Short track speed skater Vostrikova: “Without international competitions, there is not enough diversity, but internal competition is good”

Participant in the Beijing Olympic Games Anna Vostrikova said that with no international departures there was enough domestic competition, but there was a lack of diversity.

Vostrikova finished third in the 1000m at the Spartakiad of the Strongest in Chelyabinsk. Russian short track skaters have been suspended from international competition due to the situation in Ukraine.

— To be honest, this beginning didn’t go well for me. I wish I could do better and run a lot better. But for the first time at the Russian level, I felt such importance of the competition, I liked the atmosphere and the organization.

— In other words, it’s not like the same Russian Cup, only with a different sign?

– No, the difference is big and you can feel it. A completely different atmosphere, another attitude, the competitions take place at a high level.

— Is this important so as not to lose the feeling of nervousness and “nervousness”?

– I totally agree. Our sport is not very popular and it is important to feel this pressure of big tournaments. We have a lot of support and fans here. This has never happened before at national competitions in Russia.

— Technically, psychologically, do you feel the absence of international tenure?

“We have good internal competition, but we don’t have enough diversity, we’re stuck in the same mess. » However, the international scene adds spice. More opponents, more different tactics,” Vostrikova told .

The Winter Spartakiad of the Strongest takes place from February 8 to 18. Competitions in 16 sports are held in the Krasnodar and Krasnoyarsk Territories, as well as in the Tyumen, Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions. Russian and Belarusian athletes took part in the Spartakiad of the Strongest.