"Admission to the World Cup in 2026 is possible, but they won't start with the leaders"

On January 16, the fourth stage of the Russian Biathlon Cup started in the village of Demino near Rybinsk in the Yaroslavl region. On the first day, the men's and women's sprints were held. Among men, Alexander Povarnitsyn, who recently returned from an illness, took fourth place, the 2015 world junior champion in the relay and the bronze medalist of the same World Cup in the pursuit race. In an interview with Izvestia, he commented on his result, shared his opinion on the chances of returning to the international arena in 2026, assessed the prospects of Daria Nepryaeva and Savely Korostelev, who were admitted to the Ski World Cup in neutral status, and also spoke about the difficulties that will await our biathletes after the breakup.

— How would you rate your performance at the sprint?

— It's a solid five. In this condition, after an illness, running and running into the top 6 is an excellent result.

— In connection with the disease, when do you expect to get into optimal shape?

— Now I'm afraid to make any predictions, because it's unclear how the body will behave. Either it will gain or weaken. I want to see exactly how the body will behave at this stage of the Russian Cup in Demino. And then I'll be able to tell you what's going to happen next.

— Did you follow how in December our athletes in winter sports — skiers, luge skiers, snowboarders, and so on - were allowed to participate in international competitions in a neutral status? Is there any hope that the disbandment of biathletes may begin soon?

— We have already accepted that we do not compete in international competitions. We should expect that if we are allowed in, it will be the last stage.

— Are the reasons for the difficulties in transporting rifles across the border, which, for example, Anton Babinov talked about a year ago?

— IBU will drag it out to the last. In recent years, it has been noticed that they are not welcoming us as warmly as they used to. It's not just about transporting weapons — all the problems are solvable. But the general attitude since 2022 is such that there have been no contacts. I don't know who's right or who's to blame, but maybe someone didn't make contact. It is clear that they are not ready to welcome us with open arms.

— Are you following the skiers Daria Nepryaeva and Savely Korostelev, who have been neutral since December and are already competing at the World Cup? Can you assess their prospects?

— They have excellent prospects. It's clear that the guys are getting along, adapting. I think we can expect excellent results from them soon.

— Have you come to terms with the fact that you are not performing on the international stage, in the context of this season? Or are you not counting on the next one either?

— In the context of next season, I think the global agenda is changing anyway. Not this year, but next season, I assume that biathletes will be given the opportunity to compete at international competitions. But, most likely, it will be very gradual. And, most likely, they won't start with the leaders. Somewhere, the second national team will be allowed, where no one has shone yet. They will build on this.

— When have we watched the World Cup stages in recent years, have we analyzed how long it will take for our team to start competing for high places after returning?

— It usually takes about two stages of the Cup to adapt. To get used to the speeds, to the sliding, which is completely different here and in Europe. And so, with proper adaptation, it is quite realistic to get into the top ten. If not in the top ten, then in the "tag" for sure.

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— Do some Russian biathletes say that after returning to international competitions they will have to get used to the shooting speed that has increased significantly since 2022?

— I don't see any problems with the rate of fire. We're working pretty fast on the firing line. It's about counting — how time is counted there, as it is here. And in weather conditions, they are much more comfortable there. There is, for example, a shooting range in Ostersund, Sweden, where the weather is not so good, there is wind, and the shooting time is even worse than in Russia. But when they come to Annecy or Ruhpolding, the guys shoot very fast. Because the approach there is very good, allowing you to shoot quickly. Nevertheless, in general, I don't see much difference in the rate of fire between us and the athletes at the World Cup.

— Skier Alexander Terentyev says that it is difficult to get used to artificial snow on European trails, since there is none in Russia — we run on natural snow. Will this be a problem for you?

— To be honest, artificial snow is faster than natural snow. It's more solid, easier to push off. The fact that we run on natural snow in Russia is more of a plus than a minus.