“Now cleaning is my main training”: Yegoryan on home quarantine, transfer of the Olympics and a trip to Wuhan

- The Olympic Games have been postponed to 2021. How do you feel about this?

- As an athlete, I have one opinion on this subject, and as an ordinary person, another. That's the right decision. Now the situation has become very serious. Throughout the world, the number of cases is growing, and it is impossible to predict what will happen next. It was impossible to hold the Olympic Games at a time when we should first of all care about our own health and the health of loved ones. Everything went to this, and I'm glad that in the end everything ended just like that.

- With a human position it is clear. And what does the athlete Yegoryan say?

- Of course, there is resentment. First of all, it is not clear how to be age-related athletes. After all, for some, this Olympics should have been the last, someone was preparing specifically to speak in six months, and not in a half. It is not clear what they should do now, leave now or wait yet. It can be a very difficult decision. I also wanted to leave the sport, this Olympics should have been my last, such thoughts were present.

- You have not yet made any decision about your future?

- The news of the transfer appeared less than a day ago. Of course, it’s too early to decide. In general, to plan something, look into the future is completely pointless. You need to think not about the Olympics and training, but about how to stop this disease together, how to defeat it. Everyone now needs to take precautions, to contribute to the fight against the virus.

But people have a strange reaction to what is happening. Everyone is so surprised that they need to wash their hands, observe hygiene. You had to do this before! Why didn’t you care so much before? Why just now everyone began to buy soap and antiseptics? I don’t understand this. We now have a great responsibility, and we cannot let the whole world down with our frivolous attitude.

- How has your schedule changed in connection with the pandemic?

- It’s not possible to sit at home all the time, you still have to travel somewhere, meet people. And the various precautions that are now being spoken about, I have followed before. My car always has antibacterial wipes; in my childhood I was also taught to wash my hands with soap. In general, I'm not an alarmist, but the coronavirus makes me worry. First of all, for my grandmother, who is already aged, for her relatives. We need to fight the disease for their sake.

- How do you manage to keep fit at home?

- Of course, training at home is not at all what is at the base. It is simply impossible for fencers to practice separately without sparring. It remains only to carry out various exercises, for this everything you need, of course, is.

Now cleaning is my main training, during which you can move the rolls. But without coaches, without partners, all preparation loses its meaning. We are always in touch with the coaches, but what can they do now? Just say that we do not eat away, so that on the first call we are always ready to stand up for the honor of the country.

- One of the gymnasts brought a log home so that she could continue training. What are you missing right now?

- Unfortunately, we are not athletes. They can set up a treadmill at home and run at least the whole day. In fencing, nothing will help keep fit like teamwork, with partners. I can’t even imagine what could help to train at full strength at home.

- How do you manage to monitor nutrition in this mode?

“I have no problem with that.” I always cooked myself and now nothing has changed in this regard. I know what you can eat and what you can’t.

- Have you heard about what happened to fencers Dmitry Danilenko and Daria Martynyuk? What did they feel bad and were tested for coronavirus?

- I did not contact Dima and Dasha in any way. In their case, it is clear that this is just an ARVI. Of course, everything can be, but I'm 99% sure that it’s all windy Khimki, the temperature rose from them.

- Are you all right with health now?

- Yes, everything is fine, no complaints and no problems.

- Just five months ago in October, you were at the World War Games in Wuhan, where the spread of the coronavirus around the world began. What are your impressions of this city?

- The competition was excellent, at a high level, the hosts brilliantly prepared for our reception. Of course, we got out into the city, walked around it, but did not go to various markets. Now I understand how much we are all lucky that the Games were held just a month before the infection appeared. It was such a grand event, so many people came, and if the coronavirus appeared then and we immediately spread it, it would be a disaster. Apparently, we need to thank someone that they gave us a respite, and now this time should be used responsibly.