"A lot is changing in the world - maybe they will invite you to the Olympic Games"

The annual Moscow Saber fencing tournament was held in Moscow last weekend. Olga Nikitina, the champion of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, won the women's individual competition, defeating two-time 2016 Olympic champion Yana Yegoryan in the final. And the bronze medals were won by two-time Olympic champion in the team competition (2012, 2016) Sofya Velikaya and young athlete Veronika Bulukova, winner of last year's BRICS Games among the teams.

As usual, the semi-final between Yegoryan and Velikaya caused a special stir in the stands, in which Yana minimally won 15:14. The history of their confrontation dates back to the personal final of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, when Yegoryan also narrowly defeated Velikaya. In an interview with Izvestia, Sofia explained why her fight with Yana always gathers a large audience and explained how she finds motivation to perform further.

— How do you like the next confrontation with Yegoryan? Aren't you tired of fighting with her all the time?

— A new day is a new confrontation. It doesn't matter how many times you've faced your opponent before, or what the result was. It is always unknown what the result will be today and now. I had an amazing fight with Yana on the Moscow Saber. I think he's one of the best in terms of dynamics, movement, and techniques. Even after the first blow, I would suggest that you stop and finish (laughs). It was just a pleasure to have such an intense duel. I am satisfied with the result.

I am grateful to my entire support team — family, friends, and children. I hope I inspired a lot of viewers who came to watch the fencing or watched the tournament on TV. Let them come again!

— It was noticeable that your fight with Yegoryan evokes special emotions in the stands, nowhere else have the spectators cheered so loudly at the tournament.

— My support group has been training for years (smiles). She reacts to any opponent of mine. But Yana and I have our own history, dating back to the final of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She remains in the soul of every person who supports me or her. Hence such emotions. And that's great. Because we are popularizing our sport through such hype.

— Does any of the young sabre players give you the impression of a promising athlete who can move the top four in the person of you, Yana, Olga Nikitina and Sofia Pozdnyakova from the top positions?

— Move while we don't move — you can see it for yourself. Olya won the Moscow Sabre anyway, and Yana took silver. But everything comes from the head, from motivation. I get inspiration from every fight. Including those girls who were not among the winners. I think there are many among them who will prove themselves in the near future.

"So that emotions don't accumulate inside, I splash them out on the track"

Russian fencer Veronika Bulukova — about shouting during fights, competing in the women's sabre and the chances to go to international competitions

— Many fencers scream even louder after wins or just successful shots than tennis players. For example, this is the case with Yana Yegoryan and Veronika Bulukova. Why do you rarely do this?

— I'm calm on my own. And these high notes are taken from me only in extreme cases.

— In recent months, there has been a trend towards the dismantling of Russian athletes. Do you expect to be able to perform on the international stage again soon?

— No, I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't follow the news. We'll see. A lot is changing in the world now, maybe they will invite you to the Olympic Games. I'm still performing anyway. Although working as a mom takes up a lot of my time, I have to raise my two children. It's even my main job now (smiles). But I still love fencing, so I continue to train and perform.