"I hope we will be allowed to participate in international competitions soon"

The next "Race of Champions" for biathletes and skiers is taking place in Ryazan on January 3 and 4. As in previous years, this event is becoming one of the main events in our sport between New Year and Christmas. One of the participants, three—time bronze medalist of the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, biathlete Eduard Latypov— spoke about his performance on the first day of the tournament and assessed the chances of lifting sanctions against our athletes in 2026.

— How would you rate your performance on the first day of the Race of Champions?

— Everything was fine. It turned out to be a fast race, so there was a risk, so I had to try to catch up with the leader on the track, but that didn't make my shooting very good.

— Are you satisfied with your current physical condition?

— The condition is good at the moment. We managed to regain our strength at the training camp, which took place between the "Race of Champions" and the last of the December Cup stages. Now you can safely prepare for the second half of the season.

— The current season in Russian biathlon is less intense compared to the last one.

— It's good for me. Last season, the competition density was too high. Due to such a large number of starts, the body could not always withstand, so there were illnesses and fatigue. So now everything has been done optimally.

— Have you followed the performances of Daria Nepryaeva and Savely Korostelev at the World Cup and the Tour de Ski race? They turned out to be the only Russian skiers who were allowed to participate in international competitions.

— We cheer for the guys, we look at them. We hope that soon there will be more Russian athletes at such competitions. We need to admit an increasing number of our athletes.

— Do you believe that in 2026 something can change with regard to Russian biathletes and they will finally be allowed to participate in international competitions?

— Anything is possible.

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— Anton Babikov believes that biathletes will be the last to be allowed to participate in international competitions. He refers to the problems with transporting rifles for the firing line.

— Yes, the situation is more complicated here, I agree with Anton. There will be difficulties due to the situation with weapons. For skiers, everything is a little easier.

— Do you think that Nepryaeva and Korostelev may compete for high places at the Olympic Games in Italy in February?

— They are gradually gaining shape, the results are improving. If they are in good shape for the Olympics, they have every chance of success.

— In this regard, are you already thinking over a plan for the next four-year cycle? Do you have a fundamental desire to make it to the Olympics in 2030?

— I don't know yet — I haven't thought about it yet. All my thoughts are on the current season. When it's over, we'll think about how to develop our career further and what suggestions we have in general.

— Has there been any saturation with internal competitions in four years?

— I think everyone is already used to such competitions, as we are competing in their fourth season. But in any case, I hope that we will be allowed to participate in international competitions soon. Therefore, we need to finish this season, and then we will think and make a decision with the coaching staff, how to prepare further and what prospects we will have.

— After the international federations began to give Russian athletes a neutral status more actively: with skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding, do you have more optimism about the return of biathletes to their system?

— The ice has broken, that's a good thing. We will follow the news and build on it.