Olympic short track champion Semyon Elistratov admitted in a chat with that he was calm about the abolition of the all-around titles by the International Skating Union (ISU) Congress, and also spoke about preparations for the season.
The ISU Congress this week at a meeting in Phuket revoked the all-around titles in short track speed skating at the World and European Championships. From now on, the medals of these competitions will only be played at certain distances.
— Semyon, how do you evaluate the results of the ISU congress? On the one hand, you are still in the status of “without international departures”, but nevertheless, you allowed our representatives to the congress, you did not accept the rule which could deprive the federation of a place in the UIS.
— It is very important for us to compete on the international stage, to gain experience in international competitions. So far, we will only have national competitions, as promised by the Ministry of Sports and the Olympic Committee. I am sure that the Russian Skating Union will move forward to replace this international experience. It remains to be seen what that will look like over the course of the season. The duration of this ban may not be clear to anyone. I think you have to be ready for anything. It is important that there is a competitive practice.
How are you preparing for the season? Are you giving yourself a little rest in the current situation?
– I am one of those people who never asks for rest, even in the most difficult moments. As a man and the head of the family, I ask for more work, I ask for more strength somewhere up there to face this work. I prepare normally. In the post-Olympic season, and even in the current situation, it is stupid to deliberately prepare for the World Cup stages, and it is not known whether they will be or not. But the work continues. Everything is built in such a way that every year we have to confirm our status, run fast, otherwise I will lose my salary.
– The ISU canceled the titles of world and European champion of the all-around. In speed skating, they are more and more inclined to believe that the all-around is a matter of prestige in a few countries, the main thing being the Olympic sports. What does short track have to do with it?
– We won the all-around and individual distances. If we take the financial aspect, if you win a distance, then you are the world champion and in this respect it does not matter whether you won the all-around or not. All-around is really more about prestige, you’re a badass who made it. Now we have five disciplines and I think that’s enough to seize the opportunity to get on the podium.
– Are you going to miss the superfinal?
– I’m resting. Still it is necessary to reach it, everyone does not run away. The main thing is that there are nine sets of medals, which, it seems to me, is a lot.
Source : MatchTV
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