The Russian biathlon team pleases fans with its results at the start of this season, but the tension inside it does not subside. In particular, the situation with the failure of Anton Babikov to miss the IBU Cup stages, after which he refused to participate in the Izhevsk Rifle, has still not been clarified. According to the mentor of the national team Anatoly Khovantsev, the athlete did not explain his position to the coaching staff.
“The last time we talked with Anton was before he left. Says he made some kind of record. During the conversation with him there were four trainers: me, Sergey Belozerov, Artyom Istomin and Maxim Maximov. He was offered the best option: to go with the team and get ready if someone got sick, he could start, and then go to the Izhevsk rifle and run it, ”Khovantsev quotes“ Sport day after day. ”
Babikov joined the national team for the first stage of the World Cup thanks to a successful performance in the IBU Cup last season. In Ostersund, the biathlete finished 41st in the sprint and 14th in the individual race, making only one miss at six firing lines. Others, including Alexander Loginov, looked not much better at the starting stage. Despite this, it was decided to send the biathlete to the Cup of Russia and the Izhevsk rifle.
Then there were rumors that when forming a team, the coaching staff is not guided by the sporting principle. Many were surprised by the fact that Dmitry Malyshko took the place in the relay four, taking only 27th place in the sprint and 39th in the individual race.
“On what grounds did he take the baton?” Evgeny Garanichev did not refuse her, but they did not put him on. And what did we see? He has some kind of lobby, since he is from St. Petersburg? I don’t understand, ”Vladimir Alikin, the former senior coach of the Russian men's team, was perplexed.
We understand that Babikov reacted to this decision, since he did not allow him to count on participation in the World Cup stages at an unsuccessful result at the control camp in November. At the same time, he explained that initially he was promised participation in the IBU Cup, and also criticized the coaching staff for the ambiguous selection criteria.
“Recall the same 2017 World Cup. Everyone understood that Tsvetkov and Babikov could fight, even if they were not in the best shape. Now nobody cares who and what can. In addition, Zhenya Garanichev was simply approached and said: "You are not running the baton." If nobody discussed his ability to run with Zhenya, then who will discuss this with me? ”Babikov told Sport24 in an interview.
He explained his refusal to participate in the Izhevsk Rifle by the presence of a rule, according to which, even with a successful performance, only the athlete in the top ten ranking is selected.
“Even if I qualify for the Izhevsk rifle, they will not choose me as a coaching decision, simply because there are already too many adult athletes, and we have a course for rejuvenation. Let me remind you, there is also this criterion against me. And the decision of the trainers will look extremely objective. This is obvious to me, ”added Babikov.
Another controversial point in the situation with Babikov was the fact that after Ostersund his rifle remained at the disposal of the national team, although he himself flew to Russia. The fact is that the weapon was issued to the team, so it was impossible to transport it individually.
“He was recalled, but his weapon was not. The madness is that everyone knew: immediately from Ostersund Anton flies home. Bought him a ticket. They knew, but they designed the rifle so that he could not take it out. So what's now? Wait for everyone to arrive. He will not be able to speak yet. I can’t take a weapon from another athlete and give it to him, right? ”- said Viktor Nikitin, biathlete’s personal trainer, to Sport Express.
At the same time, President of the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) Vladimir Drachev voiced a different version of events. According to him, the coaching staff invited Babikov to stay with the team in Austria, and then as a backup go to the third stage in Annecy, but he decided to return to his homeland. As for the rifle, the biathlete allegedly had no reason to leave her in the team.
“First of all, Anton has to figure out himself. Let him decide whether he needs it or not. We are not going to run after him. If he wants to speak, then he will achieve this. If he has no desire, no one will drag him, ”said the functionary.
Describing what is happening in the Russian national team, Babikov noted that in the current situation he could be accused of having refused to go to Austria himself.
“Now I have evidence that I am telling the truth. They really told me: "You fly home without a rifle." And that, in fact, is their decision, not mine. I had only the illusion of choice. There is an audio recording of how I spoke with the coaches. I don’t know who and how will perceive it. I know one thing: they can say about me at any moment: "Babikov sent us all." And from all sides they will support this particular version, ”said the biathlete.
However, the five-time Universiade winner Andrei Makoveev advised Anton to be more careful with his statements.
“An unpleasant situation, I understand both him and the leadership, but the longer you bicker, the more you spend energy on it. Why all these revealing interviews, well, I took the box, found a rifle, performed well and returned to the guys in the national team. Why should you burn all the bridges? ”RIA Novosti quotes Makoveeva.