In Oberhof, the preparation of the Ukrainian men’s team for the new season continues
Head coach of the Ukrainian men’s biathlon team Yuraj Sanitra spoke about the reasons for staying to work with our athletes after the start of the war.
“When on February 21 after the Olympics everyone went home, no one even thought that we might not go to the last stages of the World Cup. Then we planned how we would work in the next Olympic cycle. But everything changed on February 24, when Russian aggression against Ukraine began.”
“In those days there was different information and telephone conversations. I was very worried about all the athletes and coaches, as well as fans, of which there are so many in Ukraine. I helped as much as I could. For five weeks the family of one of my athletes lived with me. This is a very difficult time, and I thought for a long time whether to continue working with the team. I talked to my relatives and realized that I cannot leave my athletes and Ukrainian biathlon when they need help.”
“We were constantly in touch and thought together how to work further. I know that almost all the guys were drafted into the army immediately after the Beijing Olympics.”
Six biathletes of the national team: Dmitry Pidruchny, Artem Prima, Bogdan Tsymbal, Anton Dudchenko, Taras Lesyuk, Denis Nasyko and Daria Blashko, who works in the men’s team, are holding the second training camp in Oberhof. The first training camp took place in Syanki (Lviv region).
Recall that Blashko will prepare for the new biathlon season as part of the men’s national team of Ukraine.
Daria decided to resume working with the head coach of the Ukrainian men’s team Juraj Sanitra, under whose guidance she trained in the 2020/21 season, when the Slovak also headed the women’s team.
The new season of the Biathlon World Cup starts on November 29 with a stage in Finnish Kontiolahti. The German Oberhof will host the World Championship in February next year.
Source: Sportarena
