residents of the entire Republic of Chuvashia to our authorities: build this complex already, people really need it!

- Are you a popular person in Cheboksary?
- In our republic they love biathlon and know all the leading athletes.

- Modestly. Let me ask you this: are you recognized on the streets?
- Happens. They come up and say some kind words. It is very nice. And some then write on social networks: “I saw you in such and such a store, but I was too shy to come up.”

- How many days a year are you at home?
- Let's take last year. In November we went abroad and celebrated the New Year in Austria. With the permission of the coaching staff, my husband Slava came to see me for a couple of days. The next time I came to Cheboksary was only in April. So count how long we are at home. In total, a couple of months accumulate in a year.

- How are your visits celebrated: does all your relatives gather?
- You can gather everyone, but I usually come for only a few days. Therefore, we gather only with the closest people - my family and Slavik’s family.

- You once swam in a lake in Pokljuka when the water temperature was plus 15. Do you like extreme sports?
- Every day in the morning and after training I take a contrast shower and also douse myself with cold water. Therefore, I don’t consider swimming in this lake something extreme.

- Can you jump with a parachute, or ski down a steep slope?
- In Estonia, we jumped from a tower into the water from a height of four meters. It wasn't easy for me. I don’t think I would have dared to jump with a parachute.

- But for biathletes it’s not a problem to get on alpine skis...
- We practice this in training. This helps with descents, and that’s exactly what I have problems with. But we’re not doing downhill racing.

- How do you feel about the fact that you are included in the ranking of the most beautiful biathletes?
- I haven’t heard about it. Is it really included? I think that there are many beautiful girls among biathletes. For example, Dorothea Wierer is a real beauty, and there are pretty girls on our team.

Russian biathlon star Tatyana Akimova recently became famous and is now rightfully considered one of the main contenders for gold in the competitions of the current season.

Biography

The future athlete was born in 1990 in the suburbs of Cheboksary. Tatyana is Chuvash by nationality. From the first grade, the girl enrolled in the cross-country skiing section and began to show good results in training. She also managed to study well in secondary school and most of all loved humanities subjects.

But gradually the sport came first, friends appeared in the section and even a first love, which grew into a family in adulthood.

While skiing, Tanya always imagined herself with a weapon in her hand and watched famous biathletes. At the age of 12, she was offered to join the biathlon section, and she agreed without hesitation. Perseverance and regular training very quickly made it possible to show good results on the ski slopes of Russia and the world.

Sports career

Tatyana got into biathlon thanks to her coach, and more recently, her father-in-law Anatoly Akimov. He became for her not only a coach at a sports school, but also a personal trainer. The coach not only trained the young athlete, but also helped with the purchase of expensive equipment for sports competitions.

At the beginning of her career, Tatyana was a member of the country's youth team and in 2011 she made her debut in its composition for the first time at the European Championship. But only six months later she was able to show a good result at the Russian Summer Biathlon Championship. From there, the biathlete brought silver and got the opportunity to compete at the World Championships. But, unfortunately, she did not achieve victory there.

But already in 2013, Tatyana managed to prove herself at the Winter Universiade in Italy. She won the relay and a prize in the individual race.

In 2014, Tatyana again took part in summer biathlon competitions at the World Championships. But she failed to show good results in any category.

But in the winter season, at competitions in Izhevsk, the biathlon star rehabilitated herself and showed good results in the sprint, and took third place in the individual race.

These victories became a ticket to the World Cup, and in December 2015 she competed in Östersund. But Tanya was the last to reach the finish line.

Only in 2016 did Tatiana achieve the long-awaited success, and she was able to win the sprint. This happened at the World Cup stage in the Czech Republic. This victory became significant not only for the biathlete, but also for the entire Russian team.

Personal life

The love of Tatyana Akimova’s life is her current husband Vyacheslav Akimov, the son of her coach. The young people have known each other since childhood and did biathlon together, and in 2015 they got married.

A sports family is always together, young people do what they love - biathlon, and also spend leisure time together and do household chores, as Akimova demonstrates on Instagram.

Social media

Biathlete Tatyana Akimova on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tanyaakimova1/. Here she posts photos from training, as well as pictures with her husband and fellow biathletes.

Personal page of the athlete VKontakte - https://vk.com/id36898647. Here the information echoes posts from Instagram. Also from here we managed to find out that the other day the girl will compete in the individual race in Östersund, Sweden. There is also a fan group on VKontakte athletes - https://vk.com/we_love_tatianasemenova.

Unfortunately, we were unable to find Tanya’s personal and official pages on Odnoklassniki, Twitter and Facebook. Apparently, the heroine does not have enough time to maintain additional social pages.

The great victories of biathlete Tatyana Akimova are still ahead. Her fans under every post wish her good luck and gold medals.

The Russian biathlon team completed its performances in individual disciplines on Saturday, and there is only one race ahead, the mixed relay. No one made it into the men’s mass start, and for other relay races we simply don’t have enough people. And the women's mass start sounded like a parable: two Russians took first and last places there.

Tatyana Akimova - a person with a reputation as a supposed sniper - missed one of the lines five times and finished the race 30th out of 30 participants. And Anastasia Kuzmina won. The trouble, however, is that all three golds (and a bunch of other medals) of Anton Shipulin’s sister at three (!) Olympics went not to Russia, but to Slovakia.

Now we can no longer find traces of who at one time did not keep young Kuzmina and gave the super-athlete to a foreign, and even not biathlon, state. It would be nice to “deal with and shoot” people who have shown blatant lack of insight and unprofessionalism (c) - but as always, the dock is empty, or rather, Mrs. Collective Irresponsibility is sitting there.

Here's what Kuzmina herself said in one of her old interviews:

“I think that in Russia I would not have been able to achieve a medal. After the birth of a child and a family, it was difficult for me, at that time not yet the number one of the national team and not an Olympic champion, to return. I didn't feel any support. We spent six months looking for someone to help, but in the end, being very disappointed, we went to another country.”

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That's how it is, guys. Kuzmina did not have any patrons in the regions or among venerable specialists, they did not push her, they did not believe in her talent - or maybe they deliberately turned a blind eye to it as a result of, frankly, corruption schemes, the desire to make money on completely different athletes. And she just left. In my opinion, there is a real malfeasance on the part of those who were responsible for the present and future of Russian biathlon. And instead of a top biathlete, we got a team of mediocrity.

And Kuzmina’s words: “In Russia I could not achieve a medal” are another verdict on Russian biathlon. They make you think: how many new Kuzmins, how many Russian Fourcades have we quietly lost.

Some will say that there is no demand for Tatyana Akimova, one of two Russian biathletes at the 2018 Games. But in my opinion, there is - she was preparing for the Olympics, she came and shows exactly what she is capable of. But it turns out she’s not capable of almost anything. Although about a year ago, when Akimova performed successfully at the World Cup stages, it was she who was considered by many to be the leader and hope of the women’s team. Yes, her teammates were not invited to the Games - however, biathlon is first and foremost an individual sport, and no one stopped Akimova from fighting the same way as skiers do, also deprived of a whole group of stars.

The great Anfisa Reztsova may well be biased (her daughter competes on the biathlon team), but it’s hard to argue with her statement about Akimova. Tatyana, according to Reztsova, does not want to work on increasing her speed and is simply ruining her own chances. The time of snipers in biathlon has passed: the speed of the legs and skis decides, and we see that even with a zero, Akimova barely gets into the top twenty in the sprint... And as they say, even here at the Olympics there are enough problems with the athlete’s behavior: let’s say, she demands special conditions for herself and procedures without which he “can’t cope.” Apparently, the procedures still did not help.

However, who knows. If Akimova had moved to Slovakia, Slovenia or Bulgaria a couple of years ago, perhaps the multiple Olympic champion would have stood in front of us, shooting without misses and soaring over the ski track. And the Russian Nastya Kuzmina at this moment would sadly end her career somewhere at the IBU Cup, quietly regretting that she did not leave her homeland in her youth.

Dmitry SIMONOV
OLYMPIC FLAME