"In three years of banning, our level has not sagged."

Last week the last winter official starts of the season took place in Russian biathlon. Individual races of the Russian Championship, as well as sprint and mass start within the framework of the sixth stage of the Russian Cup took place in Demino, Yaroslavl region. Nikita Porshnev, the bronze medalist of the 2019 World Championships in the relay, won the individual race of the championship.

He could also finish in the top three in the Cup mass start, but he made two misses at the last firing line and finished only eighth. In an interview with Izvestia, the 28-year-old biathlete assessed his performance this season, expressed hope for a speedy admission to international starts and said that Russian athletes have maintained their level after their suspension in February 2022.

- What happened at the last firing line of the mass start?

- Almost everyone missed. That's why we missed chances for medals. Too many misses for such a race. It's a pity, because before that I was shooting well. But before the last shooting I tried to catch up with Eduard Latypov, who was third, and it was a mistake. I should have just gone quietly behind Kirill Bazhin, who I was a little behind after the third firing line, and tuned in more for the last rack shooting. But for some reason I decided to chase Latypov. I reduced the gap from him, but I was not ready for the last firing line and failed to cope with the shooting.

- How do you evaluate the last part of the season for yourself in general?

- The last week was satisfactory. Taking into account that I won a bronze medal at the Russian Championship. The rest of the races in Demino went badly - there is something to work on. I am having a very uneven season in general. I started well, I took silver in mixed relay and pursuit at the first stages of the Russian Cup in December. There was silver and gold in the Commonwealth Cup mass starts in November and December. But next to all these successes there were constantly bad results, when I sometimes even fell out of the top ten. I want to be more stable at the top.

- Why is it not working so far?

- I try to tune in and give my best at the right time, which leads to some successes. But then I slow down a bit. I can't save my strength for the next races after successful starts.

- How does it feel for you to compete in domestic competitions under the ban?

- It's fine. Excellent organization, there is competition with the best of our guys and Belarusians. I am glad that at many stages of the Russian Cup and the Commonwealth Cup there are many spectators on the stands. And in January the weather was also pleasant. It was not always convenient because of this, as the snow melted, but in general I was pleased to run when it was warm. Especially at the last stage, where there was also snow, so the track was flat.

- In March and April will be the last stages of the Commonwealth Cup and the Cup of Russia. What are your goals for them?

- I would like to finish the season in the top-3 or at least in the top-6 tournaments (at the moment Porshnev is eighth in the overall standings of the Russian Cup and tenth in the Commonwealth Cup. - Ed.).

- Taking into account that in recent months figure skaters, speed skaters, swimmers have been allowed to participate in international competitions in a neutral status, do you hope that soon the turn will come to biathletes as well?

- Well, yes, let's hope that it will be so. Everything will go down the chain, snowball, and they will remember about us too, allowing us to participate in international competitions.

- Do you believe that we can be admitted to the Olympics in Italy, which will be in a year?

- I will be glad if we will be allowed there. If they give us such an opportunity and hold some kind of selection there, I would be happy to go. It doesn't matter if it's under a neutral flag or a Russian one. Everyone knows that I'm from Russia, I represent only Russia, so I hope that the chance will come.

- Do you follow the World Cup? What do our biathletes need to improve in order to fight for medals again after their return?

- I follow the World Cup, but you see that we have our own World Cup here. Look at the competition in the Russian Cup and the Commonwealth Cup. The same last mass start - Anton Babikov, Eduard Latypov and I shot poorly, and then the podium places were taken by guys that many people didn't know until recently. Every day someone new appears on the first places.

- Can we say that during the three years of the ban the level of our biathletes has not dropped?

- I think that the level has not dropped. I think that the leaders of our team, such as Latypov, Daniil Serokhvostov, Alexander Loginov, will fight for medals at the World Cup stages, if they are allowed there. That's 100%.

- And you?

- Well, me too, if they put me in some races.