Three-time world champion Denis Yuskov announced his retirement from sports.
The unique skater set records at a distance of 1500 m, but never won an Olympic medal, and last year he was recovering from a knee injury.
“It seems to me extremely logical to decide to end my career now, especially in the current circumstances, when international competitions are not expected on the horizon, but there is only the Russian Cup, the Russian Championship.
I missed quite a lot, it would be hard to return to the previous level.
So it all makes sense, doesn't it?"
- quotes the words of Yuskov "Match TV".
Denis's career was not easy.
He successfully performed at youth and junior levels, set three Russian records, two of which have not been beaten so far.
However, the rapid rise was interrupted by the story of a doping test in which marijuana was found.
The athlete was eventually fully acquitted, but instead of competing, he was engaged in litigation for three years.
What happened did not break Yuskov.
After returning, he began to express himself brightly at the international level.
The skater approached the Olympics in Sochi as the leader of the Russian team, but failed to win a medal.
The athlete stopped a step away from the podium, taking an offensive fourth place in his signature distance of 1500 m.
Not the best performance at the 2014 Games only pushed Denis to work and train even harder.
For three years in a row, he won only the gold medals of the world championships on the "lorry".
He has been called a speed skating superstar and compared to Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps.
On the track, Yuskov could only lose to himself, and in good condition he “brought” his opponents about a second.
Therefore, it is quite natural that in December 2017, on the eve of the Olympics in Pyeongchang, he set a world record at a distance of 1500 m.
Alas, being at the peak of his form, Denis did not fly to Korea.
He was suspended from the competition, like many famous Russian athletes: the IOC got hooked on the very dubious case with marijuana.
Gold in the "one and a half" was then won by the current speed skating star Kjeld Nails.
As Yuskov admits, this period turned out to be the most difficult in life.
At that moment, he became disillusioned with the Olympic movement.
“2018 was a special year.
After all, we were so close, we were at a training camp in Japan.
Of course, after that I also started at other competitions, although it is clear that it was not easy to survive all this.
I gave peppy interviews, smiled, but I think the word “depression” can be applied here… In a word, I survived it, left it behind.
But to be honest, the disappointment in the Olympic movement was literally physically felt.
That is, the way we were brought up from childhood - the Olympics, high values, you train, fight with yourself, beat your records, go to the Olympic dream.
And here it is… The disappointment was utter!”
- said the athlete.
However, this did not break Denis, he continued to perform - and in 2019 he became the winner of the World Cup at a distance of 1500 m. Then the pandemic began, and with it the cancellation of all international competitions.
As a result, Yuskov's body could not stand the test: due to problems with his knee, he missed the entire Olympic season and worried about his teammates who went to Beijing on the TV screen.
“I watched and got emotionally involved!
I've never been so sick.
It turned out to be wildly interesting to watch.
(
Laughs.
) Another thing, maybe I wouldn’t drown like that for people I don’t know, ”admitted the skater.
Even before the Olympics in China, Yuskov did not know if he could return to the ice.
And when the Russians were removed from international competitions, he decided to end his sports career.
However, what to do next, the 32-year-old athlete does not yet know.
“Working as a coach is, if you take it in a good way, if you start from the basics, a salary of 40 thousand rubles.
Seriously?
The prices in the store are so high... how is it even supposed that a novice specialist can survive?
And I can teach you a lot.
Now I’m just looking for myself, considering different options, waiting: maybe there will be some ideas, suggestions.
In general, this is a new story in my life - let's see what it will be, ”Denis explained.
The Russian Skating Union promised to support Yuskov in any of his endeavors.
Executive director Varvara Barysheva noted that his performances have always been bright and significant for the national sport.
“Yes, circumstances did not allow him to win the most important medal for any athlete - the Olympic award.
This did not make his career less significant and less bright.
I really hope that Denis will find himself in life - whether it will be connected with sports or something else.
It is important that he feels support, and we are always ready to provide this support,” Barysheva said.