"The chances of going to the Olympics are minimal."

Russian biathlon has had a great part of the season. During this time, Irina Kazakevich, silver medalist of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games in relay, won three medals: two bronze medals at the December stages of the Russian Cup in mixed relay in Khanty-Mansiysk and pursuit in Izhevsk, as well as silver in sprint at the January stage of the Commonwealth Cup in Demino.

In an interview with Izvestia, the biathlete assessed her results, told how it feels to compete on a track with water instead of snow, and spoke about her chances to go to the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy.

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

- My form in the January starts is a bit better than before the New Year. Although at the first stages of the Russian Cup in December I won two bronze medals, and in January I had a few setbacks. But they happened, rather, because of problems with shooting. As soon as I performed well on the firing line at the January stages, I won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Cup stage in Demino. At the same time, it should be understood that after the New Year we had a difficult track at most of the starts - very difficult sliding. All because of the change of weather, when there were problems with snow at plus temperature. Hence a bit mixed feelings from the last part of the season.

- Was the pursuit race at the Commonwealth Cup in Demino particularly memorable considering that part of the track was in a puddle?

- It was very hard sliding. A lot of puddles, especially on the exit from the firing line and on the penalty lap. Even when we started the race, there was a big puddle, and from the first meters actually all the legs were wet, as if you had dipped into a pool. But the track itself in the forest was in good condition, only the stadium had problems.

- Is it unpleasant to compete at such plus temperatures, as it was in January in Ryazan and Dyomino?

- Let me put it this way: you need to be ready to compete in any conditions. This season we started in different conditions - both in cold and warm weather. This gives us variability and the opportunity to be ready for anything.

- Are you following the World Cup? Do you have an understanding of what you will need to improve in order to compete for medals there, if you are allowed to compete there in the near future?

- First of all, we need to return to the World Cup, and then we can talk about some things. In principle, we don't know when it will happen, but in any case we should be ready for any opportunity given to us.

- After the swimmers, figure skaters and speed skaters were banned in December, is there hope that this year biathletes will be allowed to participate in international competitions?

- I think that in the next year it is unlikely. Because biathlon is a sport connected with weapons. I think we will be the last to be admitted.

- So the chances of going to the Olympics-2026 are minimal?

- Yes. I think they are minimal.