"I want to perform with the best version of Bolshunov"
On January 16, the season will resume for Russian skiers. The fifth stage of the Russian Cup will start in the village of Mirny near Kazan. During the suspension from international competitions, a number of young skiers who are competing with domestic stars have made themselves known. Among them is 21-year-old Savely Korostelev.
Back in 2022, he won two golds and a silver at the World Junior Championships in Norway. And at the adult level he made a sensation at last year's Russian Championships, winning two golds - in the team sprint in a pair with three-time Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov and in the relay. This season Korostelev has two victories in 10-kilometer classic style races at the Russian Cup stages.
In an interview with Izvestia, he commented on Bolshunov's crisis, expressed hope that the skiers would soon be returned to international competitions and go to the Olympics in Italy in 2026, as well as named the most difficult tracks in Russia and explained why he likes to run with a large number of spectators.
- After the recent "Race of Champions" in Ryazan, you spent a long time winding up the stands, urging the fans to chant the names of the competitors as loudly as possible. Do you like to perform in such crowds?
- Of course! It is very pleasant to perform in front of so many fans. It's nice that people watch us, enjoy it. They come to the stands, despite the unpleasant wind, which was in Ryazan during the "Race of Champions".
- On the first day of the race there were 6 thousand spectators, on the second day - 7 thousand. Is this the biggest audience you have ever run with?
- The maximum I can compare it with is Kazan and Kirovsk at the stages of the Russian Cup. There visually it seems that a lot of people come. But the figure of 6 thousand spectators in Ryazan still amazes me - it is difficult to count so many people on the stands somewhere else. That's why I am very glad that I managed to perform well with such an audience: both to get the spectators excited and to run well on the track. I am satisfied. Moreover, the track in Ryazan is very unusual because of the almost complete absence of ascents. You could say that it is unconventionally light, and thus heavy, no matter how paradoxical it may sound.
- What is the hardest track for you?
- Probably Kirovo-Chepetsk. It's very relief. I would also mention the new track in Malinovka - very hard, with good drops.
- After the qualification on the first day of the Race of Champions you went to the biathlon shooting range where you were coached in shooting by Eduard Latypov, and you managed to hit three targets out of five on one of the approaches. Why did you manage to shoot so well from scratch?
- Due to the fact that I had already shot with Eduard's rifle at the training camp in Sochi shortly before (laughs). Once, but still.
- Why did you want to shoot?
- Just to take my mind off the routine ski work. That's all.
- Do you want to become a biathlete?
- No, no, it's too early to think about it (smiles). Everyone should do their own thing. Except that I could shoot in the mixed relay at the "Race of Champions", as it is an unofficial start, it's more of a show. You might consider introducing shooting for the skiers there as well, to entertain the spectators even more.
- Taking into account your workload and the fact that the season is in winter, how do you celebrate the New Year? Do you have to restrain yourself in terms of food, for example, consumption of olivier salad?
- There's nothing difficult with salads. I ate more meat and enjoyed it. I didn't restrict myself in any way.
- What kind of meat?
- Beef, nothing special. Standard steak.
- What do you expect from the post-New Year's stages of the Russian Cup?
- It's hard to assess my form yet, because the first half of January is more of a period when I need to train well. After all, there are three weeks between the upcoming stage in Kazan and the previous one in Kirovo-Chepetsk. In many ways the next competitions will show what we can expect from me in the rest of the season.
- Alexander Bolshunov, who has not won a single start this season and missed some of them due to illnesses, is having a hard time. Do you see this as an opportunity for you to take his niche?
- No, I would still like to compete with the prime Bolshunov, his best version. The Bolshunov who won all the starts in the Cup of Russia last season. So that there wouldn't be any excuses that are flying around on the Internet now that my or other guys' victories this season don't mean anything because Bolshunov is out of shape. It's not very cool to hear when Seryoga Ardashev wins the Russian championship and everyone is talking about Sasha being sick. It's not serious.
- Maybe you shouldn't just read about it?
- I don't read about it. In general, I don't care. It's just that the agenda is formed like that. And the fans' opinion is shaped by it.
- How much does the presence of prime Bolshunov affect your progress and the progress of other young skiers?
- Well, here's Sasha, who was last season, he is in any case... Everyone was pulling for him, everyone was trying to beat him. I'd like to beat him like this.
- Is it possible to beat Bolshunov when he's in shape?
- Of course, it's possible.
- And what do you need to do for that?
- To heal him (smiles). And we need to keep practicing and beat him.
- Have you adopted something from Bolshunov?
- No, we have different temperaments. I learn from other people - Klebo, Ustyugov. Terentyev even.
- What is the difference in temperament?
- I show emotions, unlike many other skiers. It's easier for me to let them out than to store them in myself.
- In December, the number of admissions of Russian athletes in neutral status to international competitions increased dramatically - we are talking about water sports, figure skating, speed skating. Can we expect this to affect skiers soon?
- I am very happy that they are slowly allowing the guys to compete. I believe that the ice has moved. In my opinion, in the foreseeable future they will admit us as well.
- Does this give you reason to expect that you will go to the Olympics in a year?
- Yes. Definitely. I have always believed and will always believe!
