“I can’t even call it politics - it’s just dirty fuss”: Chepik on FINA decisions, training camp in Kabardinka and prize money

— How is the atmosphere in Kabardinka?

- The base here is absolutely fantastic, I can not compare it with any other in our country.

Comfortable accommodation, great food: so homemade that it's hard to refuse something.

That is, there is absolutely everything to fully train.

- Well, all this is also available at your traditional base near Moscow, Ozero Krugloye, isn’t it?

- There is only one problem - there is nowhere to go.

You are constantly locked in four walls.

The base is still completely closed.

For example, in Kabardinka I made it a rule to walk along the embankment every day, and every time I think about the fact that an athlete cannot constantly train while behind the fence.

He needs to at least know that he is free.

- The current situation with the removal of Russian athletes from international starts is somewhat reminiscent of the pre-Olympic 1980, when it was already known that American swimmers would not come to the Games in Moscow and the mood of the USSR national team was primarily on the result - so that it would be no worse, than those who swim across the ocean.

- Globally, these situations are of course different, but I understand what you mean.

Purely psychologically, at first it was difficult and not entirely clear where and what kind of motivation to look for.

It was necessary to find some words to convince the guys that life does not end.

What words can be found in this case?

- Just like I said: that life goes on, that swimming is one of the few sports in which you can compete with the strongest without interfering with them in person.

Just like the Soviet generation you mentioned competed with the Americans at the 1980 Games.

In game sports, athletes cannot afford this, but we have a big plus in this.

Well, in order for the guys to have an incentive to show good results, we have provided very good prize money.

- Do you want to say that money can compensate for the lack of champion titles?

- They absolutely can't.

But let me ask a counter question: in the absence of the strongest Russian athletes, will the titles of our foreign rivals be so valuable?

- I think that after years no one will remember the inferiority of these merits.

And the titles will remain.

- I would say that everything is forgotten only by the townsfolk.

Those who are inside the profession do not forget anything.

And just for them the result is paramount.

- But you, as a head coach, cannot help but think that the career of the same Evgeny Rylov or Anton Chupkov may end before normal life is restored in Russian sports.

- Of course, I keep such an option in mind, although we do not discuss it aloud.

I don't think it needs to be focused on.

Life still goes on.

And it consists not only of the Olympic Games.

No matter how trite it may sound, no one has canceled the daily work for which we all receive a salary.

So we need to continue to do this work, and do it well.

Psychologically, of course, this is not an easy task.

When an athlete has been moving towards an Olympic result all his conscious life, and suddenly this goal is canceled, people have a very great internal confusion.

But only at first.

- Why are Rylov, Chupkov and Kliment Kolesnikov absent from the national team at the moment?

- All three do not like to travel somewhere for training, they prefer to work at home.

I take it simply: if the athletes are satisfied with everything, and they show good results, why not?

— What at the current stage of preparation pleases you the most?

- Probably the fact that all the guys who have been in the national team for a long time continue to work.

This, in addition to those listed, and Martin Malyutin, and Kirill Prigoda, who somewhat changed the technique and became more stable and reliable.

I am glad that the young ones decently pulled themselves up, came close to the base.

That the "bench" has increased.

In this regard, we promise to be very interesting next season.

We are planning a series of competitions in the cup system for the main team of the adult team and partially for the youth team, which will be held throughout the country, including in the Far East.

Now all this is under development, so I can’t give more specific information on the cities, but believe me, it will be interesting.

And the prize money will be solid.

Comparable to what people get for victories at major international competitions.

Anyone who manages to pass four stages at a good level will receive a very decent amount.

- Is there any fear that Russian swimmers will start to get used to easy money?

“It is by no means easy money.

- But you yourself know that there are athletes who prefer to earn money by participating in commercial tournaments, but simply fail at the main competitions.

- It seems to me that, first of all, this is the fault of the press, which likes to hang labels.

But in reality, in order to win the same World Cups, a person must show results of a very high level.

And besides, an athlete may not have enough stars at the main starts, but at the same time remain the core of the team, unite everyone around him, be the key to confidence and peace of mind.

Such people are always needed in any team.

- Did you take part in the discussion of the expediency of the struggle to send Russian athletes to the World Championships in Budapest and the European Championships in Rome?

- At the level of the leadership of the federation, all this was discussed.

The situation is really difficult.

I can’t even call it politics - just dirty fuss, in which even such a solid organization as the International Swimming Federation got bogged down.

In the same FINA bureau, the president of the Russian Swimming Federation, Vladimir Salnikov, voted against the suspension, but turned out to be one against everyone - just no one wanted to hear him.

This I know for sure.

Exactly the same situation developed in the European Swimming League, when the admission of Russians to the European Championship was discussed.

Of course, we could not refuse to participate ourselves, as it was eventually done, but take a risk and try to send a team to both championships.

But here already we could put our guys at risk in terms of security.

If, God forbid, something happened to at least someone, a penny would be a price for us as leaders.

- Does the leadership of the WFTU intend to try to defend its position in the arbitration court?

That's what good lawyers are for.

I can say that they already exist.

And we are ready to calmly develop this situation in a judicial manner, as far as I know.

- What starts do you have in your plan this season?

- The Spartakiad, which will be held at the end of August in St. Petersburg.

In theory, we should compete in Moscow, like representatives of other sports, but there is not a single pool in the capital where a tournament of this rank can be held.

At the end of July we plan to perform at the Russian Cup in Kazan.

Plus - two winter tournaments: the Russian Championship and the Salnikov Cup.

Taking into account the April championship of the country, five serious starts are obtained.

This is a lot.

- How did you evaluate the April championship?

- I liked that everyone came to Kazan in a fighting mood.

Perhaps not the most prepared, because the coaches had to change the methodology, the venues of the training camps, and so on on the go.

You can’t just come to competitions as a passenger - this is wrong.

So I was quite happy with what I saw.

- How likely is it in your opinion that Russian swimmers will return to the international calendar next season?

I will leave this question unanswered.

- But at least give a hint what the fans should tune in to?

- You need to tune in for the best result.

Always.