Olympic champion in cross-country skiing Sergei Ustyugov in an interview with Sport before the start of the Yugra ski marathon, organized by Otkritie Bank speaks, spoke about continuing his career, that he misses the ex-mentor of the Russian national team Markus Kramer very much, explained why he would dream of a suitcase at night, confessed his love for Italy and Syktyvkar, and also spoke about the most discussed The topic of recent months has been the admission of Russian athletes to international competitions.
—There has never been such a skiing season in your career. What did he remember?
— Already at the first stage for me, the stage of the Russian Cup in Chusovoy, I managed to win the sprint race. It was very cool, and then «Champion Heights» was remembered. I didn’t plan to reach the peak of my form there, I thought to do it for the Russian Championship. Nevertheless, «Champion Heights» was a success for me in terms of results, especially the prologue of the sprint race. And, of course, the national championship itself, for which I have been preparing and preparing for the whole season. I'm happy with the season.
— Is the marathon at the Russian Championship the best race in your career?
— Everyone has this race in their memory (laughs). I think there was an intrigue, whether I will reach the finish line or not. I rushed from the first kilometer, muscle fatigue accumulated, there were slight cramps. The marathon was hard, I don’t know if I recovered to the end. The other day I did interval work, in principle, the body reacted normally. Initially, I planned that we would walk 20 km with the guys, and then I would start working. But in the end, we climbed the first climb, then on the descent I realized that the skis rolled very well. Everyone else was in no hurry, and I decided that I would go the race at my own pace. I expected that after 15-20 km they would catch up with me, but the guys had problems with skis, so I was actually cutting. It was a good day for me.
Is it nice that even foreign colleagues were interested in this performance?
— Somehow I didn’t think about it, I just ran, ran, ran.
— Many people don’t understand how you even think about ending your sports career in such a form.
— This is fine. In general, I planned to run until the age of 30. April 8th I will be 31. I have a wife and two children. Grandparents grow old and die. This year my grandfather died, last year in September my grandmother passed away. And I am very rarely at home. Nephews grow up, brothers and sisters grow up. I spend my whole life in hotels on suitcases. I will dream about this suitcase at night (laughs). Do you want a different life or that the family is nearby.
— The Russian season is actually busy too. I hope that the coaching council will have discussions about adding new races to the calendar, more mass starts, sprints. This will be beneficial, because mass starts are more interesting to run than cuts. You can add races to the Cup of Russia, for more variety. season are you interested in continuing to run?
Let's finish this season first. Ahead of me is the Yugra ski marathon, then another 70 km marathon, but I hung on it. I probably won't go. I want to go home, to my family, to my native village. Then I will think. At the same time, I already know the plan of my regional team, from what date and where the training camp begins. Markus Kramer has already given me an indication of how much I should score in the offseason. He is interested in me running before the Olympics in Italy in 2026.
— I understand that his opinion is very weighty for you.
— Undoubtedly. He knows that I finish every year, that every year is my last. Of course, training is great, especially when there are no injuries and illnesses. And when you are over-motivated, sores come out and it becomes hard. But there is no such thing that I will throw my skis into a corner after the Yugra marathon. Maybe, of course, this could be, but it is very unlikely. strong
— In the summer, an old back injury worsened. Plus there were problems with pressure and the cardiovascular system. It is necessary to undergo an examination after the season and see what happens there. By the way, Sasha Loginov also had problems with pressure this season, and I also know the same about other guys. Perhaps it has something to do with the effects of the coronavirus. Perhaps the hardest Olympic season played its role.
strong>— Biathletes and skiers often held training camps in the mountains before being suspended. Now this is either not there, or very little. Is this a problem?— I haven't been in the mountains at all this season. I have naturally high hemoglobin. I believe that if you go to the mountains, then you need to run at a height. But this is my personal opinion.
—Are you satisfied with the organization of domestic competitions?
—When I arrived in Chusovoy, there was a sea of fans. So many. They were allowed to stand along the track, and it looked cool. In Russia, we used to practically not run when we competed at the World Cup. And here is a holiday. Fans will say that we gave it to them, but I want to say that it was the fans themselves who gave the athletes a holiday. It's cool when they cheer for you and drive around the track.
— After the race, I constantly watched the picture of how the fans literally surround you and do not let you escape.
>- Yes, this is generally normal. I would behave the same way if I was a child and saw my idol. It would piss everyone off. But there are adequate fans, but not so much. I stand somehow with a backpack, and they start pulling me backwards by it. After you have run a 30 km race and you can hardly stand on your feet, and then they pull you (laughs). But this is part of our favorite job — not only to run, but also to take pictures, sign autographs. Maybe in the future it will turn out that the child photographed with you will become an Olympic champion. Like Karim Khalili with Martin Fourcade.
— Wasn't there such attention in Europe?
— There was, why not. The same foreigners often stuck around and did not allow passage.
— Alexander Bolshunov said that you and him would run away from everyone at the World Cup this season. Do you agree?
— I do not undertake to confirm the words of Sasha Bolshunov. We run in the Russian Cup. All. How would we run away if I joined only in the second part of the season, and he started from the first stages. If you say so, then I would not have made it to the World Cup this season at all in those hands. you yourself would probably build the process differently for the first starts?
— Here we are not even talking about the World Cup and selection there, but about the convenience of the training plan, which Markus still writes to me. Initially, when it was said that I would train with Yegor Sorin, we agreed that I would still study according to Markus' plans. Egor will write the plan to his athletes, and Markus will correct it. But it turned out a little differently.
Is Markus happy with how you spent this season?
— Very satisfied. I repeated once again that we must run until 2026.
— So, three more seasons?
— He wants it that way. His contract in Italy ends in 2026. Most likely, Pellegrino and de Fabiani will also finish after the home Olympics. …
— I love Italy very much. And I miss places in Europe. In Russia, there are also chic tracks, this year I spent almost two months in Syktyvkar, I really liked it there. Plus, the organizers went the extra mile, provided all the conditions for preparation. Many thanks to them for this. If I continue my career, I will train there again.
— What exactly do you miss in Europe?
“Long trails, mountain views, some food. In Europe, you sit and miss Russian food, and at home, sometimes European food. Plus, there are still many friends and acquaintances with whom you have to communicate by phone, and not live. And, of course, Markus is very much missed by his side. Although we have a slight language barrier, I miss it a lot.
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— In English, German, Russian. If there are some more global topics, an online translator helps. If someone does not understand something, then we exchange texts.
— Do you keep in touch with foreign athletes?
— Not really, at the level of hi-bye. Sometimes we congratulate each other on successful performances.
— American Ben Ogden often reacts to your posts on social networks.
—Yes, we here a girl ran for a regional team, and then she went to study in America and runs for some club there. I understand that they run together there. Ben sometimes likes my posts, writes something. In fact, many Europeans write, ask how things are going, but this rarely happens.
— Have you read the latest IOC recommendations on the admission of Russian athletes?
br> — I don’t watch or read at all. We run in Russia. It's the worst thing for young athletes that the country has been suspended. I try not to pay attention to it. I will not voice my opinion on this matter, I just avoid news on this topic. If I see some heading on this situation, then I just close it.