The Blue-Yellows are gradually approaching a period of team rejuvenation
The president Biathlon Federation of Ukraine Ivan Krulko spoke about the work of the coaching staff in the Ukrainian women’s national team, plans for the current season and problems with rejuvenating the squad.
“There are strategic goals and there are tactical goals. The strategic task is preparation for the Olympics, and here we must attract young people, but at the same time not overload them in order to maintain their potential for the long term. And the tactical task is to maintain the quota, because if we lose places, then how will we recruit the same young people? Therefore, remaining in the top 10 of the Nations Cup is not a dream, but a minimum task. If we talk about medals, then we, of course, are all waiting for them, and we are working for this. Are there such chances? I’m optimistic.”
“A new coaching staff started working in the women’s team this season, and now we are only seeing the initial process of overcoming the crisis that we have in women’s biathlon. But there is still a lot of work ahead, and the new coaching staff needs time to fully implement their ideas and the program with which they came to the helm of the team.”
“Last season we were full of illnesses among athletes. And while preparing for this season, we faced illnesses and injuries. However, most of the issues were overcome, and we approached the start of the season in readiness, which can be maximum at this stage.”
“We cannot say: we are rejuvenating the team – and recruit a full roster of new girls. It’s not like recruiting managers into an office who can be trained on the job. It won’t work that way with athletes.”
If among the athletes born in 2002-2004 we have only one Elena Gorodnaya, then what kind of rejuvenation can we talk about? We don’t have foreign players, and I hope we won’t have this practice again. We must work with those who are there. But the direction that was taken is correct.”
“We cannot engage in sports tourism. We can’t keep him in the lineup just because of his previous merits. Because then there will be no future – especially young girls will not fight, not seeing a future. Families and children appear… And if an athlete doesn’t see a chance to join the team in three to five years, she loses motivation.”
“It’s too early to talk about the results, because only three stages of the World Cup have passed – one Scandinavian and two Central European – so for now we are avoiding giving out grades. But we are already seeing positive dynamics compared even to the previous season. By now, I think we can all be more optimistic. And I hope that the shooting situation will stabilize and that our athletes are still scattering – we need to improve in all aspects so as not to let the top teams go too far.”
People’s Deputy Krulko became the new president of the FBU after the conference, which took place on November 15 last year. 58 participants voted for him, the leader of the men’s biathlon team of Ukraine Dmitry Pidruchny received 31 votes. Krulko replaced Vladimir Brynzak, who had led the Ukrainian biathlon since 1998.
Now the third stage of the World Cup is taking place in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. The final races of midweek will be the mass starts, which will take place tomorrow, December 17th.
The women’s start is scheduled for 13:30 Kyiv time. Four Ukrainian women will take part in the race: Anastasia Merkushina, Irina Petrenko, Yulia Jima and Kristina Dmitrenko. For men (start at 15:45), only one Ukrainian will perform – Dmitry Pidruchny.
Source: Sportarena
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