"I thought I just wouldn't make it to the finish line"

Savely Korostelev finished fourth in his first race at the Olympics in Italy, in the 10 + 10 km skiathlon. So far, this is the best result among Russian "neutrals" at the Games, the first performance where a medal was real, and perhaps even won, depending on how the jury's decision regarding French skier Mathis Delauge is evaluated. In the classical part, Korostelev was able to gain a foothold in the leading group, which gradually, after changing skis, sifted to eight people. After the first skating lap, there were five of them left, and that's when Savely began to worry — he was starting to climb because he was tired. But on the fifth, penultimate lap, Klebo slowed down, the group of leaders went calmly, and this seemed to give Korostelev an opportunity to catch his breath. Savely was mostly the last of the top five to complete the final, sixth round. There was hope of reaching the finish line, but the athlete himself told Izvestia and Sport-Express what happened next.

"I took the lead when everyone slowed down to drink"

"You're the fourth." What was the mistake?

— I chose the wrong position before the last climb. They shouted at me not to be the last to sit down, and that's exactly what I did. I think I went after Martin [Nyenge], but Hugo [Lapalus] blocked the line for me a little bit, and I lost contact with them. I had to catch up, but they were too far away at the finish line.

— Did you start actively leading the race back in the classic part, was it planned or did it happen by accident?

— It just so happened that they all slowed down to get a drink, and I was drinking in another place and was ahead for a short time. I just indicated that, like, guys, I'm here.

— Ski change: very fast, very successful. Have you worked on this point somehow, or have you already experienced it?

— Yes, we practiced this moment, although I don't usually do it. And in fact, there were a few stupid episodes during practice when I forgot to fasten something, took the wrong stick, got caught on something. It turned out well at the race. The only thing was, I was driving and looking at where this 15th slot was. He appeared suddenly, it seemed like it had just been the 25th - and suddenly, hop, the 15th, I barely managed to get in.

— The skating part: it became noticeable on the ascents that it was hard for you.

— Yes, that was the way it was initially, then it became much easier.

— What were your thoughts at that moment? Everyone was praying, writing, shouting: "Savely, hold on!"

— It was probably the most difficult period, but in the middle of the skating part we calmed down and started walking... save energy on finishing acceleration.

— When Klebo slowed down (it was the fifth lap), everyone just got up, and the descents went like a plow. Do you understand what's going on?

— I didn't have much thought at that moment. But already on the penultimate climb, I realized that acceleration was about to begin. That's it, now we'll decide who goes where. Before that, I thought I just wouldn't make it.

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"I made the same mistake in the warm-up as Deloge"

— So before the opponents slowed down, you thought that you might not have enough strength?

"That's right. I understood that I would walk in the red zone and endure to the end. And the guys walked like that too. It was hard for everyone, and at some point everyone had to stop and start preparing the finish line.

— At the moment when you slowed down, did you have time to think about tactics for the finish line?

— I was the last to go, except for one thing. I was patient and understood that everything would be decided on the last climb. But, as I said, I made a mistake when choosing a position. I realized it right away because the opponents were far enough away.

— Did Deloge cut the track at the stadium and eventually become the second?

— I honestly don't know what they decided there. But I saw this moment.

— As a result, he got a yellow card. Do you have an opinion on this?

— In my opinion, this is completely the responsibility of the jury. I'm not a judge to talk about it. I do not know all the rules and just calmly waited for the finish protocols.

— You say you saw Deloge cut it off. What did you think when you saw it?

— It was funny because I made the same mistake in the warm-up. I think it's actually the jury's mistake that they didn't block this turn.

— Did you hear your name being shouted in the stands?

— "Tatar Landing" (Korostelev plays for the Tatarstan national team in Russia. — Ed.) it works.