The fact that Alexander is easy to prepared for his Triumphal Olympic Games in Sochi according to the plans of this German specialist, only units knew. Officially, his mentors were considered the Reto Burgermaister from Switzerland and helped him physiotherapist Isabel Knautte. And only in 2015, Marcus Kramer came out of the shadows, becoming the official coach of the Russian national team coach with his own mini-group, in which his sparring partner Sergey Turyshev began to train along with Alexander Lungov. Even the season later, the Markus Kramer group became the most numerous as part of the Russian team. Three men are already trained in it: a multiple world champion among juniors, a member of the Vancouver Olympiad (8th place), a member of the Vancouver Olympiad (8th place), a member of the Vancouver Olympiad (8th place), and the strongest Russian skiers: Natalia Matveyeva, Julia Chekaleva, Natalia Zhukova, Polina Calcina, Anastasia Sedova, Natalya Nepzeyeva and Julia Belukowa.
Naturally, at the very beginning of this conversation with Marcus, I was interested in finding out how his cooperation with Alexander Lungov and the Russian team began.
It happened in 2010, "says Marcus Kramer. - It was the beginning of the first summer after the Olympics in Vancouver. I was at home, in Germany, Alexander Light - with the men's team of Russia, who began to train Oleg carriers, in the training camp in Ramzau. Then Isabelle Knaut began to work as a physiotherapist with this group. Once Izabel and Alexander told among themselves and called me with a question: Is it possible that I would work as a trainer with Alexander?
- How did you perceive this call and the question?
Oh, it has become a big surprise for me! They explained that Alexander wants to change something in his preparation, while remaining a member of the Russian team team. But it is very difficult - to prepare for an individual plan and at the same time be in the main team. I told them that it was necessary to agree on all this with the sports leadership of the country: with the President of the Federation of Ski Races of Russia, Elena Vyalbe and other bosses ... After our first conversation, two months have passed. And in September I was invited to come to Moscow to negotiate. We met with Elena Vyalbe at the airport, talked and decided that it would be easy to ride fees with the main team, but to train in my plan. First, the arrangement was such. But later we decided to still change something.
- And then you conceived to create a small group?
Yes, because soon we have encountered a number of problems. And first of all, with the fact that places for training charges that I planned for Alexander did not coincide with the places where the carrier team was trained. And I began to look for a guy who could ride with Alexander for fees and work with him in my plan. It was in 2011. I decided to talk about it with my former ward from the Swiss team, who just finished actively train and act - Reto Burgermaister. I asked Reto, is it interesting for him to try himself in such a role? At first, he replied that he did not know what he would need to think ... But then he agreed. However, Elena Vyalbe insisted that in the group was not one easy. So Ilya Cherniusova, Mikhail Ninejarov and Sergey Novikova, added this mini team. And we started working.
- Have you already knew the reto as a coach?
Not. Reto had no coaching education, nor a diploma, and he had never tried himself at this field. He was a good athlete, a member of the Switzerland team, together with Dario Kolonia, and knew what it means well to train. At the time when I invited him, he worked in a sports store in Engadine, was there a cycling guide (conducted cycling in the mountains).
- When they started working with passenger, you already knew Alexander as an athlete. What was your opinion about its conditsa: physical, technical?
For the first time I saw him in 2005 in Slovenia at the world championship among young people, when he trained with Yuri Beardavko. At that time I was a coach of the youth team of Germany. And then immediately noted for myself: what a strong guy, especially physically. Alexander was in very good sports condies! But his technique was not very good. But still it was seen that he is strong. However, as well as now.
Then, in 2009, I remember him at the World Cup. Just at that time I was a coach of the Swiss team ... And everyone remembers the story when Sasha walked the leader in the mass start, fell on the descent and finished the fourth ...
- These falls were pursued by Alexander for many years: first at the World Championships, then at the Olympics in Vancouver. Was it a psychological problem, physical or something else? He never climbed into individual races in the medals in the world championships and the Olympiads. Finished the fourth and on ... Why, what do you think?
Unfortunately, Alexander's problem is that he cannot yet implement all its physical strength and power in the technique. Because of this, he could not win then. But a big athlete should be able to cope with the losses and go on. He often happened to him: it's very cool, it runs the race at a very good position, in the group of leaders, but for some instant loses the concentration and ... falls. The same thing happened to Collyon in Vancouver when he finished or eight, or ninth ... but this is a sport. And you need to understand what this can happen with each.
In addition, such situations in races should be prepared in training sessions. As for Alexander, until 2010 I did not know how he trained: a lot or little, too short or too long, whether he simulated in training critical situations that can occur in competitions ... Therefore, it's hard for me to say why he, so strong The athlete could not conquer individual medals in the world's largest forums. Perhaps in Turin he was still not experienced enough, and this is normal that he did not then become the Olympic champion, but won the Gold of Evgeny Dementiev.
But I understood, I was waiting for it that it could happen in 2014. However, in the Sochi Olympiad, there were a person fifteen very strong athletes who could also win. Therefore, it was necessary to work so that luck was on our side. In order for the Alexander to become the bigger luckyman, he won precisely.
- When you started working with passenger, you watched his sports diary to find out what he did in training before?
No, I did not look at him, but asked him a lot of questions: what did you do in training, how many hours a month I trained, how, with what intensity? And he told me more detail about it. I asked what he thinks about all those training he did ... It was important for me that he himself analyzed the traveled path and realized that it was not.
- Has his preparation system changed after this?
We have a completely different training system than Alexandra in the Russian team. In the team, Yuri Beardawa had a lot of almost daily powerful work: in the hall, on Roller, skiing. And this work had a different focus: and for maximum strength, and with cylinders from cars for power stamina ...
We carry out a lot of interval aerobic work. And all the power work is only in the hall, and only with maximum weights on the development of maximum strength. Although no smaller work is performed.
- What do you think, how old Alexander will still run skiing? How old is he capable of showing maximum results?
After the Sochi Olympiad, when Alexander left the Swiss Group and decided to prepare with me individually, I flew to him to Moscow and first asked about plans for a sports career and what he wants to achieve: in the World Cup, in the World Cup or in some Other competitions. He replied that he still does not have any individual medal from the world championships and that the World Cup is also a good ski trophy for which it is worth coming ... However, we understood that after Sochi, there may be some decline after Sochi. I think this is normal that the athlete, so many years in everything he refused for the sake of the goal, having achieved it, wants to pay the time to the family, a little son, his house, friends and something else, except for skis. But Alexander is still motivated in sports, it works well in training, sometimes a little bit with a bust; Sometimes, on the contrary, it does not get ... but spending last season (for various reasons) without podiums at the World Cup stages, he is seriously configured for the next season.
In addition, such a pause does not hurt him. Before the Olympics in Sochi, there was a lot of work. We both believed that we are moving in the right direction. And the race in front of the games for 15 km by classic style at the World Cup stage in Toblah became a confirmation - he confidently won it. It was an indicator that we go in the right direction, although on the eve of the Olympics in this cup stage were not very expected to win. But it turned out so that they won. That is - got a 100% result.
The same was with Dario Collyon in Vancouver when he won the gold medal. We did not think about such a high result in this race. "Maybe we thought," we manage to take a medal for 15 km free style ... "Moreover, two-three weeks, Dario previously told me that he did not want to flee this race 15 km from the skate, which would prefer to start starting In the sprint. But I convinced him that it would be better for him in this race, because it will have more chances for good luck ... But he still doubted, and continued to think about the sprint.
Ten days before the games we were at the World Cup stage in Kenmore. And Dario there twice became the third: 15 km and in the sprint. After that, he came to me and said: "You are right, I run 15 km free style!" As we now know, he won this race in Vancouver! And after the victory, he thanked me for convincing him to run a fifteen-tissue race.
- Unfortunately, in the Russian team, the athlete is very difficult to be guided by personal desires. Much solves the leadership, because the team has a lot of high-level athletes applying for participation in each race.
Of course, this is a big difference: Switzerland has a small team, Russia is large ... But in a small team there is a better situation with an individual approach to each athlete. At the same time, there are also many athletes in the Norwegian team, and each start for them is the competition between themselves for a place in the team.
I think that for the coach it would be a good to make a training plan with certain tasks, for example, specifically for a successful performance on the tour de ski or in the Olympic Games ... But we have no such opportunity, so I have to sacrifice some competition for the sake of the main goal in the season . Or, for example, when Alexander started on Tour de Ski, he did it very well every time. But in one year he could win the whole tour, and in the other - no, because there was more races in it with a classic style. And they were especially a weak point for him: on one race Sasha could play leaders to two minutes. And we needed to tighten these weaknesses to the Olympics. We found a very good system that helped and helps to cope with this task. And those three years before the Sochi games Alexander was especially motivated to do it.
- In the season, when the Tour de Ski won the world, it turned out not a very good situation at the World Championships in Val di Fiemma (he became fourth in the race for 50 km and the sixth - in Skiathlon) ...
For Val Di Fiemme needed special condition. Although, I think, at a distance of 50 km Sasha could well conquer the medal. But bad skis (unsuccessful lubrication) and different tactical mistakes did not allow him to become a winner of the race. In addition, this year Alexey Poltoohorean was very strong at the finish ...
"It seems to me that Alexander made a tactical mistake there, controlling only Northuga running along the race and skipping the jerks of other rivals who went into the gap ...
Yes, yes, quite exactly! For example, I believe that Dario Colony is one of the best in tactics, he calculates all competitions. Sasha does not always work lightly decide how to do in a difficult situation, which may arise in the course of the race. Therefore, a year before Sochi before the stage of the World Cup in Holmencollen, I talked with him and said that it was one and a half kilometers to Finish, he should rush very much and continue to increase the speed to the finish himself, then there will be a chance to realize in this race. As we all remember, Alexander then won a 50-kilometer marathon with a good advantage. And Ilya Chernousov became the third. And in Sochi, at the same distance, 50 km, Alexander on the last kilometer was also very strong!
At the same time, in Val di Fiemma, the Ulsson, together with Collyon, was constantly drougated by Peloton, went out into the separation. But colony fell ... and caught up with the leader along with the passenger. And together with them "Caught" the Poloranin. In principle, Alexander could win bronze, but the race was a classic, where it was easy not very confident in himself, and the Poloranin is a classist, and he was very, very dangerous in the finish spur.
In general, anyone can happen by 50 km. Sometimes Alexander was not too lucky. Although it is good, as, for example, in Val Di Fiemme. But I always tell him when we work: "Sometimes we can lose, but once we still get a great gift for our work!" And it happened in Sochi. Because he was very seriously prepared and worked very much. Of course, it would be good - to become a world champion in Val Di Fiemme, but much better - the Olympic champion in Sochi, in Russia, on a very heavy mining distance of 50 km.
- What do you think about the Russian system of training in ski racing from youthful age, junior and youth? Are you familiar with her?
Yes, I'm familiar, but maybe not so deep. I think they are similar, for example, with training in East Germany, where there were sports schools for boys starting from 14 years of age ...
- In Russia begin with nine years ...
Truth?! In Norway, in general from 16! I believe that and 14 years old - too early to go to the sports school. We have children go to the usual school, then come to workouts in the ski club. Even in such small towns, as in my, where the population is 320 people, there is your ski club. When I was 10 years old, I walked two or three times a week for small workouts. I can say that if in childhood it is too early to start hard and hard to train, it is bored with children. They are getting too hard. They begin to think that there are so many interesting things around, and they have to spend their strength on these exhausting workouts. It is because of this, I think in Russia there is a very large survey of skiers in senior youth and junior age.
In Germany, children under the age of 16 are engaged in the ski club. In the summer, they go to the training camp for about 1 week. Family pays club fee of about 80 euros per year. This is not very big money. And among the clubs, in addition to these contributions, lead their economic activities: carry out special events on which they earn the club's needs. For example, in the summer, large competitions on the run, for which the money is received later. They hold a kind of festivals, where there may be dance parties, and treats - all the opportunities for making money on the sports needs of the Club. The state of the clubs does not finance, so you have to earn themselves.
I can say that those of athletes who are currently included in the top 6 on international races, in the youth and junior age did not have podiums on world championships in this age. This can be said about Martine Jonsrude Sundbu, and about Marit Bjorgen ...
- How much about skiing acts at the championships and championships of Germany in ski racing?
Juniors and women are a maximum of 15 people.
- Why?
Because ski races are not so popular in Germany. In East Germany, there were very popular, there was a Pleiad skiers who became Olympic champions. Barbara Petzold became twice: in a personal race and in the relay in Lake Wellema in 1980. Then in the GDR team, Marlis Rostock, Carol Anding and Veronika Hessa fled to her. In those years in East Germany, a lot of attention was paid to sports, and the system was built according to the Soviet type. Sport was funded by the Government of the country. And it provided good results athletes internationally. Now, when Germany united, the government no longer distinguishes so much money for the development of sports. The German ski federation has no money from the government. Approximately the same situation in biathlon, since it is in one federation with ski racing. All financed by sponsors and television. And the most part of the money comes from television. Television spins sports and, accordingly, the sport gets the influx of money. There is a result - even more money. No result - no money. And this, of course, is not the good situation for the systematic development of sports. And this is the main problem of German sports.
- However, in football, Germans have no problems!
PFF! .. Football is a football! There is money, because football superpopulation in Germany. And football show a lot of TV, and there are a lot of fields in Germany, and they are engaged in football - too. Football is like madness ...
- Your training system is close to Norwegian, or is it some kind of synthesis?
I think that the synthesis of various techniques. I was lucky that I had the opportunity to work with various national teams: Italy, Switzerland, as well as with some strong Norwegians. In addition, I for a long time worked with the national teams of Germany. And he always tried to choose the best of advanced techniques of leading ski countries, took the best from the Germans, the best of Norwegians. The more I worked with these completely different coaches, the more often I found my own way, my own direction.
In addition, sports science works very well in Germany. We have a large scientific and sports institute in Leipzig, there are many developments specifically for ski racing and biathlon. Thanks to the specialists of this institution, we have the opportunity to conduct medical examinations, and I believe that in this regard in Germany - a very good system.
- Do you agree your training plans with scientific specialists? Listen to their advice if they say that you need to change something in them?
I have several consultants in the Leipzig Scientific and Sports Institute, with whom I discuss my plans. For ten years I worked with the Swiss team, and there, too, there are good scientific specialists from the sports institution, with whom I previously discussed various workouts. In particular, interval, stretching, various foreign techniques ... discussed how much they can be useful in what ratio and volume. But I did not seek a year from year to make too serious changes. I tried to bring some small details every year to improve something.
- How often do you spend testing of athletes on running, rollerny thunder and other testers?
Last year we spent testing twice in the summer in Germany. They did it there, because in the database of this laboratory there are already the results of the past testing of Alexander Lelkova and Ilya Chernousov, which they took place for several years to the Sochi Olympiad. And I was interested to compare what was with the current Conditions of Alexander.
- Two times a year for testing enough?
- Winter do not spend testing?
Not. It may only be necessary if something in the training process is not as planned. By testing, in principle, you can understand which adjustments must be made: add long-term workouts or, on the contrary, add intensities. If we go in the right direction, if athletes are fine, then there is no need for testing.
- Norwegian leaders - Northug and Sundbu - on the coaching seminar last year in Trondheim said that testing is almost almost every month to assess their condition with their help ...
In Norway, this is not a problem - there is a huge number of places where you can spend the same testing to see progress in training, evaluate how the training system works. In addition, they can take a portable setup with them, thanks to which they can analyze their state and during training camps in the mountains of Italy, in the same Val Sacelese.
- Sprinters in September in Ramzau are carried out similar testing to the mountain on the rollers.
We last year, when they trained in parallel with the Sprinter group Yuri Kaminsky, also tried there something new to see, it goes well or not. I always try to combine such testing with good training, testing for testing I'm not interested. But along with the training session it can give a good effect, and it can also be repeated and again.
- What do you think, why in Norway skiing became such popular? Thanks to the mass or victories in adulthood?
In Norway, ski races are a national sport, as in Germany - football. And he became such a high level of Norwegian skiers in the world - since the team began to dominate in ski racing: personal and teams. For several years, Norway national team became the best national team in the world. This, naturally, inspires the population of the country. Thanks to this, many people in it are interested in skiing, lead their children to ski clubs ... In Germany, for example, when our team became the world football champion, the whole country knew about it and fisted. And since then, people are massively watching football matches, I, too, with my family sick for our.
"I think, there's also a natural-climatic situation here: Norway - North and mostly cold, snowy, country, and Germany is much more southern and warm. Not such a large territory in Germany is covered with snow: mostly the Alps and the districts near the Czech Republic (ore mountains).
This is just explained by the number of skiers in Germany. Little snow and few places where you can ski. But in Norway you can do throughout the territory, from north to south and from west to east. Therefore, they are much easier to train, it is not necessary to go far - left the house and rose on skis. And they are very happy about this fact.
- But about twenty years ago, the skis were not in Norway with such a national sport ...
Yes, skiing became especially popular about 2009, as far as I remember ... Not so long ago. Prior to that, the Norwegians were not so dominated in the world championships. But then they decided to change the coaches, conducted a serious reorganization within their sports system. They analyzed all the stages of preparation from Mala to Great and realized that recent years were not quite right. They reduced the number of hours carried out in work, and improved their quality by changing the approach to the entire multi-stage preparation system. And somewhere since 2011, they go in the right direction, only improving their results. They have a very good scientific system for analyzing training, results, work with a sports reserve. We also have a lot of conversations in Germany, and nothing is essentially changing. Because Norwegians have everything much more serious in this regard: they make the analysis and change everything for the better.
I had a period when I worked as the head coach of the National Team of Switzerland in parallel with two Norwegian coaches (the Sprint was responsible for Tond Nistad, and Fredrik Oklak) was responsible for remoters. And I wondered a similar question. And then asked them who was responsible for the popularization of ski racing in the country, as happened in Norway. From that conversation, I realized that this was done not some people from the side. Everything comes from the athletes themselves. I found a confirmation of this and in conversations with such ski stars like the village of Ulwang, Marit Borgen, Petter North ...
Now it concerns the results achieved. I asked Norwegian colleagues: how would you reach your results, what you do for this, show me this in training. And I saw that they absolutely merged into the system. The best athletes make about a year of about a thousand hours of training. Of these, only eight percent of intensive workouts, and a very large percentage of training for stretching, work in the airburse ...
- Thousands of skiers in the world train a lot, make a lot of kilometers and spend in work for many hours, but champions become units ...
Sometimes the world's best athlete in training is not very different from the most common. But the result in competitions very often depends on the fact that the athlete occurs in the head. And the strongest in this component becomes the best in the contest. If for comparison to take Dario column, then in the training group it is not often possible to highlight or just notice, because it is very rarely in the leaders. Dario feels very well its own organism, always focuses when he can or can not work in training in full force. Just like on competitions. He understands when he must work at the maximum, and when he can care himself, based on his well-being. And about the fact that he is an excellent tactic, I have already spoken above.
- As far as I remember, you were in 2002 at the Olympics in Salt Lake City?
Yes, I was a coach of the women's Swiss team.
- You, of course, did not forget the doping story with Mulg? Are you familiar with him? Worked with him someday?
Yes, he was in my German team in 1988. When I just started working as a coach, I had a big team. A few years later, he switched to Spain. He, of course, crazy!
- Why?
He had a conflict with the coach of the German national team. He was not satisfied with the technique, which, in his opinion, did not give the result.
- When Alexander Light began to train on your plans with Retoe and Isabel, you controlled how they work?
I wrote for them a plan for every day, and every day we were in touch: they were pronounced together, discussed ...
- It is very difficult when other people work according to your plan with athletes and you do not see it daily?
But I had a very good and almost daily contact with both out and reto and athletes. And I am sure that they did everything fine.
- Last season, when you started working directly with Alexander Lungov and his sparring partner Sergey Turyshev, was quite good. True, somewhat ambiguous for Alexander, since he did not have bright races for a number of reasons, and more successfully for Sergey. In the new preparatory season you now have the most numerous group in the Russian team team: three men and seven women. Why did you decide on it and what do you think about your new team?
I believe that last year with Alexander Lungov and Sergey Turyshev, we worked together well. When you have in the group only two athletes and as an assistant Yegor Sorch, with whom you are on a lot of fees and competitions, it becomes quite difficult psychologically, because in communication and work we were closed on each other. I believe that much better when there is a big circle of people for teamwork, interaction and communication.
Last winter, Elena Vyalbe asked me a lot of questions: why did Russian girls in recent years have not been so successful in recent years and can't get out of stagnation? I answered her that I do not know, because I see only the results in the protocols and I can not imagine what they did in training. After that, I told her: "Or maybe Russian athletes will be better to train in one group with men? Especially for women it can be useful because it will give more experience and emotional communication. " I know how difficult it is when your team consists only of women. Many years ago I had experience with the women's teams of Germany and Switzerland. When you have only girls and women in your team, it can create a number of problems. I think is much better when the mixed team. This thought more and more developed in my head. And I thought: perhaps some women will also seem interesting to try to train with us. And somewhere since November this idea began to develop. Elena Vyalbe and I discussed every candidacy before athletes joined my group. Honestly, I did not refuse to anyone, because for me the main thing is the motivation of athletes. Because the atmosphere of the working can be only when people seek something. Initially, we discussed with Vyalbe a group of athletes from five people. But on the fact they turned out more (laughs).
We spent the first installation fee in the Moscow Region Power. It was very important for me to show all recruits, which is the main idea of \u200b\u200bour training techniques, loads, because it is very important to keep high motivation in each of them. Only now, with Yegor and all the guys in the team we can help them in training, because further, during the competition, they will need to go forward to themselves and with high motivation to achieve results. The main thing is to teach them and show them that is actually important.
- What do you see in the eyes of athletes?
I see very and very big interest, because they learn a lot of new things for themselves. I like that they are all very motivated to work, vividly interested in those things that we speak with them. I really hope that all this will continue in them until winter, because we will do a lot, and sometimes do very hard training.
- What language do you communicate?
In English. First of my "newbies" it was possible only with Peter Sedov. Egor and other translators helped the rest. But the girls seriously engaged in learning English and everything became much easier ... sometimes it helps the language of gestures (laughs).
- What did you start working with them?
First of all - with dating. I talked a lot with each, studied them. A number of athletes I know from last winter, some, especially young girls, seen a few years ago, at that time, when he worked as a coach in the youth German team, saw Russian athletes in the Junior world championship. But now it was important for me to see their technique, to understand what we can do with them in the gym on strength training. But the most important thing for all of us is to understand what we want to get each other.
Since in working with me, much is not clear to me, it is necessary to convey to them tasks of training so that they accept and felt the system for which we work. I really hope that I will succeed. Because, as I said at the beginning, it is very important that they understand why and why do one or another work. We can in many ways to help them, explain the basic idea of \u200b\u200bwork, but I should also receive a good return on training from them. It should be a mutual process.
It is important for me to understand what they think about their workouts, as they feel, especially young girls, because sometimes work can be too heavy for them. So they must tell me that it is too hard for them that they are already at the limit. Maybe they need an additional recreation period for recovery or anything more. They should understand that they should not work as soldiers that on our part there will be attention to them and help, because they are not robots and not cars. As a coach, I can judge the state of athletes only by what I see externally, but we do not know what happens to them inside. So girls must be as frank with me as much as possible and must constantly convey information about their health. Everything in our joint work should be interconnected.
In this preparatory period, after the reversal, we visited Odea, mastered the ski tunnel in St. Petersburg, ran into the swamps in Norway, they took part in the rolling races there, my wards were well shifted in these starts), conducted a collection in Davos, strained In the ski tunnel in Oberhof. We did not go in September in Ramzau, since last year the state of snow on Gletcher Dakhstein was not very good, so they decided to spend September in a ski tunnel to have good conditions for ski workouts every day. For several days in October, we still do in Ramzau to get winter equipment and a new inventory, after which we will take part in a serious collection in the mountains, in the snow in the Italian Val Sacelese. And after that, I will move to Finnish Saariselka. Two weeks of training there, and then we will take part in FIS races. For Russian athletes, these will be qualified starts for which a team will be selected for participation in the World Cup stages.
- Now in your female half of the team there are both very experienced skiers, such as Julia Chekaleva and Natalia Matveyev and young athletes, the so-called Anders (U23). Do they need a different approach to training?
Julia Chekaliev I already know enough for a long time, although she now returned to training after a break connected with the birth of the second child. But I remember that she has always had a good skate stroke technique. I see that it is very motivated and ready to work seriously to return to its high level.
Natalia Matveyeva is also very motivated. It is seriously interested in many nuances of our training program, constantly deliberates the preparation details. She seeks to become the best and tries to always work at the maximum, does everything in her power to achieve this. I believe that they are both very important for our team, since they became a good example in the approach to the training process, leaders for young athletes. I hope that Natalia Zhukova, and the Polina Calcine, in the results of the work done, there will be good results in the upcoming season.
- Can you compare young Swiss skiers that worked before, with our young athletes, with whom they started working now?
Oh, it is very difficult, because they came out of absolutely different basic training systems. For me, the Swiss is almost the same as Norwegians, they know a lot about their workouts, understand the methodology, unlike the Russian girls, who do not understand this yet. In addition, the Doer has no personal coaching house, and it is absolutely normal to train at home individually according to the plan given to the coach of the team team. They know a lot about training, because they are alone every day. In Russian athletes, almost everyone has personal coaches, and when there is such support, they feel much more comfortable. But in sports does not need comfort, and the athlete must be able to do a lot on their own to begin to understand what he is doing and for what. The coach can help, but most of the athlete must do independently .. This is their main difference.
Then in dealing with Russian athletes, I received the most complete information about what they did in training over the past two years. We held meetings attended not only athletes, but also servicemen, doctors, masseurs, physiotherapists. We talked about the fact that we are now a team in which everyone is equal. And in this team, everyone should understand and feel that we work together, as a whole. And everyone should feel it to work well every day and get the maximum return from this.
- How do you control the condition of athletes in training?
Naturally, using cardiac rhythm monitors. And we usually take the lactate, most often in intense training, as well as long-term training. We do this in order for the athletes themselves to learn to control their condition, corrected it with the figures of the lactate and, if necessary, either drove the intensity or, on the contrary, added. This is necessary first of all for themselves, so that they can produce productively. They should feel at what level of lactate and how they should work.
Blood biochemistry control will be carried out mainly in the mountains. This is especially important for girls. I think that will be enough once every four weeks. But for me it is much more important to control athletes every day on each training session, discuss with them their condition. This is the so-called pedagogical control. I usually ask how athletes slept, how much time. The athlete must interact with the coach. For example, they feel bad, bad appetite, they can't eat something ... they must necessarily come to me and tell about this their problem. I remember Sergey Turyshev last year had some internal problems. Despite this, he continued to work well and in general to be implemented in competitions. Nevertheless, he came to me, and we discussed the situation with him, made adjustments in time. I think, therefore, he so successfully spoke last season - we had a very good contact, we constantly discussed something, interacted. Anyone is much easier to train when he has contact with the coach.
"In such a big team, how now you have - ten people - is it possible to an individual approach to each athlete?"
Yes, of course, it is possible. For me, a big team is not at all new. When I was the head coach in the Swiss team, we also worked with men, and with women together. And it was great. In training charges, we have a lot of time to communicate with each athlete. We have the opportunity to study each other, hold meetings and decide what we will do, which way to move on.
- What tasks did you put before athletes for the coming season?
I told young athletes that they, of course, should strive to get to the women's team to the World Cup stages, and maybe at the World Championship in Lahti, but their paramount task is the World Cup. I suggested on the coaching council - if one of them takes the medals at the world championship among young people, they will be automatically included in the team of the World Championship in Lahti. I hope that it will be like that.
- I can not ask about the doping sensation, the author of which was the former director of the Russian anti-doping laboratory. He stated that Alexander is easy and a number of other Russian skiers performed at the Sochi Olympiad, using doping. What do you think about it?
- (laughs) It has become a big surprise for me! Knowing the history of man who became the author of this sensation ... It all looks like a comedy in the wild west, in any case, for me. It's my personal opinion. This judgment expressed only one-only person who is now very far from Russia, lives in the USA and from there attacks your country, accusing the Russian system. And at the same time, when he lived in Russia, he worked here, everything for him was Okay. I just do not understand this. I know Alexander Lelkova well for several years. I know how much it has trained all these years with large loads. He was located in Central Europe to ten months a year under the constant control of foreign doping services. There were no at the months at home, because she persistently went to his goal. I know for sure how much and diligently he worked for four years before he won the gold medal in Sochi. Moreover, a year before this triumph, he brilliantly won the Tour de Ski, won the royal marathon in Hollymelleni, he won several times at the World Cup stages in the previous and current season on the eve of games. Ten days before the Olympiad won the stage of the World Cup in the toblah ... and many times in the season and at the World Cup stages, and in Sochi, and after the games passed the doping samples that were negative.
I do not understand why someone allows the idea that skiers can use anabolic steroids in a cocktail from whiskey before start, and even in the mountains?! To do this, you have to be absolutely crazy! It generally contradicts the entire ski racing system. Just some nonsense! The story is crazy ...
Tatyana Secrendova talked
Saariska - Peresvet - Odea - Moscow
The German specialist sums up the Olympic Games and talks about their prospects in Russia. Exclusive Team Russia.
The season is almost over. Only the Russian Championship remained, which will be held in Syktyvkar from March 24 to April 1. Are you planning to go there?
Necessarily. The championship begins on Saturday. The first starts are a sprint in men and women. I enhance the day before. I am very interested to see both athletes from the national team and the nearest reserve. The competition level will be high. Two years ago, I traveled to the Russian Championship in Tyumen, and last year - in Khanty-Mansiysk.
It is announced that Olympic Champion Sochi-2014 Alexander Lungs will take part in the competition, one of the leaders of the Sergey Ustyugov team and other skiers who could not take part in the Olympic Games. Are you interested in their form and mood?
Sure. Ustyugov did not go to the Olympics, sick, did not work enough before the last stages of the World Cup and eventually missed them. I will be glad to see him again in the ranks. Let's talk with guys about the next season.
- And about the future in a more distant perspective?
Sergey Ustyugov Young(April 8, he will be 26 years old. - Team Russia) . He must prepare for the Olympic Games in Beijing. As for 34-year-old chairs, it is clear that he will not be able to speak four years old, but, I hope, finds for myself a motivation for another season. Ahead is the World Cup in the Austrian Seefeld.
You said that you would like to sign a new contract with the Federation of Russia's ski racing. When can it happen?
We discussed the issue with President Elena Vyalbe, including the other day in Falun. It remains to agree on some details. The President wants me to continue working in the national team. I, in turn, is very motivated, because I know: Russia has a strong and promising team, which in the future can show good results. I hope that I can work with it the next four years.
- Four years? Until now, you have subscribed contracts for a year.
Now we are talking about a four-year agreement.
- How does your family in Germany look at it?
She always supported me. Daughters have been 23 years old - she has an independent life. The wife knows that the work of the coach is associated with business trips. It lasts more than 30 years, so nothing new happens for them.
- Do you have an apartment in Moscow?
What are you? Housing in Germany. Fees and competitions are often held in Western Europe, including relatively near the house, and then the wife, it happens, joins me for a few days. Sometimes, however, you have to spend out of the house for 4-5 weeks, but this features work.
In Pyonchhan, the Russian skiers won eight awards - three silver and five bronze. Expected such a result?
Of course not! When you flew in Korea, I thought that maybe we win one or two medals. But from the very beginning everything was done. The young team fought, sought to the maximum result, were well ready skiing - and athletes as if wings rose. They felt that they were able to compete with the best and defeat them.
In addition, the guys beat each other, and for those who stayed at home. They wanted to show that the Russian ski team is stronger that they achieve success without doping.
You apparently dreamed about one or two medals after the games did not allow Ustyugov, lighter, eligible, Matveyev, Chekalev and other leaders. And before?
Initially, I, of course, was counting on a greater at least five medals, as in Sochi(On domestic games, Russian skiers won one gold, three silver and one bronze. - Team Russia) . But for the youth composition, it seemed to me, there would be a much more modest result.
For the year before the Olympic Games, OCD organized a trip to Korea to the World Cup stage for a group of specialists from the Ski Federation, including serviced servants who had the ability to test snow, study the tracks. Did this experience come in handy?
Yes, it turned out to be very helpful. Then the stage of the World Cup in Pyonchhan on Skiathlon won Peter Sedov, which is part of the group of athletes who are engaged in me. This thoughtful guy who knows how to notice the subtleties of the track. He told me in detail about her singularities, noted what to pay attention to. We studied the track for the sprint.
In general, our team had a very high-quality preparation for the Olympic Games. And in the course of them perfectly showed themselves service stations. Although it was necessary to work in truncated compared to the stages of the World Cup. I was the only coach, so together with the manager Yuri Charkovsky, from morning to deep nights were engaged in the entire organizational routine. It was not easy.
- What is the result in Phenchhans surprised you in the first place?
Bronze Denis Spitov 15 kilometers with free style. He knew that this young guy showed good results at the World Cup stages. But the Olympic Games are a special case. In general, he brought me a big surprise. And then they were pleasantly surprised with Alexander Bolunov, taking silver in the team sprint. But we went to risk. It was planned that Alexey Chervototkin will run with Bolnov's pair. But after illness, he was not ready for 100 percent. Therefore, we decided to use Spitov.
Another surprise is a female relay team. It was important for me to successfully performed the fourthber not only in men, but also in women, since the results of the skiers were still rather modest. And young girls gave the battle the strongest. Natalia Nerevayeva from the first stage led the race, the first handed over to the relay and Julia Belukowa.
Bolunov, like Chervotkin, came to Pyonchhan after the disease - and suddenly he immediately won the bronze medal in the sprint. Do you have any explanation?
Very good work did the coach Yuri Borodavko. After the Bolnov and Chervotkin were discharged from the hospital, he flew to the collection to the Austrian Seefeld and followed how they were recovered step by step. Chervotkin arrived in Korea a few days later than Bolnov, and it was the right decision of Yuri. He knows well what is better for his skiers.
You went to risk not only when determining the composition in the team sprint, but also earlier, when Chervotkin included in the relay command. Was the risk justified? Still, Alexey passed his stage not in the best way.
The risk, of course, was, because it was not exactly known how athlete is ready. But we did, I think, right. Chervotkin was not in the best, but still in a pretty good form. If Ustyugov arrived in Pyonchhan and easy, the choice would be more. And so we had not so much opportunities.
The whole country regretted that Bolunov did not manage to win the marathon. He made a mistake, deciding not to change before the finish skis?
100 percent. Obviously, I thought: "So far, the niskane will change the skis, running into a small margin." Bolunov - A young racer, who in his career infrequently ran the marathon. His mistake is explained. Next time he will definitely not allow her.
- Over the past season, the lag of our ski team from the Norwegian national team decreased?
Undoubtedly. In the competition of the Cup of Nations following the results of the Stages of the World Cup of this season, Norway is the first and in men, and in women. Russia as a whole is the third, but men in the second position. Talked the other day in Falun with the Norwegian coach of Tour Arne Hetland, the Olympic champion of Salt Lake City-2002. He praised our relay team and said rightly that it was Russia now the main competitor.
website / Winter Sport. Russian national team coach Marcus Kramer assured that he is ready to sign a new labor agreement with the Federation of Ski Racing Russia.
President of Mok Thomas Bach Your compatriot, and you can judge it not only from the point of view of how it is perceived in Russia.
In Germany, he is under pressure from the press. I understand perfectly well that it was difficult for him to make a decision on our team in Pytenchhan. It really was a difficult choice. But why did the athletes suffered as a result of this choice? As I understand it from communication with our lawyers, ultimately no one really knows what happened in Sochi. Personally, I am rather reminiscent of science fiction. I was not on that Olympics myself, but all my athletes say: no one offered to us doping, we did not give up a pre-clean urine and did not even hear any substitutions. I am one hundred percent sure they tell the truth.
- You did not regret your decision to work in Russia? Indeed, including your reputation was threatened.
Not a drop. I know the loss for many years. I have never seen an athlete in my life, who would train with such a return, like him. It works at each workout not even a hundred, but one hundred ten percent. When I had the opportunity to work with him and Ilya Chernousov, I did not even doubt.
- By the way, about Chernousov. How do you feel about the words of a beard, who suspected him in slander?
We talked about it with a beard, and he argues that journalists misunderstood him. For me, even to assume something similar. Last year, we seriously discussed so that the blacks began to train in my group. We met, I showed him all our fees. My only condition was to follow him strictly. The option "for this collection will go, and the next one - no" did not suit, because even other athletes in the group would want the same conditions.
- Blacks in the end, refused to work with you?
Yes, and I understand it perfectly. He has a family in Switzerland, a small child, a biathlete wife ... Ilya thought a few weeks and made his choice. No offense, this is his life and he has the full right to do as it seems necessary.
- Are you going to extend your contract after the Olympics?
The decision will take Vyalbe, but personally everything suits me. Your team truth has become for me the second family. Not only athletes, but also service brigade. These guys plow 12 hours a day so that we had the best skiing. I would be happy to stay and try to make one more step forward. Step to become the best in the world.
Mentor Sergei Ustyugova German specialist Marcus Kramer - about how the Russian skier is going to prepare for the world championship, "cleanliness" Alexander Lekova and Norwegian asthmatics.
If you think that after the victory in the most tentary multi-day, which replaced him with a new year's meeting, finally noted all the festive events at once - you are mistaken. Already the next morning after conquesting the Alps de-Clam team, the team was to move in Tobladh, to the venue of the next stage of the World Cup. And therefore - "We are just a little sit in the bar, everything is very modest," as said. Yes, and that, the lion's share of these gatherings ranked distribution of the interview.
"Ustyugov was needed at least a minute benefits on the mountain"
Marcus, in the final rise of Ustyugov went, having 1 minute 12 seconds benefits over Norwegian. Put your hand on the heart, were you sure that this advantage is no longer played?
Even for a few races before the finish of the "Tour", I said that Sergey needs at least a minute advantage on the mountain to feel calm. It would be enough to progress in case of bad well-being, errors with lubricant and the like. But in the end, Sergey did not even need this. When I saw him on top, it became obvious that he feels normally and no longer give victory.
- What did you talk to him before this ascent?
I asked Sergey not to start too fast. But at the same time on the canopy part that took about 3-4 kilometers, I planned a little acceleration for him. On this segment, we wanted to win from Sundbu for a few more seconds to make him recover. So it turned out: to the start of the rise, Ustyugova reached 1 minute 14 seconds, which gave to understand the Norwegian: you are not approaching, but even on the contrary. And already according to the first movements of Sergey, Major, I realized that everything would be fine.
Ustyugov on this multi-day won six of the seven races. Did you expect such a phenomenal performance from your student?
Of course not. Before the "tour" we conducted a very high-quality ten-day collection in Toblah. The guys fully fulfilled my training plans, there was a wonderful weather, everyone was healthy. After that, I thought that Ustyugov was ready to fight for a place on the podium of many days, as in the past year. But what will be able to speak so much - I did not assume.
"One hundred percent sure in" the purity of "lighted"
Ustyugov, almost every interview, emphasized that this victory was for the Russian skiers removed from the competition. Do you think someone from them could also take a place on the "Tour de Ski" podium if I got the right to perform?
Sure. If a few days before the start of the multi-day, you asked me who, judging by training, will be the best in the Russian team, I would say is. He was on the podium at the World Cup stage in the La Flower and was in excellent condies. For all we have become a blow that the guys were forced to stay at home. Therefore, Sergey and spoke about it in an interview.
Do you like a foreign specialist who did not work in the team during the Olympic Games in Sochi, after this story with scratches on test tubes did not have any doubts about their own students? Did you ask them questions, tried to find out what actually happened during the home Olympics?
Talking that there can be some problems with lunar, they walked in the Russian press for a long time. But I know Alex for many years and one hundred percent sure that he was and remains a "pure" athlete. I saw and know how he trains, as refers to his body. It is not clear to me how an athlete may be responsible for what is happening with his doping break after it was sealed and handed over to doping control? Is this true and enters the attitude zone of athlete?
- You said that one hundred percent is confident of the cleanliness of a challenge. And in the rest of the five detached skiers?
I can only answer athletes who trained with me. In the team, we, of course, talked about it. And the guys said: "Marcus, we didn't take anything, we don't know anything, we have no idea what happened in Sochi." You can check: all the guys from my group doping tests were negative before, during and after the Olympiad. It is difficult for me to understand why people who never donated positive trials and were "clean," now they have no right to perform.
How do you feel about the problem of Norwegian asthmatics and personally to Martin Sundbu, who has departed a disqualification for the overdose of the prescribed medication? Two-time Olympic champion from Poland Justina Kovalchik, for example, called Ustyugov almost the only healthy athlete in the tour.
I am a coach and not a specialist in such matters. I now have to read a lot too, to learn all the emerging information to draw up your opinion. While it seems to me that the rules should be clearer and understandable for everyone. What exactly can be taken, in which dosage, during the competition or only in the training period ... But believe me, I would gladly discuss only my work, and not all these cases that cause a huge damage to the reputation of our sport.
"There is nothing to do athletes in Korea"
World Championship in Lahti starts February 22. Do you have a plan, how to maintain the current super-form of Ustyugova for another month?
When you work with an athlete, it is very difficult to plan something. More precisely, the plan can be one, and the reality is then completely different. Now it is important that Sergey quickly recovered after the "tour". He will appear at the next stage of the World Cup in Toblah, then we will hold a collection in Austria, perform at the World Cup stage in Falun and will immediately sit on the collection, now in Norway. There I plan to turn on high-speed training and directly eyeliner to the World Cup. The plan, I think, is good, but now it is important that nothing prevents it from performing.
- I correctly understand that you do not plan trips to the pre-air week in Pchenchkhan?
No, I believe that there is nothing to do the leading athletes there. Too many flights turns out. It is enough for the servicemen to get acquainted with the track. Here they are important to understand in advance what the snow structure is there, that with the weather and the like. And athletes are enough and a week of collecting to the competition to adapt. It makes no sense to carry them so far over the whole year before the Olympics.
Ustyugova's first coach Ivan Bragin said he was ready to sacrifice the struggle for the victory in the overall World Cup for the gold of Lahti. Do you share this approach?
Sure. The title of winner or even more so the world champion is much more important than a place in the overall World Cup. World Championships are held only once every two years, this is a peak point of any season. For me personally, this is the most prestigious thing this year.
One of the previous mentors Ustyugova Isabel Knautte called Sergey the most talented athlete, who ever had to work with. Do you sign under this statement?
Sergey, of course, big talent. But, for example, easy and Belov Also very gifted. Ustyugova is distinguished, first of all, versatility is very good in the sprint and at a distance, in a skate and in the classics. This quality is equally good to escape anything units worldwide - ,. Ustyugova has every chance to stand in one row with them.
- True, that Sergey is complex and difficult to work out with him in training?
It is very important for me that the athlete does not just mechanically perform work, but also thought. Every time I say, why do we do this or that exercise, which goal with it can be achieved. Sergey is always very interested in such explanations. In addition, it is extremely motivated, asks questions, for example, on the technique of movement, it is trying to achieve ideal in everything. Personally, I work with such a person very easy.