"I miss my daughter a lot": Akimova on returning to the Russian national team, starts at the IBU Cup and triumph in the relay

- At the end of the 2018 Olympic season, you said that you were not going to quit biathlon after you had a baby.

During the maternity break, at least once did you have an idea to finally end your career and focus on your family?

- Not.

Therefore, in fact, I did not stop training, even when I went on maternity leave.

- Returned easily?

- Not really.

Still, the muscles are gone, and the rhythm of life has changed.

But then she gradually became involved in the previous regime.

- And you never wanted to feel sorry for yourself?

- Not.

After all, from the very beginning I set myself up that I would definitely return to biathlon.

And after the birth of her daughter, there was even additional motivation.

- You left the team, having not the smoothest relationship with the coaching staff.

Weren't you afraid that you will return to a new team and plunge into the same problems?

- I didn't think about it at all.

While I was recovering, I was more worried about the worries associated with the family, with the child.

The trainings went like a background.

I worked on myself, over my mistakes, slowly tried to grow - and everything worked out as if by itself.

- If you were 20 years old, I would have believed.

But age usually greatly exacerbates an athlete's fears.

- Of course, the unknown was and to a certain extent pressed.

But I hardly worked with the coaching staff of the national team - I only connected to the team at competitions.

Now there are no problems in this regard: I know all the girls, the coaches too, I feel comfortable.

- After your two victories in sprint races and an absolutely brilliant relay performance in early January in Arber, many fans asked the question: "What is Akimova doing at the IBU Cup and why is she still not in the main team?"

Did this question occur to you?

- No, I definitely didn't think about that.

Quite the opposite.

At that time, it was more useful for me to compete at the IBU Cup.

- What was the difference for you?

- The IBU Cup is about different people, different speeds and in general a completely different level.

In every way.

- Accordingly, higher self-confidence?

- And much less excitement.

- Up to the KM stage in Oberhof, almost the whole country watched how long the non-mediocre series of the Russian national team would drag on.

Did that even bother you a little?

- Of course, I watched the competition.

But athletes always have their own tasks in the first place.

- And yet: there was no fear that you would return - and you too will not succeed?

- From the very beginning of my work, it seems to me that I developed the right attitude.

I was returning after a long break, so I was preparing for a very smooth return.

- At what moment did you feel that everything is falling into place?

The beginning of the season was not very easy for you.

- But I felt that everything was progressing.

That I really accelerate with every start.

This gave confidence that everything would be fine in the future.

- Is the relay you won at the KM stage in Anterselva the brightest impression of the season?

- Sure.

All four of us were very well disposed for that start, positively.

Therefore, probably, everything turned out so well.

- Is it very difficult to leave your child at home?

- Yes, I miss my daughter very much.

Especially now, when I left for a long time.

From Anterselva we immediately moved to Pokljuka, we live right at the stadium where the World Cup will be held, and the opportunity to return home will appear only at the end of February.

Saves communication on the Internet.

I am in touch every day with my husband and grandmothers.

The daughter in their environment is definitely not bored now.

And the main thing for me is that my child is good, even if I am not there.

- Almost all athletes with children noted that running after childbirth becomes easier, additional strength appears.

Is this really so?

- I would say that, first of all, the attitude towards what you do changes.

- As Anton Babikov noted, with the appearance of a child, you begin to understand very well why you are making certain sacrifices.

- Yes, these are very correct words.

This is exactly what happens.

Other values ​​appear, the very concept of a family changes, and you really begin to feel much sharper that you are running not only for yourself and not only for personal interests.