"There is no word "scary" in my vocabulary

Anastasia Tatalina became one of the first three Russian athletes who officially received neutral status from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). However, at the final stage of the selection for the Olympics in Big Air (in this discipline she became the world champion in 2021) she didn't make it physically. All that remains is the opportunity to qualify for the Slopestyle Games in January. And she strongly believes in this chance, Tatalina said in an interview with Izvestia and Sport-Express.

"I was told that I was not in the national team"

— You said that you had independently appealed to the CAS, seeking admission to international competitions. Why did you choose this path?

— I contacted the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and the Ministry of Sports, asking for help in this matter. When I received a refusal, I realized that I could only rely on myself, and turned to my lawyer. He represented my interests at the meetings in Lausanne.

— How expensive is the history of challenging decisions and obtaining a neutral status?

— This story is not only about the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In the last three and a half years, I have been training, keeping fit, doing everything at my own expense and with the support of my loved ones. Naturally, the financial burden has been heavy all this time.

— So you didn't receive a salary at the Russian National Team Sports Training Center?

— And I contacted the ROC and the Ministry of Sports with this question. She said that I was ready to perform, I had a world-class program, and asked to be included in the lists. Unfortunately, I was rejected. I was told that I was not in the national team. That was the end of our dialogue.

— If you hadn't filed a complaint with CAS separately, would no one have given you neutral status now?

— I can't answer that question. To be honest, I don't have that information.

— Where and how did you find out about getting a neutral status?

— I was at training when I read this news. Naturally, emotions surged — joy, tears. Because my family and I have been fighting for this decision for so long, and it finally worked out. Now I can return to the world stage and fight for Olympic gold, for my dream.

You know, I've been doing a number of interviews in the last two days. And most of the media focused on the fact that I was looking for sponsorship. But now I would like to talk more about the path of an athlete and about the fact that you need to believe in your dreams and they will certainly come true. Yes, through difficulties, when you think that nothing can be done anymore, nothing will work.

This is a story about a big dream, not about finances. You always need to believe in yourself. I am very lucky to have a wonderful family that supports me in everything. With their help, everything worked out.

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Under what conditions will our athletes be able to participate in the Olympic selection

"The complexity of my program will help me get on the podium"

— You haven't lost your form in the last three and a half years, can you take advantage of this chance?

— I've been competing on the international stage for quite a long time, I've hosted two Olympic Games, and I took fourth place in slopestyle at the Beijing Games. I have a program, I have tricks. I am sure that the complexity of this program will help me to climb a pedestal. Therefore, when we received the news about the suspension from international competitions, it was difficult, there were a lot of negative emotions. I think all Russian athletes have experienced this. The most important thing is never to give up, to continue training and to believe that one day the door to the international arena will be open again.

— Almost two years ago, you competed in the USA at the X-Games, where you won silver. I haven't heard anything more about you. What have you been doing these years?

— I continued to train. Many who are not involved in our sport believe that the X-Games mean nothing. In fact, these are the most prestigious international starts in action sports. You can get to them only by receiving a personal invitation. Eight athletes from all over the world are participating. It was a dream for me to perform at them and take a prize.

After the X-Games, I focused on preparation, training, and fighting for my return to the sport.

— Why were you invited to the X-Games, because you haven't performed anywhere for a long time?

— I know that top-level athletes are selected, but the selection criteria are unknown to me. I received an invitation and went to America. Naturally, everyone in my disciplines knows my level of skating. I think it was interesting for them to invite an athlete of this level.

— And how did you manage to win a medal there after a competitive downtime?

— The atmosphere of these competitions, I would say, is the opposite of the World Cup. The X-Games are presented more as a show, as a big celebration. I was so energized and inspired by being back in this environment and being able to perform. That's why everything worked out. Naturally, there is a lot of work and a lot of training days behind this success.

"I see progress in my tricks, in my skating"

— Now you have become one of three Russian athletes and the only one from freestyle skiing to whom the FIS was the first to approve neutral status. Why, in your opinion, was such a choice made? What could have influenced it?

— To be honest, I do not know. But there were many official letters written to the IOC. There was a post-appeal to the FIS on social media. We've tried everything possible. A lot of work has been done. I think this also had an impact on getting a neutral status.

— Do I understand correctly that if Russian athletes were fully reinstated now, it would be almost impossible for you to go to the Olympics, since you are not on the national team?

— That's a good question. But the situation is different now, so there's no point in talking about it.

— I saw that many foreign athletes support you on social networks. What was your reaction when it became known about your neutral status?

— There are a lot of positive comments, including from competitors in personal messages. Everyone supports me. It is very important. When I posted my message to the FIS, all the guys we competed with also supported me in this regard.

— And the Russian athletes?

— There was support from all sides. Even most of them are from Russia. I read all the messages and tried to reply to everything. If I haven't answered someone, I want to convey my thanks.

— Before the decision, was it difficult to force yourself to prepare for competitions that might not be?

— To begin with, no one is forcing anyone. This is the business that I love the most. I see progress in my tricks, in my skating, which gives me great pleasure and motivation to get better every day and correct some small mistakes.

— You had your last big competition almost two years ago. Has the level dropped during this time? Have you remained competitive?

— I know what tricks I need to achieve my goals. Of course, looking at the global level, you can raise this bar. But I try to focus on myself and improve myself. I have an ideal program in my head that I want to execute, and I'm working on it.

Winter Olympic Games: when and where will they be held in 2026, will Russia participate

"I don't have a goal to get into the top 20. I always want to be the first"

— How would you rate your chances of getting to the 2026 Olympics?

— I believe that anything is possible. There are two to three weeks left to prepare for the Slopestyle World Cup. I will do my best and strive to get enough points to qualify. I think I have a good chance of doing it. Unfortunately, I don't have time to qualify for Big Air. Therefore, there are two slopestyle stages in January — in the USA and Switzerland.

— Despite the fact that you probably would have had a better chance in Big Air...

— I wouldn't say that. Of course, since I was the world champion in big air, this discipline causes me very warm emotions. But now I'm training a lot so that I have a good chance in slopestyle too.

— What needs to be done in the January stages to qualify for the Olympics?

— Get into the top 4 in both stages.

— Is it guaranteed to earn a license?

— Yes, then I'm going through. Otherwise, there may not be enough points to get into the top 30 who are going to the Olympics. The qualification started last season, but they didn't let us in. I have two stages left in January.

— And there is no room for error?

— It turns out that way.

— Aren't you scared? Are you mentally prepared for the worst-case scenario?

— There is no word "scary" in my vocabulary. I am always confident in myself, and all the attention is on my goal. And my goal is Olympic gold. I'm really looking forward to returning to the world of sports. I think that with the program that I am preparing, I have a chance to qualify. Yes, it's not easy. But I'm preparing for it. When I go to competitions, I don't have a goal to get into the top 20. I always want to be the first. This attitude helps me, including psychologically.

— What does this third Olympic Games of your career mean to you?

"She's different to me. I competed at the first one, in Pyeongchang 2018, when I was 17 years old. I was a young and inexperienced athlete then. At the second one, in Beijing 2022, it was not my fault, but because of the general situation in my federation, because of the insufficient number of training sessions, I took only fourth place.

Now I'm approaching the Olympics as a more confident and mature athlete. Psychologically, I'm ready for it. I've always had a dream of becoming an Olympic champion. Now there is another chance to realize it.

— Do you believe that one day you will be able to compete at the Olympics not in a neutral status, but under the Russian flag?

— I see that the situation is changing in many sports. In some cases, athletes already compete with the Russian flag without any restrictions. I really hope that our international federation will return the flag and anthem to us soon.