Olympic champion Yulia Stupak in the classic sprint at the Russian cross-country skiing championship was only eighth, but attracted the most attention. Dancing after the finish, which has already become a tradition, did not prevent her from answering Sport's questions in detail. The skier spoke about the reset, growing up, psychology and reaction to the negative from foreign colleagues. Now rain, then snow.
— No, the weather is like the weather. It started to rain, but I can’t say that I let it down. This is not about her. You just have to be able to adapt.- Increasingly, there are talks about the possible retirement of some leaders of the Russian team. Do you have such thoughts? I had thoughts only about a small pause, I took it. I gave myself this year in order to «feel the bottom with my hands», so to speak. In terms of results. But on the other hand, she was able to give more in the psychological aspect.
— What are the conclusions?— I succeeded. I felt the bottom with my hands (smiles). And psychology, it seems to me, brought to a new level.
— And I still don't have a lot of things.
— And what is the main task?
“The main goal for me is to have fun. I don't want to put myself in that box. Like, what will happen if I don’t become a world champion or something like that. Because then it will only bring frustration. I do know that I can. I know how to work with pleasure. This is probably something that is not given to everyone.
— Yuliya Stupak has changed a lot lately?< /strong>
—Yes, it is.
—The main reason?
—Not even I know… A lot has changed, actually. I just feel like I've grown up. Is it true that you don’t follow the World Cup at all?
— Yes, I don’t.- How is Elena Valerievna Vyalbe? Haven't watched a single race?
— I don't have any principles. During the World Cup, for example, I watched some races, some I didn’t. If I succeed, I'll take a look. But there is no such thing that I come home and I must definitely turn it on.
— You have always had good relations with foreign skiers. No offense that recently you were still standing together on the podium, hugging, and now many of them are saying, thank God, that Russians are not allowed to compete?
“That doesn't surprise me. In general, in this life there is little that surprises. I give everything a place. I understand that this is normal. Many say what they want to hear. And that's okay too. But if we talked one on one, I'm sure no questions would arise. I have no anger, no resentment. I don't care at all, to be honest. I have my own way, I want to decorate it as much as possible. Whatever people from other countries say, I don’t care at all. All the best to them, all the best. Beautiful victories.
— Well, these are not the most beautiful victories?
— Why?
— Without the former competition, without the Russian team, without Yulia Stupak.
— I think so you don't have to say either. It seems to me that when you win… Indeed, on any given day and earlier, someone could get sick, get poisoned, God forbid, not go to the start. Although he claimed to win. This is sport, this is life.
— Many were initially skeptical about the Champions Heights that took place in Malinovka. But in the end, these alternative competitions were held at the level of the World Cup. What do you think?
— Well, it can't be compared to the World Cup. I liked everything about the organization, it was super. For me, the most important thing is not what picture is on TV, but what emotions we convey to the fans.
— But isn't it cool that at such a time we learned how to get out of a difficult situation and hold such competitions?
— Yes, it's cool. This is really such a competition for which everyone was preparing. They raise the level.
— This year was out of sports.
— But was there a podium?
— Well, I earned this second place in the sprint, he is happy. But this does not mean that I have returned to the previous level. He fell from me, gave it a place, allowed it. I don't see any problems.
— Do you already have plans to prepare for the next season? Where, how, with whom?
— I haven’t thought about it yet (smiles).
— You were trained for the main competitions in Italy by Marcus Kramer. Is there such a scenario in my dreams that he will return to the Russian team?
— You know, I will no longer discuss this issue. And I won't comment on it. In general.