Biathlete Nigmatullina: “I realized that I wanted to continue my career by staying at home within four walls”

Double Olympic medalist Ulyana Nigmatullina told that after the birth of her child, she thought about retiring from her career, but life at home within four walls forced her to continue her competitive pursuits.

Nigmatullina became a mother in February last year. This season, the biathlete competes for the team of the Tyumen region.

— Did I understand correctly that you really had a choice: to pursue your career or not?

– Yes, there were such thoughts. Many years ago, I thought I wouldn’t continue my career if I had a child. Many told me they thought the same thing. But sport is addictive. It was difficult for me to give up this way of life, this borderline work, the events and the people. There is a feeling of incompleteness, so I would like to look at my body after such drastic changes.

— Do you already feel the changes?

— I always feel weak (laughs). I expect that by the end of the season, changes will come through training.

— When did you realize you wanted to pursue your career? Right after Aina was born?

“I realized I wanted to continue when I found myself at home within four walls. I’m very used to moving and haven’t lived in my own home for this long in a long time. At that moment, I realized how hard my mother’s job was. And it seems to me that this is often underestimated. I often hear others say, “Raising children is a no-brainer. » But in reality, it’s a full-time job. I am very grateful to my family who gave me the opportunity to pursue my career. I was also scared by the routine at home and the loss of my usual way of life,” Nigmatullina told .

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