"The guys ended their careers without seeing any prospects without international starts"

At the end of August, the World Rowing and Canoeing Championships were held in Poznan. It was the first major competition in Poland since February 2022, in which Russian athletes took part. Our rowers performed in a neutral status, winning one gold, one silver and one bronze.

In an interview with Izvestia, Kirill Shamshurin, the head coach of the Russian national team, spoke about the atmosphere around the team in one of the most hostile countries to us, shared his calculations for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, appreciated the performance of star canoeist Zakhar Petrov, who took gold in the 500 m double canoe with Ivan Shtyl and bronze in the canoe-single person at 1000 m.

— What was the atmosphere around the national team in Poznan? Was there any negativity from the local public and other teams?

— As such, the negativity was absolutely not felt. Despite the fact that there are a lot of Ukrainians there, everything was well organized on the part of the Poles, there was no negativity. The competitions were organized at the highest level — there were no special conditions for us. And there were no conflicts or skirmishes.

— When our athletes began to be massively admitted to international competitions, it seemed that the greatest difficulties could be in Poland and the Baltic States. Last summer, the All-Russian Volleyball Federation even announced in advance that the men's national team would not go to the World Cup in Poland. Can we say that the canoeists and kayakers in Poznan have set an example for other sports that they can compete there?

— These are all political decisions. I don't think everything is being decided at our level or at the level of local federations — in our case, the Polish Rowing Federation. I must say that even now the organization of our team's trip to Poznan was not easy. Until the last moment, before the start of the World Cup, we were afraid that something might go wrong. And at the same time, the composition was cut, that is, only those athletes who really claimed medals and qualified for the Olympic Games went to Poland. Although I would like to bring the whole team. But another decision was made, because you never know what... thank God, everything went as it went.

— Were there any difficulties with visas?

— We entered Poland through other countries. Thanks to the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation and the Russian Canoe Federation, everything was quickly organized according to the documents — the bureaucracy did not take much time. And we went first to Portugal, where we held a training camp before the World Cup. That is, not the low beam. But they got visas there.

— One of the main arguments for the majority of suspensions of Russians and Belarusians in sports is the potential security problems if they arrive in a number of countries. Is it possible to hope that this argument will begin to lose its force after you went to Poland without consequences?

— I can't say anything specific. After all, each sport has its own moments, its own problems, and its own position of the international federation. In our case, it worked. I can't say that it turned out very simply. There were big problems. But they were solved thanks to the work of our federation and its international department, which is able to arrange these trips due to its extensive experience and extensive connections. I can't tell you how it works in other sports.

Fast water: Russian rowers successfully performed at the European Championships

Our athletes won two gold and two silver medals, and Zakhar Petrov became the main hero of the tournament.

— A year ago, after the World Championships in Milan, you said that there would be changes in working with kayakers, who, both then and now in Poznan, did not have a single medal. How is working with them going?

— The job is very difficult. We have big problems with the coaching staff. And a senior coach as such. We have made a new crew of kayakers — both four and two. But the result is still what it is. At the same time, neither the two-man kayak nor the four-man kayak have yet lost their chances of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. We will try to raise their level over the next year and during the preparatory period. At the same time, we still have talented young guys growing up. This year they finished their performance at the junior level. We hope that over the next year they will improve so that they can play in the main team.

— Can we say that in two years after returning to the international arena, the consequences of the period of suspension that was in 2022-2023 have already been overcome?

— It had a big impact on the young athletes. We have lost a generation that did not compete in international competitions. While we were not there, the guys ended their careers without seeing any prospects. This has created big problems. And we still have to repair this gap.

— In general, how much can we expect to maximize representation in all Olympic disciplines in Los Angeles in 2028?

— Since this year, the International Canoe Federation has introduced a new selection system, which has made it more difficult for us to qualify for the Olympics. Because she obliged us to participate in all the international starts of the season. The system is very complicated — even Zakhar Petrov, despite the fact that he is always in the prizes at the Olympic distance of 1000 m, it is absolutely not a fact that he will be able to qualify for the Games in the single canoe competition. Only five Olympic licenses are issued in this discipline. But the ranking is based on performances at all four singles distances, which are represented at the World Championships. Thus, the participants receive the same rating in the 5000, 1000, 500 and 200 m singles competitions. In principle, any sprinter who has won all short-distance competitions for two years can qualify for the Olympics. He will only compete in the 1000 m event, as this is the only distance in the Olympic single canoe program.

— So you took a risk when you didn't send Zakhar Petrov to the 500 m single canoe competition at the World Cup in Poznan?

— There was a risk. But we decided that it was important for Zakhar to focus on the 1000 m in single canoe, as in the Olympic distance. And we are happy that he won the bronze medal in the end. In addition, the level of development in canoeing is quite high in general. This is evidenced by the results of the European Championships in Portugal in June, where Sergey Svinarev won gold in the 200 m singles. Alexey Korovashkov finished second in the 500 m singles. And Zakhar Petrov was second in the Olympic 1000 m. Svinarev scored the most points in the 200 m rating. We expected that all disciplines in single canoe would be covered at the World Championships, but in the end we won only one bronze there, plus it was won in the Olympic 1000 m.

— If everything goes well with the selection, what can we expect at the Olympics in Los Angeles?

— If you count on the most optimistic scenario, then you can naturally count on Zakhar in doubles and singles. And I won't write off our four-person kayak. We have good traditions in kayaking. And under certain circumstances, the updated team will approach the Games. We also have good young canoeists. Unfortunately, Ekaterina Shlyapnikova, unlike the previous two World Championships, was unable to win a medal this year, but the reason is that she missed half of the preparatory season due to shoulder surgery. However, her prospects are good.