“Vitaly will not change his decision”: Kasperovich about a conversation with Noritsyn, work with the Bulgarian team and preparation of Loginov

It turned out to be difficult to get through to Kasperovich: the coach spent almost all day on the road, but he answered one of the calls unexpectedly: “Now I’ll park and talk. Arranges?" Of course, the proposal was accepted.

- First of all, I would like to hear comments on your upcoming work in Bulgaria.

- The proposal to head the national team of this country came to me, of course, not yesterday. We previously discussed the possibility of such work with the President of the Bulgarian Biathlon Federation, Ekaterina Dafovskaya, when we met at the World Cup and World Cup in Antholz, and I immediately warned her that I could not answer immediately. He explained that I have certain obligations to the biathlon federation of St. Petersburg, so before you accept this or that proposal, you must first agree on a lot of nuances.

- Dafovska said that from the very beginning she intended to invite two Russian specialists. Did you propose Vitaly Noritsyn’s candidacy?

- I had two candidates to choose from. But, if Vitaly Noritsyn was relatively free, then Sergey Bashkirov is the head coach of the St. Petersburg team. I can’t take and decapitate the St. Petersburg biathlon? Especially now, when at my invitation a number of trainers arrived, all the programs were painted, pre-season work began. I believe that I have certain moral obligations to Dmitry Vasiliev (two-time Olympic champion, head of the St. Petersburg Biathlon Federation. - RT ): he always supported me in all situations. As for Noritsyn, I always trusted him.

- After all, you worked in one bunch in the youth national team of Russia?

- Exactly. Vitaly went through a very large and good school there. And this season, his contribution to the preparation of the women's team was visible to the naked eye. You yourself were at the World Championships in Antholz and you won’t argue that the girls in some forms lacked one or two shots to be on the podium.

- For me at the World Cup, the words of the President of the RBU Vladimir Drachev that Noritsyn will not retain his post for next season were shocking. I don’t know how I would have acted in that situation on the spot of the coach - perhaps I turned around and left the team immediately ...

- Vitaly and I discussed this in Antholz, and I can say that he had such thoughts. But I advised you not to get excited, to weigh everything, and only then make a decision. Moreover, it was not worth making sudden movements during the championship, since the team would have suffered the most. By the way, Noritsyn agreed to go to Bulgaria not immediately. Previously, we discussed a lot of things. I told how and in what I see the prospect of this work, I explained that it is very important for a coach of this level to constantly be in the cage, to be present at all stages of the World Cup, in championships. Only after that Vitaly signed up.

- Aren't you afraid that the priorities of the Russian team will change again and that Noritsyna will be asked to stay on the team?

- We also talked about this. I have reason to believe that Noritsyn will not change his decision.

- And if you yourself had not been so offended so much in the past season, would you start looking for work abroad?

- I have not been at that age for a long time to take offense at stupidity. And besides, I was not looking for any work - the Bulgarians themselves came to me with a proposal to work with their athletes for the next two seasons - before the Olympic Games. The national team is quite interesting. The basis is four guys and four girls, there is an interesting youngster, one of the girls took three medals at the junior world championships in Switzerland last season. When we talked with Dafovskaya, we came to the conclusion that the Bulgarian biathletes are quite capable of showing good results in the mixed and single-mixed, which should be our first priority. A lot of work, so there is something to do.

- In other countries, they showed interest in you?

- Yes. Just when it comes to working in Europe, you have to weigh and take into account a whole range of points. Knowledge of the language, for example. I do not speak German very well and for this reason I was forced to refuse a proposal that was quite interesting from a sports point of view - to work in one of the German-speaking countries. Still, the coach must know the language of the country where he works.

- Have you and Noritsyn already signed contracts with the Bulgarian Biathlon Federation?

- Not yet. We plan to do this immediately after we are allowed to travel abroad. We are studying all the possible options on this subject - however, the Bulgarian side is more involved in this. By Monday, I must submit a training program for consideration, and after it is approved, it will become clear how to build further work.

- Do you have any specific terms for your plans ?

- In June we plan to start the first training camp.

- How does work with Alexander Loginov fit into this scheme?

- I do not see any difficulties. The first thing I thought about, and even Sasha said about it, that I will finally have no problems getting accreditation during the World Cup and all major starts, which allows me to be at the stadium and on the track. Accordingly, I will attend all these competitions.

As for the preparation, we used to spend quite a lot of time during the preseason in Bulgaria at Belmeken, and perhaps now we will be able to arrange some training there together with the Bulgarian team. But here it’s too early to talk about specifics: a lot will depend on which of the coaches will lead the Russian men's team. So far, however, there is no clarity on this issue, as with respect to work plans.

- At first glance, Loginov only won from your transfer ...

- Sasha is now really in perfect order. He is preparing for the season, training at home, I even brought him weapons.

- What weapon and where?

- Air-gas rifle Izhevsk production, the bed of which is one in one repeats the one that Sasha uses in competitions. I personally shot it and I think that for the preparatory period this is an ideal option, which does not require any special permits or special premises. He also brought him two settings for lying and a rack, allowing to restore and develop all shooting skills at home. It is very important for an athlete to have such an opportunity. Well, as soon as the Rosgvardia allows us to get our “combat” weapons in Tyumen, we will begin to work with Loginov more seriously - at the training camp.

- You do not sit at home, apparently ...

- I’m moving by car, observing all the requirements of protection, so I don’t pose a threat to anyone. He was in Izhevsk, Ulyanovsk, Saratov and Ryazan. He brought the old box to Izhevsk so that a new one would be made for him according to his model. We discussed with Loginov a training plan according to which he will be preparing as part of the national team, that is, the work is in full swing.

- Do you manage to follow rivals and other teams?

- Of course. I know that the Swedes and Norwegians are already training hard. In these countries there is no centralized training, the athletes there prepare for the season on their own, but they both shoot and run. Although I must say that the issue of training is not a matter of the country, but of desire. Even with all the requirements for self-isolation, you can run, you can do strength training in the hall, in open areas.

- Conditions allow?

- All of our athletes at home have some kind of exercise for training, Loginov has such a beautiful room that is equipped at home - any specialist will envy. There, even the room itself was designed exactly as a hall - spacious, with a high ceiling. There are almost all simulators that are necessary in the work. Near the forest, you can run cross-country. The first block of power work we have already done, now we are moving on to the cycle. And most importantly, Sasha has an excellent mood with which to turn mountains.