“Sometimes they find out at the office. There is no other solution: I will give autographs. Former biathlete Malyshko talks about his new life

Fate Dmitry Malychko after the 2019/20 season was shrouded in mystery: the biathlete stopped participating in competitions, practically did not appear in public, but did not announce his retirement. It turned out that even then Dmitry even stopped watching biathlon and took up mining. He spoke about it himself after participating in the “ Race of Stars”.

In an interview with , Malyshko explained in detail how he got to this unusual profession, announced the imminent launch of a mobile application specifically for athletes, and also recalled the mistakes he made.

— After Sunday’s show race, you revealed a little secret about what you’re doing now. How did you get there?

– There are no secrets. It’s just that after leaving biathlon, I decided that there was no need to cover stories unrelated to sports. The decision to retire was made abruptly during the coronavirus crisis. Something had to change, but there was no point in preparing for anything. The 2019/20 season was the coronavirus period: we didn’t finish the season then, we went home until the summer, and it was not at all clear whether the next season would take place. It is illogical for a 33 year old athlete to sit and wait. So I decided to stop exercising.

At that time, I was offered an option: to work in mine construction. I have relatives who work in this field, so I said to myself: “Why not?” I worked almost all last year in Krasnoyarsk. The construction of mines constitutes the first part of my activity.

And the second is the development of a mobile application. As various companies and manufacturers began fleeing our country, we realized we needed to fill a niche. We asked ourselves why not do it in the IT field? We decided to create our own app for sports fans, a social network of sorts. Now I am negotiating with Alexander Legkov on this story. I think other guys will join us too. We are trying to do something on our own. As athletes, we know everything fans need. We understand what they want to see in the app. On this basis, I want to unite athletes and invite all sports fans.

— Is it already a startup?

— We could have talked about a startup in June of last year, but now the company I founded is more than six months old. We are preparing a beta version, which will be presented soon. The end goal is a complete application. I repeat, to be clear: this is a social network where anyone can record their training from any device so that it can be seen, appreciated and commented on.

— How did this idea come about?

— She was born about a year ago. For one reason or another, various sports social networks have closed access to Russian users, but why can’t we do it ourselves? We negotiate with investors. I hope everything works.

— Did you also invest your own money?

– At the initial stage – yes, you cannot do without it.

— Okay, what exactly do you do in mining?

— I am the deputy director of mining operations. Recently there was a project in Krasnoyarsk, where I started my journey in this area. I worked there for a year.

—Are you in charge of the process?

– Yes. My task was to bring together a staff: miners, engineers, and to offer them working conditions.

— Are you satisfied with the way things are going?

— It’s difficult in a new role. It’s no secret that any athlete who finds himself in a new life experiences turning points. I would probably tell my kids, “Go study right away,” so they don’t have to move from one life to the next.

— Are your biathlete colleagues surprised by this choice?

— In fact, few people know this, because the circle of those with whom I communicate is quite small. Alexey Petukhov, Alexander Legkov, Anton Shipulin, Ivan Tcherezov – they knew it, yes.

— Do current co-workers at least understand who they are dealing with?

– A lot – yes. We meet sports fans like these at the office! Sometimes they find out here – yes, you can’t get out of it, you have to communicate and give autographs.

— Do you lead a secret life at the office?

– Trying. If there is a project that requires media exposure, then I am ready to participate, but so far such projects do not exist. Take for example our candidacy: if my media participation is required, of course, I will do it.

***

— In September 2022, coach Alexander Kasperovich announced your retirement, not you.

“I think a person should announce such things personally.” That wasn’t entirely true.

— Why then did you have no information from you for two years?

“When everyone was cooped up at home, I thought things would be better in a month. Initially there was such a thought. But then a month passed, then another, six months.

Well, after six months, what was the point of announcing loudly that I was leaving? The new season is already underway and I’m nowhere to be found.

“At least it could have been done for our fans.”

— Maybe, but I already had another job. I completely immersed myself in it and realized that I was outside of the sport.

— So you immediately forgot about the biathlon?

— Maybe not right away, but I didn’t specifically watch the races. I cut it, I cut it.

— So that you don’t have the slightest idea of ​​coming back?

– Yes yes.

— Have you ever regretted it?

— I train, and regularly. I appreciate it, let’s put it that way. But to go back – probably not.

— When you ran the Race of Stars, did you feel nostalgic?

– It was exciting: the filming, the team, everything was there. Yes, they were amateurs, but the distance was not easy: short, but explosive. All the professionals ran to their maximum. And I’ll tell you: it’s hard to shoot when the base is no longer there. It’s difficult without preparation.

—How long did they not shoot?

– Once a year it happens. Every year I organize competitions for juniors in Sosnovy Bor, Leningrad region, where I practiced aerial shooting. But for three years, I haven’t picked up a gun.

— What aspects would you like to change in your sporting career?

— Like any athlete, I am a maximalist and I still don’t like my results. It seems to me that I haven’t run enough, I haven’t trained enough, etc. Of course I wanted more medals.

When I was young, I made mistakes: I had a lot of strength, but I could have planned the race poorly tactically and lost medals over trifles. It was possible to collect more prizes somewhere. But if I won everything, I still wouldn’t be happy about it. Most athletes specifically aim for optimal results. If you win, you want to win more – and that will never be enough.

— What about relationships with people: have you established contact with everyone, who did you argue with during your career?

“I guess I didn’t see the ones I argued with.” They still go to training camps, train, but I have my own life. I doubt I blame anyone, but I didn’t get along with many. After Lopukhov, personnel turnover began in the team. Every year, coaches came to pursue their goals and interests. They invited their own people. But it’s the norm – and you can’t live without it. I think in sports and in business there will always be such stories.

— Did you still have the desire to win in your new life?

– Yes. And I also have this feeling: I don’t like what I do (laughs). You always want to do better. It’s probably a habit.