Olympic speed skating medalist Olga Fatkulina returned to competitions on Friday after maternity leave. She took part in the “five hundred” at the first stage of the Russian Cup in Kolomna.
We chatted with Olga and at the same time met her daughter Olivia, who was waiting for her mother in her father’s arms after the race.
— It was cool, but scary. I was shaking so much. The coolest part is taking care of it. Jitters, then pre-launch nirvana. These are the emotions I came back for,” Fatkulina told .
— Yesterday there was no feeling of “Fatkulina, what are you doing?” Why do you need all this?
– Was. I wasn’t feeling very well and I was rolling around like a sad turd. I thought, well, why do I need this? But I really wanted to come back and feel all this atmosphere, to start in the Russian Cup. Learn about the Soviet school, how people prepare and train. Competitions are always vacations. I am happy.
— Are you going to run 1000 m?
– I will come. It’s always difficult to run.
— Did you drive or run 500 m?
– Iran. Let’s see what happens next. There is no acceleration yet, after childbirth it is still difficult to activate these fast fibers in the muscles.
– Who is the coach?
— Olga Fatkulina and my husband Alexander Rudopysov. I joined the team of the Chelyabinsk region, but during dry training I work alone.
— You don’t want to go to training camps yet?
– Will not. My daughter is still very little. I can’t be tied to anyone else’s schedule yet. For now, I live around my daughter’s schedule. Training as a team is an added responsibility, but I can’t afford it right now.
— Excellent pink jumpsuit for my daughter. But not yet a speed skater!
– Yes, a street worker!
— Which stages of the Russian Cup will you compete next?
— I want to go to Saint Petersburg. I will start with Chelyabinsk, even if I “like” the ice cream there in quotation marks. In any case, these are preparatory departures, the main one being the Spartakiad. Andrei Genrikhovich (Vakhutin) and I talked and discussed this topic. I am the ambassador of the Spartakiad of the Strongest. All forces will be concentrated on this departure.
– How do you live in general? Now the prize money is much smaller.
– This is all regrettable. She gave birth, came back and everywhere our payments were reduced. I start at the bottom. I survive on what my husband earns. I race for fun, the speed skating salary doesn’t really hold me back anymore.
— Will young people leave if the situation of isolation persists?
“I think those who managed to taste how good everything was will leave.” Young people will simply catch up. But there will be no results, because there is no global rivalry, I don’t want to break anyone’s butt at the international level, the “skates” will stop if there are no competitions international events, World Cup stages.
Source : MatchTV
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