Athlete Shafikov about the World Championship: “Of course, they still beat me by one wicket”

Pole vaulter Ranel Shafikov told that his results are not yet comparable to the achievements of participants at the World Indoor Championships.

On March 3, in the Moscow Arena of the National Research University MGSU, the 5th All-Russian Pole Vault Festival was held, in which the youngest athletes and pole vault stars of Russia took part and Belarus. Shafikov reached a height of 5.40 meters.

The 19th World Indoor Championships will take place from March 1-3, 2024 at the Commonwealth Arena in Glasgow, United Kingdom. On March 1, 2022, the World Athletics Association suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes from participation in international competitions. The suspension remains in effect to this day, despite the reinstatement of the ARAF.

— How would you rate your performance today?

— I’m very happy, I would give it an eight out of ten. It would be ten if he jumped 5.55, but apparently not today.

— What happened on the last jump, when you tried to clear 5.55 meters?

“I think I’m just not ready for such heights yet.” I hope that by the summer season it will already be a normal height for me.

— Are you following the World Indoor Championships?

“In a few hours there will be men’s pole vault, I’ll watch it.”

— Do you compare your results with those of the world?

– Well, there, of course, while they beat me from a wicket. I will endeavor to achieve the results presented therein. It’s interesting to follow your rivals.

— How to choose musical accompaniment for jumping?

“I wanted something unusual, something old that everyone knows and everyone can sing about.” To make the audience happy.

— How important is music in pole vaulting? Is this just background or does it have meaning?

— I think it’s different for everyone. When I practice to music, I explore its meaning, catch the rhythm and do a good jump. She is important to me.

— Do you feel the support of the spectators in the stands?

– Of course, you can feel it, especially when they applaud. I feel a certain energy in the stands, I want to jump and jump.

— You hold the all-around world record, why did you choose pole vault?

— I reached the highest level in the world while I was still studying and living in Kazan. Since I moved to Moscow, I had to choose which guy I would play. I chose pole because I don’t like running very much, although I was good at sprinting. And overall, to be honest, we don’t have very good coaches,” Shafikov told .