“I hope to stay young by the time I return to the World Cup.” As always, happy Serokhvostov

Daniil Serokhvostov, in an interview with , said that his transition to the Artem Istomin group did not happen because of the girl, explained why it is important for Russian biathletes to follow the steps of the Cup of world now, and also recounted the times he worked with a psychologist this year.

“Entering the race in freezing -27 degrees could mean death”

— How did you endure the sprint in Khanty-Mansiysk? Have you had any after-effects due to the cold?

– Actually, it was still quite hot in the sprint. Also, I ran with special gloves, mittens, so I didn’t freeze. Which is to say, the moment was slightly unsettling. The only thing is that he froze his face. Now I go out to the street – and the frost immediately burns.

– Wow. The races, in your opinion, have been canceled, right?

– When the race was canceled, we went to practice. I will say it was very cold. Usually in training I didn’t stick at all, but here I had to. There was no other way, and it was just unbearable to be there. No matter how warm I dressed, it was always cold. It was windy and humid. It was cold even in training clothes, if you run in overalls, then it’s death, I think.

– How long does this training last?

– They said not to train a lot. About an hour or an hour and a half. If you can’t at all, then you go to the gym to shoot the simulators for as long as you have left on the track.

What’s the lowest temperature you’ve ever played at?

– In Khanty it was the lowest. But once they showed up in Yekaterinburg, where the selection for the European Youth Festival took place. Then, in my opinion, it was under 20 degrees, but by then two races had already been canceled and someone had to be selected. And then it was not so cold (laughs).

“Where was it colder: Peking or Khanty?”

Damn, that’s hard to answer. In Beijing, I think it was cooler. I never got hot there. Beijing is more like Saransk, where there is also always a strong wind. In Saransk, by the way, there is a good stadium, but it is very ventilated. It’s still blowing there, so there are a lot of misfires (laughs).

– The other day you wrote on your Telegram channel about asphalt on the highway in Uvat. Tell me, what moments did you encounter during this training?

– On two sections of the track, when driving, you feel the asphalt with sticks. In the plain and on the gentle slope, this made itself strongly felt. Just in this place pieces of asphalt.

“I worked with a psychologist on everything that happened this year”

– Do you now have the after-effects of the illness that afflicted you two weeks ago?

– I think not. The sinuses don’t bother me anymore. When I was given antibiotics, I immediately felt better and the pain was gone. Just at the sprint in Khanty, I taped my nose and my forehead. It’s very easy to catch a cold, so I wear a thicker hat while training.

“Have you been very afraid of falling ill in the summer?” How much did they distract you?

– Yes, illness was a good distraction. After the second or third illness, I already felt bad psychologically because I didn’t train and missed a lot, and the season is near. When you do nothing for a week, then recover, then do nothing again, it all adds up. I work with a psychologist, she helped me in those moments. In addition, the coaches adjusted the plan correctly, which allowed me to start the season well. It now remains to finally agree.

“Personal or team psychologist?”

– Personal.

Is it common among biathletes?

– I think not. I only know a few people who work with a psychologist. All others manage themselves.

Was a team psychologist required in the team?

– I think for the national team, yes. Such a person would be needed. If we take the last year, cup by cup, it seems that everyone felt tense. If there was a psychologist on the team, they would worry less.

– How did you negotiate the suspension of the competition with the psychologist?

I won’t go into details, but that problem is gone. I am determined to run here. I was not worried about the suspension, but rather about the situation. The withdrawal went by the wayside. It was a difficult time for me, I was very worried about everything.

“Istomin said he would kick me out of the team if I didn’t get into the top 3”

– Earlier, Artem Istomin said that you and Karim were under pressure due to a change of coaches. Was it really like that?

– I do not even know. There wasn’t a lot of pressure on me. Maybe he notices.

– How is the communication with Yuri Kaminsky now?

We don’t communicate, but we greet each other. In the shopping prompts. Here in Khanty-Mansiysk, on the last lap, he led me in time. I think we’re in such a normal, neutral relationship.

– Isn’t he offended?

– Well, I don’t know (laughing). You have to ask him.

– Previously, fans said that your transition happened because of a girl who also ended up in Istomin’s group?

– No, when he moved, the team was not yet formed. I knew there would be a woman, but I didn’t know who exactly. Then the lists were already published, I saw that Ksyusha (Dovgaya) was there. When I was with Yuri Mikhailovich, we were sometimes allowed to bring women and girls. I brought it, everything was fine. Also, we often had training camps in the same place, although we were on different teams.

– What are Artem Istomin’s plans for you this season?

– He said: “If you don’t get into the top 3, I’ll kick you out of the team” (laughing). In theory, I should already go home (laughs). Of course, he sets the highest goals for us to get Karim and the girls and me on top of the protocol. Artem Evgenievich told us to write his goals on a piece of paper, at the end of the season he will look at everyone who wrote what and compare. Everything worked or not.

– Is there a method to write a plan on paper, to my knowledge, before each race?

— Yes, he wants us to write a plan for the race. Almost everyone does. I also worked with a psychologist – I wrote a plan on my phone. But it’s easier for me to build it in my head, so I don’t write it down on paper. I think it’s good to write. When you write a race plan, you know what to do and where to do it. If you move away from it, the commotion begins. In short races, you are wrong.

“The World Cup is the elite. You have to be careful not to degenerate.”

What does this season represent for you personally?

– I don’t even know… Like rest. Such a respite. If we add more how sick I was, then 100% rest. After the Olympics, usually many do not perform very well compared to themselves during the Olympic season in order to recover and start the next cycle in full preparation. I took it the same way. It’s a question of preparation. In the race, I go out the same way as usual.

– Are you going to watch the World Cup?

Yes, I followed the individual race on Tuesday. It was very interesting for me. For some reason, I thought it was (Martin) Ponsiluoma who could win. I believed in him more because he performed well in Idra a month before the start of the World Cup. And the Swedes always start the season well. But I was surprised that (Niklas) Hartweg was second and (David) Zobel third.

– How many new youngsters do you think there will be when we come back to the World Cup?

“Hopefully I’ll be that young by then.” I think they will be enough. There are already a lot of them there: guys born in 2001 and 2002 are running everywhere. When we return, Tarje and Johannes will finish, and biathletes of Edik’s (Latypov) age will grow old.

– Not all our biathletes are interested in following the World Cup. Explain why this is important for Russian athletes.

– When you return, you must understand how the leaders work, you must know them. I don’t just follow the results, but I look at the technique, how they shoot, how many seconds it takes to shoot. In order not to deteriorate and watch only one Russian Cup, you have to follow the World Cup. The World Cup is the elite. There is nothing more to say.

– Do you think any of the world leaders will pay attention to the Russian Cup? Will they look at the protocols?

I don’t think they will find them. They are not interested. I don’t think many people are interested in Russians. If only the Romanians, who used to be Russians (laughs).