"We try to keep a level that will allow us to compete on the international stage"

Belarusian athletes, as well as our athletes who are suspended from international competitions, maintain their level by competing with their Russian colleagues at the main domestic tournaments - the Russian Cup and the Commonwealth Cup.

Thus, at the end of last week at the Commonwealth Cup stage in Demino, Yaroslavl region, men's victory was celebrated by Nikita Lobastov, who has been playing for Belarus since 2018. He won two World Cup medals in relay races in the 2021/22 season - silver in the mixed relay and bronze in the men's relay. In 2017, while still playing for Russia, he took gold in the men's relay and bronze in the sprint at the World Junior Championships.

In an interview with Izvestia, the 27-year-old athlete spoke about the level of competition, expressed hope for the speedy lifting of sanctions and explained in what our biathletes will be inferior to the others in the first time after their return.

- Three years since the Belarusians are banned, as well as the Russians. How much does participation in such tournaments as the Russian Cup and the Commonwealth Cup help to keep the level?

- The competition is not weak, to put it mildly. For example, the victory in the mass start in Demino at the Commonwealth Cup stage is the first for me in two years. It is very difficult to win with such representation of the best biathletes from Belarus and Russia. Therefore, there is always something to strive for, if you can't put your victories on a regular basis. Thanks to this we grow and try to reach for each other.

- Is there a special motivation to show that not only Anton Smolskiy can win at such starts from Belarus?

- We really have leaders who perform very stably. This is a big plus for the rest of the guys in the team. But sometimes young athletes have good results. Like, for example, in the case of my good race in Dyomino. We try to reach out to each other. Our team is quite stable, but at the same time the leaders always help us to be in tone.

- How closely do you follow the World Cup? What will you need to improve in if the Russians and Belarusians are allowed to participate in it next year?

- We follow it closely. As our experts have noted many times, and I agree with them, we will lose a little bit in terms of equipment. But I think it will be quickly leveled off. Otherwise, we are basically at a good level.

- What exactly will we lose in terms of equipment?

- Skis. Probably only in that. Although I can't judge - it's still only at the level of assumptions.

- The fact that at the end of last year our swimmers, skaters and figure skaters began to be allowed to participate in international competitions, does it inspire hopes that soon it will affect biathletes as well?

- Of course. The process has started, and it's good that Belarusians and Russians are admitted to international competitions in some sports. Meanwhile, we are trying to work here, at domestic starts, to fight with the strongest rivals and keep the level that will allow us to be competitive in the international arena when we return there.

- Do you believe that there is a chance to go to the Olympics in a year?

- Honestly, I don't think about it. I believe, I don't believe - it doesn't matter. I think that we should just do our job as best as possible. Since some aspects of admission to competitions do not depend on us, I try not to think about it. In any case, we need to go to every start and work as hard as possible. This is what we are doing and strive to be fully ready to return to the international arena. And the rest is hard to predict. It is difficult to say on what terms the return will be and whether it will be.