The Athletics Week, held in the capital's Luzhniki, turned out to be rich in shows and surprises.
First, the silver medalist of the Winter Olympics Alexandra Trusova entered the long jump sector, and then the organizers invited five Olympic champions from different sports to the Sprint Day.
Skier Alexander Legkov, figure skater Alexei Yagudin, snowboarder Vic Wild, gymnast Nikita Nagorny and runner Yuri Borzakovsky started the 100-meter race.
They were accompanied by football player Denis Glushakov, basketball player Alexei Savrasenko, and TV presenter Dmitry Guberniev.
Borzakovsky was the first of the participants to arrive at the stadium, a little later Savrasenko and Glushakov joined him.
Star athletes were immediately surrounded by fans who wanted to be photographed for memory.
Moreover, most often this request was addressed to the Olympic champion of Athens, which means that not everything is so bad with popularity among athletics.
Soon the athletes went to change clothes, and the main showman of the national sport was in the center of public attention.
Guberniev appeared at Luzhniki, as promised the day before, in a very unusual form - he brought ski poles and rowing oars with him.
With them, the commentator went to the presentation of the athletes and the warm-up.
Yagudin looked no less original, who instead of a sports uniform put on a dog's kigurumi.
The fans rolled with laughter, which means that the goal of the participants was achieved.
When the short warm-up ended, and the beginners were explained how to use the starting blocks, the shot of the referee's pistol sounded.
However, Guberniev managed to make a false start, and the race did not take place on the first attempt.
The journalist was even shown a yellow card, which, however, he was not upset at all.
The second turned out to be successful, and Borzakovsky won to a storm of applause and with a clear advantage.
Crossing the finish line, he raised his hand in victory, showing his signature gesture, which he always used during his sports career.
Well, it was worth coming to Luzhniki on Friday, if only to see it again.
“It’s great that we managed to make such a race.
Emotions are amazing.
I understood that in order to win, you just need to speed up and run for your own pleasure.
I train for myself, so I have not experienced any problems.
I ran a hundred meters in my school years, speaking in relay races.
At today's pace, perhaps, I can run 100 eight times, my distance will turn out, ”the Olympic champion shared.
In turn, Glushakov stressed that next to Borzakovsky, no one had a chance to win.
“Yura is a legend, only he could win.
It’s a pity if someone bet on my victory, ”the midfielder said with a smile after the finish.
The football player took fifth place, passing forward in addition to the triumphant Nagorny, Legkov and Wild.
But the Khimki midfielder managed to escape from Yagudin in a dog costume.
“I didn’t give my best, but when I noticed that the dog was catching up with me, I had to push it,” Glushakov joked.
Nagorny, who showed the second time, admitted to reporters that he did not expect such agility from himself, and also spoke about the idea that had arisen about a new achievement in athletics.
"I'm shocked.
He asked Yura how to run.
He said, "Just run fast."
Well, I did.
Of course, we run in training, but everything is different with us.
You need to slowly run up, then accelerate and then just jump.
And you know, I just now had an idea.
Why not get ready and aim for the standard of a master of sports next year?
That would be the goal, ”said the Tokyo Olympic champion.
Legkov, without holding back laughter, explained why the gymnast managed to show such a good result and get around it.
“I thought I was running second, but it turned out that I just didn’t notice Nikita, he’s small,” the former skier shared.
The only one who was not going to fight for any places in this race was Guberniev.
The presenter defiantly ran last, filming himself on a smartphone.
“We must do our best to revive athletics so that boys and girls do not lose their bearings.
We are here to support this wonderful sport.
Because a rower, a fencer, any other athlete has ever run or jumped.
And athletics really is the queen of sports, ”said the commentator.
But, of course, within the framework of the Sprint Festival, not only a show race was held, but also serious competitions.
Among them, the first performance in the season of the three-time champion of Russia in the 400 meters, Polina Miller, stands apart.
She won the final with a rather high score of 50.88 seconds.
The girl admitted that she was counting on approximately such figures, but in general she would very much like to “exchange” 50 seconds.
She also told how she missed the previous tournament due to exams at a medical school, where she studies as a dentist.
“Passed perfectly.
But it is very difficult to combine study with sports.
Sometimes you have to partially sacrifice some fees and competitions, ”the runner shared.
At the same time, she stressed that sport remains her top priority.
“More than anything, I want to dedicate myself to him, and everything else is already adjusting.
After all, this is what I live for.
Despite all the political problems, the fact that we are not allowed to participate in international competitions, this spark in me will not go out for a very long time, ”Miller assured.
Also attracted attention was the performance of the world champion in the 110 meters hurdles Sergei Shubenkov.
And the titled athlete did not disappoint the fans: he won, dropping 0.08 seconds from his result shown at the Znamensky Memorial.
According to the runner, he gradually builds up self-confidence, which was lost due to a long downtime associated with an injury.
Sergey also stressed that the calendar played into his hands - two tournaments were held with a difference of only three days.
“This is a normal story.
I usually do this in May and June.
When the starts are frequent, they work like a very good workout.
And it turns out to gradually add.
So today it turned out to be a good addition to the previous result.
I am satisfied,” Shubenkov emphasized.
He also admitted that he was in a bad mood from the very morning and wanted only one thing: that the day ended as soon as possible and that he could go home.
“But it turned out it was all bullshit.
The psychological state does not affect anything if the muscles are ready, if you were engaged.
And if you are not ready, nothing will help you, no willpower and attitude, ”Shubenkov said.
Athletics Week will continue for two more days.
High jump days will be held on Sunday and Monday.