“The teachers at school said, ‘You have such a mindset that you have to get into science. Conversation with biathlete Bazhin

The women’s biathlon team of the Sverdlovsk region can be called one of the best in the country: Irina Kazakevich, Tamara Derbusheva, Natalia and Anastasia Shevchenko won gold at the Russian Championship in Khanty-Mansiysk in early April. The men’s team cannot boast the same, because it simply does not exist. Kirill Bazhin is the only representative of the men’s team in the region.

In an interview with , he suggested when his team would have a men’s relay team, explained why he wouldn’t go to his personal trainer Mikhail Shashilov’s squad, and also said if he was ready to work in his specialty after finishing his career as a biathlete.

“Working in the Shashilov group will be a plus for Kazakevich, but not for me”

How do you assess the past season?

– It is very difficult to evaluate it in its entirety, because it can be divided into two parts: for the first I put two (laughs), because there were a lot of diseases, and for the second – four more . From February he performed well, became the champion of Russia in Izhevsk. Yes, there were personal races where I could compete for medals, but it didn’t work out because of a bad shot at the final frontier.

“Why the hell for the first part of the season?” In Uvat you won the Russian Cup.

– In Uvat and Ufa, Tamara Derbusheva and I were in the single mixed relay prizes. In individual races, he only finished fifth once. At the second stage of the Russian Cup in Uvat everything was still fine, then we moved to Tyumen, where I thought I would fight the boys on equal terms, but I just got sick: I had a high temperature before the races.

– What did you change in the second part of the season?

– I started to be less sick, I made the right preparation with a different head. The preparation was good initially, but without a few moments things could have been different.

– One of the most memorable moments of the season with your participation is a clash with Daniil Serokhvostov. Are you on good terms with him now? Danya made an obscene statement to you.

“Yes, I heard it. But it was said with emotion. The race was ruined for both. In fact, he was supposed to go down, but I raced to the finish line. That day, in the evening, we wrote off – no one has resentment. Everyone understands that it was a contact fight. When they saw each other in Khanty, they no longer remembered this story.

Did you damage the rifle?

“No, everything was fine. As it landed, the shot landed on sight, resulting in a strong shot change.

– Did your personal trainer Mikhail Viktorovich Shashilov support you after the collision?

Yes, yes, I am very grateful to him. He encouraged me when I entered the penalty laps. After the first three laps I still struggled, but then when I overtook four times I realized there was nothing to gain back in the pits. Well, people were supportive. Everyone saw who was right and who was wrong.

– What is Shashilov’s involvement in your training process?

– Mikhail Viktorovich follows me in the races, tells me how it was in Izhevsk in the individual race. I’m glad the coaches of the Bashkirov group agree with this. Sometimes they even ask, “Who’s going to shoot you?” Everyone helps, for which I thank them very much. Mikhail Viktorovich can give advice, but I always work according to the plans of Dmitry Shukalovich and Sergey Bashkirov.

– Is there a desire to spend the whole season under the leadership of Shashilov? We have already seen mixed groups where men and women work.

I was asked this question in September. I still need a men’s team to have strong sparring partners nearby. It is possible to work in a women’s team, and it will probably be a big plus for the same Irina Kazakevich, but not for me. I want to progress and add. I don’t mind, but it will be difficult to work in one. By the way, in January I trained separately from the Sochi team with Mikhail Viktorovich. Bashkirov’s group worked in Ufa.

– How do you feel seeing the victory of the women’s team from the Sverdlovsk region in the relay at the Russian championship, while the men’s team is not recruited for this race?

– I’m happy for the women, a very strong team has gathered there. As for the men… We hope that soon we will be able to recruit a team. We have strong juniors and young men. In a season, we may resume (laughing).

– How do they explain it in the federation?

“Honestly, they can’t explain themselves.

– Lately, everyone is talking about the IOC recommendation. As a CSKA athlete, how did you react to them?

“A year ago, I knew everything would be exactly like this. I have no surprises. I represent Russia and we have decided that military personnel cannot travel otherwise. And in Europe, all the athletes represent law enforcement. And it is a mistake to separate ourselves from it.

– Who made the decision?

– We spoke with CSKA majors.

“Bolshunov fled from us on the cross from the first meters. He was not available”

– Earlier, during summer training, Shashilov sent Irina Kazakevich to Yuri Borodavko’s group. Do you want to try the same?

– It is with Yuri Viktorovich that I would like to work. I know what kind of fillers there are and would like to experience them myself, but there were no such offers. For two or three years, with the team from the region, we crossed paths at the May training camp with the Borodavko group. It was in Crimea. We lived nearby, we cycled together: me, Lekha Shevchenko and Alexey Chervotkin. Good experience, very big plus.

Who surprised?

– Alexander Bolshunov, who fled from us on a cross or a bicycle from the first meters (laughs). He was unavailable. We understood that we have to train at our own pace, so in such situations there is no need to butt him.

— The SBR website indicates that you had a higher education at the Ural State Mining University. You are a mining drilling engineer. Why is he an athlete?

— From school, I was drawn to mathematics and physics, so without hesitation, after school, I passed these exams and went to university. I passed mathematics at the Unified State Exam with 77 points, physics – with 49. This is a good result for me, because the guys who studied with tutors passed the same as me , except that I had charges all the time.

– Do you give yourself a chance to connect your life with this profession in the future?

Everything is possible, of course. For now, it’s just a graduate degree. For now, I don’t plan to change my type of activity (laughs), since biathlon is my main job. I give him all my strength.

– Was there ever a choice? Biathlon only?

– Some teachers in school said, “You have such a mindset, you have to switch to science.” But it happened like that. Somehow the team started talking about education and they were like, “Oh, after your career, you can immediately go up north to drill! You will gain a lot.” (Laughs.)

– The engineers of this specialty receive more than the biathletes of the region?

“Oh, I haven’t studied that question. If in the North, then probably more.

– Well, the salary in some areas is really low. Did you have to ask your parents for financial help when you were already running among men?

“My parents helped me and help me. They make a great contribution. It wasn’t until I was 21 that I was able to support myself. Before that, my career developed thanks to my parents who supported me, went to competitions. My father practiced biathlon, my mother is also close to sport.

How successful was your father?

– Dad completed the “Master of Sports of the USSR”, but the title was not awarded, because the union broke up. Then he was drafted into the army. He had good results at the regional level. Then the national team of the Sverdlovsk region was very strong. We thought it was more difficult to get there than in the national team.

– It’s funny that now you play alone from the Sverdlovsk region.

– Yes yes (laughing). Such a paradox.

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The federal television channel broadcast live all the main competitions of the season in biathlon and cross-country skiing in Russia.