Russian track and field athlete Kotukov tells how he played cat and mouse with the Chinese at the 2024 Paralympics

Russian long jumper Nikita Kotukov told how he played cat and mouse with the Chinese at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

On Tuesday at the 2024 Games, Kotukov won the bronze medal in the T47 class, with a result of 7.05m. Gold went to Cuba’s Robiel Yankel Sol Cervantes (7.41m) and China’s Yao Wong won silver (7.32m).

— What can you say about the final?

— It was a difficult start. And in general, the summer season is difficult. Many injuries, one after another. It is difficult to find moral strength in such moments. But thanks to my loved ones, my loved ones, my loved ones and my friends, I was able to overcome all this and win two main medals this season: silver at the World Championships and bronze at the Paralympic Games.

— Before each jump, you whispered something to yourself. Prayer?

– This is an instruction for yourself. These words that guide me push me to be more confident while running and jumping.

— Is it difficult to play in the rain?

— During the warm-up before the show, we tried a swing and our leg moved several times on the bar. Because the rain was pouring down like a wall. But then the weather calmed down and became rainy. And in principle, it did not interfere. It only happened that a cold wind blew.

— You also won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. How important is such stability?

– Very important. Everything we do and overcome is not in vain. The result is visible and I am very happy with it. It gives me the strength to look for more reserves in myself, to continue working, to improve my results.

— You showed 7.34 m in Tokyo, with this result you could win silver here.

“I could have become the first today.” My personal height is 7.54 m. I lacked a little technical training. I made mistakes when jumping and running. Therefore, a good attempt did not succeed.

— The Cuban Cervantes won. Don Quixote immediately comes to mind.

— Cervantes is a great guy. We are friends with him, we correspond outside of competitions. And I have great relations with the Chinese. He and I have been passionate about sports since 2019. Then he deprived me of bronze at the World Championships, and I ended up with a wooden medal. And then we play cat and mouse with him. At the World Championships in May, I deprived him of silver and won it on the sixth attempt. And then he beat me. But the Chinese were good today, as was Cervantes. I am happy for the guys, they are all great.

— Who do you dedicate this medal to?

— To all those who, without exception, wrote me words of support during difficult times. A big thank you to all these people.

– What are you going to do in Paris now?

– First of all, you can eat deliciously. And then see the main attractions. I managed to go to the Eiffel Tower before the competition. Well, by far. Now I’m going to go up there. Then I want to go to the Louvre. Walk around the city until the end of the week.

— Will you go to the closing ceremony?

— Are we sure they let us in already? If there is an opportunity, I would go. I was very upset when we were not allowed to attend the opening. I saw in the athletes’ village how people were escorted to this ceremony. It was just very sad and boring. However, it is such an important moment at the Paralympic Games.

— Have you been to Tokyo?

— Yes, we went to the opening with my friend Anton. We really enjoyed everything, although we were tired. But the impression was grandiose, it rarely happens in life. “I would go now,” Kotukov told .

The Paralympic Games in the French capital will end on September 8.

Watch live performances of Russian athletes at the Paralympic Games on Match! family channels, as well as on matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru websites.

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