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"The World Cup is already shooting a lot faster than we are."

Biathlete Eduard Latypov - about the level of foreign starts, hope for a quick unban and a trip to the Olympics-2026 and internal tournaments in Russia
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Photo: TASS/Egor Aleev
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The first two weeks of 2025 in winter sports are active in Ryazan. Between New Year and Christmas there was a show with the participation of star skiers and biathletes called "Race of Champions". And at the end of the first working week of January, the fourth stage of the Russian Biathlon Cup will be held there.

In the mixed relay of the "Race of Champions" won the team of the Olympic champion - 2022 in cross-country skiing Alexander Terentyev. In addition to him, the strongest four also included biathlete Eduard Latypov, a three-time bronze medalist at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, world champion in cross-country skiing among youth Maria Istomina and Natalia Shevchenko, a medalist at the World Youth Championships in cross-country skiing, who has been competing in biathlon since May 2022.

In an interview with Izvestia, Eduard Latypov told how he taught skier Saveliy Korostelev to shoot, expressed hope for a speedy return of Russian biathletes to international competitions, and explained what they need to improve in order to be competitive at the World Cup stages in the future.

"I will be only happy to compete."

- What do you think of the Race of Champions in Ryazan?

- Great race, great weather. The atmosphere is great due to the large number of fans who came on both days. I got only pleasure. I am glad that we managed to win the mixed relay. In any case, I wanted to show a good race, to win in the fight. Basically, everything worked out. I am happy that I managed to shoot clean.

- On the first day in Ryazan after qualification you practiced shooting with skier Saveliy Korostelev, who hit three out of five targets in one of the approaches. Aren't you disappointed that you didn't see the fruits of your work in the relay, where skiers are not supposed to shoot?

- No. It's fine. They tried themselves a little bit as biathletes together with Natalya Terentyeva (she was coached by Kristina Reztsova. - "Izvestia"). If someday they want to switch from skiing to biathlon, they will already have a little experience (smiles).

- Aren't you afraid that you will create competitors for the future?

- I will be only glad(laughs).

- Many complain that the format of the mixed relay at the Race of Champions made biathletes the main protagonists, while skiers didn't have much influence on the results. Maybe next time we should let them shoot too, so that the teams whose skiers learn to shoot faster win?

- If the skiers agree, that would be interesting.

- By the way, when skiers move to biathlon, like Natalia Shevchenko, how long does it take to teach them to shoot well?

- I don't know. At least a month is needed to at least give them the basics, to get used to it a little bit. And then it depends on how lucky you are. Although a month is still not enough. After qualifying, Saveliy managed to close three out of five targets, but that was in a calm environment. It would be much more difficult for him in a dynamic environment. But he has potential.

- Do you have to limit yourself a lot in food and alcoholic beverages on New Year's Eve, taking into account that in just three days you went to the track and the firing line?

- Naturally, yes. We are undergoing physical training - we already had a training session on January 1. We have been living in this mode for many years, so we have got used to it.

- What can you afford to eat and drink on New Year's Eve?

- We can afford everything. The main thing is that it should be moderate and reasonable. Not to eat too much and not to get drunk(smiles). After all, the training process is going on again - we need to be ready for it.

"We try to introduce speed with coaches".

- How do you evaluate the current season for yourself?

- Not bad so far. One win and two second places at the first three stages of the Russian Cup. Three wins, one second and one third place at the first three stages of the Commonwealth Cup. There are some shortcomings, but I am working on them. I try to improve in these moments, to introduce innovations to perform better.

- What innovations?

- We try to introduce speed shooting with coaches - it is still in the process. Because at the World Cup now they shoot much faster than we do. So we need to hurry up and equalize our shooting. In general, we have to try to shoot reliably, accurately and quickly.

- How closely do you follow the World Cup?

- From time to time we review the races. We try not to miss them.

- Will it take a long time to get used to the competition there when the Russians will be allowed there again?

- I can't say for sure yet. But in any case there will be some adaptation. We will try to minimize these moments and losses. We will try to be ready for all the difficulties when we will be admitted to these competitions, and then we will see.

- Did you follow the December bans of swimmers, figure skaters and speed skaters? Do you believe that soon a similar thing will happen to biathletes?

- I saw that the swimmers performed well at the World Championships. I am very happy for them that they were able to show themselves and won so many gold medals.

- Do you believe that soon biathletes will be allowed to participate in international competitions?

- I hope so. In any case, it is good that other athletes are allowed now. This is good news. Again, I am happy for those guys who have the opportunity to compete on the international stage. I would like to believe that soon we will be admitted. We are also waiting for our time - I hope it is not far off.

- Do you still believe that in a year you will qualify for the Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo?

- In any case, we train and work for it. We have the whole plan and training process for it. The main thing is to be ready for the Olympics, and then time will tell. It will be seen whether they will let us in or not.

"We need a wider geography of training".

- For almost three years of the ban, did you find it harder to get used to those foreign tracks where you participated in competitions and had training camps?

- There are always pros and cons, as in any situation. But we also have good places for training in Russia. There are just not so many of them, but they are there. First of all, this is Seminsky Pass in Sochi, where we hold training camps. There is enough altitude there for mountain training. Another thing is that heights are different everywhere. Sometimes the difference of 200-300 meters plays a big role. A different altitude - a different effect. Therefore, the more different altitudes in different places, the more opportunities to adapt to different tracks. Since competitions are held on very different tracks, we need a wider geography of training, so we used to go to many foreign training camps. Now we don't have such an opportunity, but the same base in Sochi allows us to prepare at a fairly good level.

- To what extent do domestic competitions like the stages of the Russian Cup and the Commonwealth Cup allow you to at least partially maintain your level of pre-sanction times?

- It's hard to say. In any case, I try to maintain my level. Of course, the lack of international competitions affects me. Because when you run with the best in the world, you treat it differently mentally. And you prepare differently internally. At domestic competitions in Russia we are also maximally tuned for each race, but still there is a difference.

- Do you like the density of the current calendar of Russian competitions, of which there are more this season than at the World Cup? Or do you want more free time?

- Of course, free time is good. But we are trying another option - with a heavy workload. I think if we can cope with it, it will be easier to cope with the World Cup schedule in the future, and it will help us to start fighting for the top places sooner after our return.

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