“It’s better for me to quit racing and work here than change my sporting citizenship.” Khatuntseva on the track, family and priorities

Olympic medalist in track cycling Gulnaz Khatuntseva explained to how stalkers live in the new realities and why she doesn’t want to be given neutral status or change sport citizenship.

— Gulnaz, how was the start of the season?

– We started the season with the Grand Prix series. I think the start was normal, although a little rough, but it seems to have rolled. Then we held a training camp in Arkhyz, we did a good job and now we are seriously preparing for the main start – the Russian championship.

Personally, it seems to me that I have no differences in the number of starts from the track calendar – we still haven’t gone to all stages of the World Cup. There was less freeway racing because I left the team.

– By the way, why?

– It was difficult for me to be separated from my family, with a child for so long, I constantly had to be abroad, and even there was a time when they could not transfer the payment for some time because of this whole situation. In addition, when we were preparing for the world championships, the stages of the World Cup, you really had to chain these kilometers on the motorway for the preparation, and there you work, but we don’t know why. Age is no longer the same as the mere pursuit of excitement.

But the main factor is the family. Of course, it would be possible to see each other in Turkey, I would train there between races and they would come, but at that time the ticket cost 100,000 rubles. Stealing like this every time is expensive and rich.

– Staying with your family in Turkey and racing in Europe is not an option?

– No matter what people say, it’s more comfortable and quieter for me to be in my native country.

— That is, for current performance at Russian competitions you no longer need such large volumes of highways?

– For track starts – yes, but since 2016 I consider myself a track racer. What I earn in training camp will be enough, but it won’t be comparable if I go to races in Europe, let alone in the World Tour. In struggle, in rivalry, the speed is even higher.

– Have you felt a big difference in terms of finances since you were isolated from international competitions?

– In terms of payments, we extended the year due to the Olympics. But I’m even afraid to imagine what will happen next year – most likely they will cut both ministry money and scholarships. It is not yet known, but I think it will most likely be the case. I am a father and I need to earn money, I would like the support to continue.

– The level of competition has dropped significantly in a year and a half without international competitions?

– I don’t really feel it. The speeds are not bad, the average in Madison is normal. Internal competition has even become tighter, since the Russian championship is currently the highest level of the season, and this determines your position, including financial for the year.

Admittedly, the wheels of the strongest have started to graze more, so you have to prepare twice as much to stay ahead. The speed is the same, but the atmosphere of the race is different.

How did you react to the news from the UCI regarding transgender people?

– I know there has been such a transition in women’s professional cycling, but it hasn’t shown such special super results. It’s not that this subject really bothered me or that I gave it much thought, but in any case, it’s a question of fair play. So I think it’s the right decision.

– On the track, you have a contract with Marathon-Tula. Why do we have few such teams, and would it help runners if there were more?

Of course, it would be better if there were more. This would affect the level of competition. Currently, there is no other team like ours, especially in terms of female composition. At Locosphinx, most girls reach a certain age and then leave.

– Did you think that after the Olympics, you would be given more attention?

– No. Unfortunately, our sport is not as developed in the country. No one knows the winners of the Olympic Games and World Track Championships. Not everyone even knows that such a sport exists. Of course, I would like to know more about cycling.

As for my personal popularity, after the Olympics they constantly called for a month or two, called somewhere, interviewed. It’s part of the job and I’m ready to do it. If they ask, I’ll always give an autograph, I have to come somewhere, meet – I’ll come. Dosed, little by little, on a positive wave – it’s good, it’s pleasant. But I don’t want too much attention. I would like to spend more time with my family.

Have you set aside a neutral status situation for yourself?

Yes, I’m not going to do that yet.

Are you planning to change nationality?

— No, I’m staying in Russia. For me, it is better to stop sport and start working here than to change sport citizenship.

Are you already thinking about the Olympic Games?

– We will definitely not go to Paris in our sport. As for the next one, we’ll see.

– How do the girls in the team perceive you? Like a seasoned runner?

– Generally accepted. If you ask for advice, of course, ladies. Recently we were at training camp, talked with Dasha Yermolova. I told him how everything had gone for me. How she came back after giving birth and the Olympics were postponed, how she fell ill with coronavirus, how she qualified for Tokyo and won a medal there with Masha Novolodskaya. She listened to me with so much attention and admiration, even though I thought everyone already knew this story.

Will you send your child on a bike ride?

“I wouldn’t, to be honest. It still seems to me that in terms of loads it’s a more masculine sport. Now she turns to dances and acrobatics. He himself will choose, in any case.

Dancing, you say? You also went from dancing to cycling.

“Nothing can be predicted in such a case, of course.