“I didn’t say anywhere that I wanted to go to another group.” Latypov explains how he ended up at training camp in Belarus

In the biathlon off-season, Yuri Kaminsky’s group has changed a lot. Three athletes with experience of performing not only at the World Cup, but also at the Olympics left him. Anton Babikov went to Sergei Bashkirov’s group, and Karim Khalili and Daniil Serokhvostov joined Artem Istomin’s group. So, among the biathletes who played in the main team last season, Kaminsky had only Eduard Latypov left.

But the three-time Olympic medalist decided to organize the second training camp not with his group, but in Raubichi (Belarus), where the groups of Bashkirov and Istomin are now located. This immediately aroused suspicion and rumors: does Latypov also want to leave Kaminsky? The correspondent met Eduard and asked him about it.

– Why are you in Raubichi, and not with your group?

– Initially, the training camp was planned in Kazakhstan, but it did not work out. In Oufa, the relief is soft for a preparation in June. I chose the most difficult path. I was in Raubichi a few years ago. I know there are powerful and heavy circles here, as well as difficult roller skating, so it’s hard to work here. I decided to train here. Also, my relatives live in Belarus, whom I haven’t seen for a long time. I come from here. It combines the pleasant with the useful. Considering there were covid times it was impossible to come here in any way. This is also related to travel here.

– Did you easily coordinate this trip with Kaminsky?

– Yes. We talked, made a preparation plan, so that there would be joint training with Artem Istomin’s group, so that he would be supervised and someone could tell. The task has been given, we continue to work, the necessary adjustments are made. We speak.

– There are now two Russian groups in Raubichi. Why do you train with Istomin’s group and not with Bashkirov’s?

– It happened. After the recovery camp in Bashkiria, I immediately went to St. Petersburg. Then, a day and a half later, I joined Istomin’s group, because Bashkirov’s group left on June 5, and purely physically I did not have time to get there.

– How different is your plan from what the athletes in Istomin’s group do?

– The direction, one might say, is the same. But the days of rest are different, the volume is different, and the means of preparation are different on certain days. Some days we do jobs together that are similar.

– There you are, it turns out, the only athlete without a boss?

Why? In any case, I report on the watch-tester, we constantly call each other, discuss training. Again, I want to say that the plan was put together in such a way that it was convenient and I wouldn’t be left alone, so we were in a group with the guys. There is competition, it is interesting to work together and encourage each other.

– Were you happy to find your friends who were in the same group as you last season?

– Yes, of course, it’s nice. We haven’t seen each other for several months.

– But because of this gathering in Raubichi, rumors have spread that you also want to leave for another group.

– It is clear that the situation is ambiguous. But I didn’t say that anywhere. Maybe for some it looks like that. In fact, it is not. An ordinary situation where you can change the fee. We are adult athletes, we can work independently. It might also be a plus. Self-discipline in any case helps further development.

– Where after Belarus?

– In Rybinsk, where I will continue to collect with Kaminsky’s group. Then to the Seminsky pass, in Sochi. Everything is exactly as expected. The only adjustment was during the first collection.

— Your group has changed a lot this season. How did you know and perceive that Babikov, Serokhvostov and Khalili will train in other groups?

– I took it easy. So apparently it should have happened. The work continues. It’s more of an individual sport. Of course, the team mood affects, but you can always adjust and work further. I accepted it with understanding. We have guys in the band now, of course, young, but loaded. I think there will be enough competition.

– They mentioned that there were a lot of young people in the group. Is sparring enough for you now?

– Yes. Often there are no sparrings as such. The only thing is that in regular workouts we can contract, but you do the main development workouts alone, because everyone has different intensity zones. I myself used to do such workouts alone, it is more comfortable and convenient for me.

– Does the fact that there are no more guys in the group with the experience of playing at the World Cup affect you?

The guys are trying. You also have to share the experience. I probably help them with my example. It’s already good. But, I repeat, many professional athletes often work alone. There are enough such cases in world practice. Moreover, all of these athletes are considered strong in their sport. I think it’s not entirely important.

– Has Yuri Kaminsky changed in any way from this whole story?

“Our personal relationship hasn’t changed. We also communicate calmly. How has it changed? I don’t know, because we only had a small six-day gathering. I didn’t notice major changes.

– After the Olympics, you had many events, meetings, interviews. Have you been able to rest?

“Everything was temporary. Meetings and events consume a lot of energy. At the same time, you still need to keep fit, train and spend time with your family. Everything has accumulated. The planning was very fast: return trip, move, then return to my parents, return to Samara, Bashkiria, Moscow… It takes a lot of effort. Therefore, I cannot say that I expired after the Olympics. Of course, there were little periods at home when my family and I rested. But after such a season, that is not enough.

– In each interview, you are asked questions about the relay in Beijing. Are you tired of these questions?

– Not. Ask – I answer. Even if he has already said everything. Nothing special will be added. Now this is a common question. I answer as is.

Are there any questions that bother you?

– There are, but it all depends on the mood. If the mood isn’t great, an incorrect question can get on your nerves. There are situations when it is not necessary to ask this or that question. On the contrary, at such times, I will remain silent or end the interview.

– Dmitry Zanin reported on your native village of Kamyshlu. Have you watched?

– Sure.

Open a video

– How do you like it?

– Cool cool. Of course, a lot of interesting things could be told, but the air time does not allow it. Either way, the plot is great. Everyone liked it.

“What do they say in Kamyshl?”

– They are proud that the whole country saw a small village in the Samara region. My fellow citizens said, “Oh! My house has been shown” or “This is our street! They are happy, they are happy.

– What was memorable during this off-season other than interviews, official meetings, awards, trips to hockey and football?

You have already listed everything. More than that, where I was exposed in the photographs on the internet, it was not. Nothing to add.

– Winners and laureates of the Olympic Games traditionally in Russia receive solid cash prizes. Someone invests them in a business, someone makes a purchase they’ve been dreaming of for a long time. Did you have any major expenses?

– Not. Now the situation is such that we have to think about what to do with this money. In any case, you are trying for the family. Maybe you should build your dream house.

– The most expensive thing in Eduard Latypov’s wardrobe?

“I don’t have anything very expensive. At home there are a few kits for official events. Since I’m constantly at training camp, I don’t have time to wear these clothes. That’s why I rarely shop.

– What is your sporting priority now, given that we don’t know exactly what the season will look like?

“You still have to be ready. It will be less offensive if, for example, everything returns to normal in the shortest possible time, and you will not be ready, relaxed and unable to influence anything. Now there are Russian competitions, the Commonwealth Cup. There are a lot of guys in Russia, and Belarusian athletes will come – winners of the Olympics. I think the competition, of course, will not be the same as at the World Cup, but it will raise the level.

— What are your goals for this Russian-Belarusian season?

– I’m not going very far. There is a goal in all cases. After the Olympics, an analysis was made, weaknesses were noted that I would like to correct, tighten up, which did not allow me to do more last season. Even though the upcoming season will be with Russian departures, there is hope that in a year we will be allowed. There is time until the next Olympic Games. We will prepare for it. I hope it will be for us.