Pidruchny: We agreed that I will continue to work with Sanitra for two years before the Olympics

Leader of the Ukrainian men’s biathlon team Dmitry Pidruchny shared his plans for the future and commented on changes in the coaching staff of the national team.

“I turned to Ivan Krulko and thank him for hearing me. We had a good dialogue and talked a lot about choosing a coach. We came to an agreement that I have succeeded in a lot in 8 years, and there is a well-established specific work scheme. Despite the injuries I had, over these two years we still found opportunities to maintain a fairly high level. We came to an agreement that I will continue to work with Juraj for these two years before the Olympics, so as not to break this system that we have built with him.”

“Considering that our team is very much rejuvenated and juniors are moving to the adult team, I understand that with Nadezhda Alexandrovna [Беловой] A large group will be training. And since I am an older athlete, making a special plan for me is not entirely convenient. And especially when she has a group of young athletes and they need more attention, and a completely different job than at my age. Therefore, I am grateful to the Federation that they heard me and made a decision so that I could prepare for the Games these two years separately.”

“I understood that there might be a change of coach. The minimum task was not completed and many were dissatisfied with the results, and it is the Federation’s right to decide who will continue to work with the team. To some extent I was disappointed, but I understood why this decision was made. But I immediately sought dialogue with the team in order to establish normal work for both the team and myself.”

“I trained with Belova for two years in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons. This is a good experienced coach with certain high achievements. This decision of the Federation is optimal, given that there are two years left before the Olympics and it is very difficult to find a conventionally titled foreigner. Therefore, Nadezhda Belova in this version is the best that could have happened. I think that she will be able to establish good work with the new generation that will now be on our team.”

Let us remind you that at the end of March it became known that the head coach of the Ukrainian men’s biathlon team Juraj Sanitra would leave his position. Subsequently, the President of the Biathlon Federation of Ukraine Ivan Krulko announced that the men’s national team would be headed by Nadezhda Belova, and Nikolai Zots would remain at the head of the women’s team.

Both candidates must be approved by the FBU Presidium. A press conference on the results of last season and goals for upcoming performances will be held on April 9.

At the end of the 2023/24 season, the Ukrainian men’s team took 11th place in the Nations Cup and lost one quota for the World Cup. In the 2024/25 season, the blue-yellows will be able to field a maximum of four athletes.

As for the 32-year-old Pidruchny, he missed the start of the season and a key stage of preparation due to a broken arm. He took 38th place in the overall standings of the 2023/24 Biathlon World Cup. Pidruchny also competed at the World Championships, but at the championship in Czech Nove Mesto the blue-and-yellows did not win a single award.