The triple silver medalist of Sochi-2014 Maxim Vylegjanina who is today the president of the Ski Racing Federation of Udmurtia, has no interest in elevating his region and looking for sponsors, says the junior world champion Sergei Ardashev .
Currently, the 25-year-old skier is competing for Tatarstan. Vylegzhanin finished his sports career in 2019. He headed the Udmurt Ski Racing Federation in 2018.
— For five years you have been playing for Tatarstan, although you are originally from Udmurtia. How can you explain why you are not running for your home region?
“Everyone understands that it’s a question of finances. It’s not even a secret. They decide. For example, why is Ovechkin playing in another country instead of Russia? Or why do football players change clubs? This concerns everyone. Life doesn’t stop. Everything is getting more and more expensive. Moreover, you invest so much strength and health into the sport that it becomes obvious that you must be able to earn money here and now. The sporting age is short.
— But have you ever been upset that in your native Udmurtia they did not find enough funds to develop skiing to this extent?
— When Tamara Ivanovna Tikhonova was at the head of the country, everything was going more or less well compared to what is happening today. Now the new head of skiing in the area has arrived, and all the coaches are practically shouting, “Guard.” And most importantly, I’m offended by the way things are going right now. We left and nothing changed. And it’s even as if they don’t want to change anything more.
— At the same time, the president of the Ski Federation of Udmurtia is Maxim Vylegzhanin. Isn’t it surprising that such a prominent athlete can’t improve the situation?
“It seems to me that he simply has no interest in sincere leadership, in elevating the region, in seeking sponsors. Everyone said that Tamara Ivanovna was much better.
— In your opinion, can we now say that skiing is alive in Udmurtia?
– Certainly. He lived, lives and will live. Previously, we had a federal program under which rural games were organized. And I remember that a ski resort was also built in my area. It is possible to build bases in each region, facilitating the growth of young athletes. Children’s sports are therefore well developed in Udmurtia.
But the problem begins when the transition to adult sports occurs. You have to make money. People have families, but they have to show up for a salary of 15,000… That’s not the case at all. How are you going to support your family on 15,000?
— At the same time, if I understand correctly, you still live in Izhevsk. Why, for example, didn’t he move to Kazan?
— I like Izhevsk, honestly. I don’t want to move to another city. For some reason it’s difficult for me in big cities. Even when I left the village for Izhevsk, it was not so easy. I felt like I was in a big city: there were so many cars that I had to travel a lot to get somewhere.
And when I get to an even more populated area, it’s just terrifying for me. I come to Moscow and I can’t stand it anymore: to get from the airport to the desired point… I’m constantly on the gas brake, my head is already racing. It’s completely crazy! – Ardashev told .
Watch live broadcasts of the Russian cross-country skiing championship on and Match! Arena”, as well as on the matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru sites.
Source : MatchTV
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