“The situation with Babikov is not easy. But we spoke calmly, parted normally. Interview with Sergei Bashkirov

From July 1, the training groups of Sergei Bashkirov and Yuri Kaminsky will be united and will continue to train in the same places. The methodological direction of the preparation will fall to Kaminsky.

— Why was Shchuchinsk chosen as the place of assembly?

– We planned to come to Kazakhstan last year, but it didn’t work out. We knew from expert reviews that the place is good, wanted to try it. Schuchinsk has decent conditions and a serious infrastructure; international competitions have been held here more than once, including the 2023 Junior Biathlon World Cup. Another factor is that some athletes are allergic to flowering, and in northern Kazakhstan almost anything allergenic has already faded. Our junior team will also arrive here on June 10.

What are your future plans for the summer?

– Gathering at the Seminsky Pass with the group of Yuri Kaminsky, then training in Tyumen, participation in the Commonwealth Cup in Sochi and the summer national championship, also in Tyumen.

– Do you plan joint training with skiers, like Mikhail Shashilov’s group?

– Voluntarily not, but I heard that Yuri Borodavko’s team was coming to Shchuchinsk. We will probably meet in training.

– There are six people in your party…

– Five. Maxim Tsvetkov decided to join the Kaminsky group.

– Is everyone in good health?

– The collection is just beginning, so far so good. The guys had a good inter-assembly, ready to work.

– Povarnitsyn, Tomshin, Bazhin, Kolotov are more or less known. Who is Oleg Domichek?

– Based on the results of the past season, it was decided to involve juniors who have proven themselves in youth competitions in centralized training. Irodov was invited to Kaminsky’s group, Domichek to us. He is 21 years old, responds well to the load, retracts. Let’s see how it goes.

– Kuklina said that she liked Krasnaya Polyana, but in terms of the process of formation, this place remains a mystery to her. Do you see the effect of fees in Sochi?

– Certainly. We did a good job both in Tchaikovsky and in Sochi, everything went smoothly. We have been using Krasnaya Polyana for several years already, the feedback is predictable and useful, the effect of training in Sochi is definitely there.

– Who helps you in your work?

– Coaches – Pavel Maksimov. Plus a massage therapist and a military man.

– Analyst Dmitry Shukalovich left you for independent coaching with juniors, your group from July 1 is logistically and methodically united with the group of Yuri Kaminsky, he will be the main one. Not the smoothest option. Did it hurt you?

“There are pros and cons to any change. I hope there will be more benefits.

– Under Shukalovich, the methodological preparation of the group was suitable for the leadership of the RRF. After his departure, Kaminsky was required. Where is your role here? It always seemed that the head coach was responsible for the sports ideology and not for the organization of the processes.

– In previous years, the head coach of the group really made a training plan and was responsible for its methodical implementation. Dmitry Shukalovich, as a specialist who worked with different teams and had extensive experience, helped to develop plans.

“Did you invite Shukalovich as an analyst?” Or was he appointed from above?

– I proposed the candidacies of Shukalovich, as an analyst at the CSP, and Maksimov, as a coach.

– Do you keep in touch with Alexander Loginov, who was trained before leaving for individual training?

– Now less often, but I know he is busy and started training even before we went to the first training camp.

– Sports media hinted at a conflict between you and Anton Babikov, who is also undergoing individual training. Can you clarify this problem?

The situation with Anton is not easy. On the one hand, he showed a good result in the season. On the other hand, he did not qualify for the national team according to the criteria approved by the coaching council. We were together at the Tchaikovsky and Sochi training camp, we talked calmly. We parted well, in my opinion.

– Recently, a number of athletes have publicly complained about their withdrawal from CSP tariffs. Vasily Tomshin from your group also lost his scholarship, but kept silent. Did everything suit him?

– Everyone decides how to act. At the moment, as far as I know, the problem has been solved, some athletes have additionally assigned the Ministry of Sports tariffs.

– Do you have halls that spend half a million a year on equipment from personal funds, like Mukhamedzyanov?

– According to my information, Tomshin spent a comparable amount on inventory. I think any professional athlete who wants to grow should invest in themselves. This applies not only to equipment, but also to nutrition, medicine and much more. The system cannot cover all aspects of training.

— Another financial moment. Reztsova, Nigmatullina, Loginov, who missed the season, kept CSP rates as Olympic medalists. Mironova is also a winner, but, according to available information, they did not save her. For what?

– It’s beyond my jurisdiction.

– Chairman of the RBU Coaching Council Vladimir Bragin said that you asked Tsvetkova to maintain the rate. He did not achieve it by RBU standards, but he is also an Olympic medalist. With all due respect to Maxim, the Beijing winners have already been thanked. To what extent does financial assistance for past merits seem justified??

– From me, there really was such a proposal when discussing tariffs: to include Tsvetkov in the list as an Olympic medalist. Maxim did not have enough RBU rating for this, but he became the winner of the Russian championship and did quite well in the main starts of the season, although he did not have a preparatory phase in full share. Tsvetkov can show high results, there is no doubt. It is from these considerations that he started when he proposed to keep his CSP rate.

– If you had the possibility of completing your group with a couple of athletes, who would you prefer?

– A complicated problem. He probably would have continued to work with Mikhail Burundukov and Alexei Vagin. We cooperated last year, but the season, for various reasons, did not quite work out. And the guys have good potential, they are able to progress.