Russian pole vaulter Matvey Volkov was the first athlete to decide to play for another country amid scandals in the All-Russian Athletics Federation. A few days ago, a 16-year-old athlete agreed to represent the new team. Volkov will continue his career in Belarus and will have dual citizenship.
Due to his age, Volkov has not yet won prestigious titles and medals, but in the world of athletics he is recognized as one of the most promising pole vaults on the planet. Last winter, he twice became the world champion among young men, having conquered at an internal Russian competition first a height of 5.45 meters, and then 5.50 meters. Arman Duplantis, the best pole vaulter at the moment, did not show such results at that age.
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Posted by Matthew Volkov (@matt_volkov) Feb 29, 2020 @ 10:12 am PST
Now the wolves will gain their victories under the flag of Belarus. The athlete admitted that not only the confusion in the VFLA, but also the comfortable conditions that he was offered in the neighboring state, prompted him to take such a step.
“Everything happened because of the fact that we were not allowed to train in connection with the coronavirus. Not allowed on any stadium. In other countries, athletes continued training. So my father called Belarus - there athletes could prepare without any problems. The very next day, the president of the federation Vadim Devyatovsky called him back. Soon, the parents flew there, they all looked, they really liked it - and they decided that they needed to move, ”described the reason for the departure of the Wolves in a conversation with Sport Express.
The athlete’s family intends to move with him to Belarus for permanent residence, leaving his former home in Irkutsk. Volkov will remain a Russian citizen and will try to get a Belarusian passport on a common basis, after which he will be able to speak with him at international competitions.
“I understand that this is my future. But there is nothing to catch. It is a pity that all friends and relatives remain in Irkutsk. Otherwise, I just take it for granted. So right now. I would go where my parents said. They decided what was needed in Minsk. They know better, ”Volkov noted.
According to the rules of the International Athletics Federation (World Athletics), the transition from one team to another must be accompanied by a three-year quarantine. However, in the case of Volkov, functionaries may decide that he has not played for Russia yet, since since 2015 the VFLA has been suspended and can only display athletes in neutral status. This loophole will allow the 16-year-old athlete to finalize the transition by the next winter season.
One of his goals will be to play at the Tokyo Olympics next year. Volkov should not have problems with joining the new team - neither this year, nor in the past, none of the Belarusian pole vaults jumped above his personal record. However, the young athlete still needs to fulfill the selection standard himself, which is 5.80 meters. None of the minor athletes have ever performed it.
Matvey Volkov is a hereditary pole vaulter in the third generation. For four years, his grandfather Yuri Volkov was the head coach of the USSR national team in this discipline and raised many athletes who won medals in the World and European Championships, including Alexander Averbukh, Alexander Krupsky, Vladimir Polyakov.
The main student of the specialist was his own son Konstantin. His highest achievement was the silver of the 1980 Olympic Games. Four years later, he hoped to win in Los Angeles, but because of the boycott of the games, the Soviet Union missed the competition. At the Friendship 84 alternative tournament, Volkov not only became the first, but also showed a result that exceeded the figure of Olympic champion Pierre Kinon. At the end of his career, Konstantin Volkov also became a coach, and now his son is his main hope.
The youngest of the Volkovs is sure that other Russian athletes will go the same way, although so far no one has publicly announced this.
“I think, to some extent, I can serve as an example for my fellow compatriots. This is just the beginning. I think there will soon be new cases of athletes moving from Russia to other countries, ”Volkov said.