"I'm always hungry." How Bjoerndalen remains one of the best biathletes in the world. Biathlon. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen announced the end of his sports career
The 42-year-old eight-time Olympic champion gave an exclusive interview to SE during his visit to Moscow.
Bjoerndalen moves as fast in life as on the track. The day before, at a press conference in Norway, he announced two news: one, quite predictable, about continuing his career at least until the 2018 Olympic Games in South Korea; and the second, unexpectedly pleasant, that she and the Belarusian biathlete Daria Domracheva will become parents in October.
The very next day, Bjoerndalen in Moscow together with the Certina company presented his own collection of watches. The Norwegian was true to himself: an impeccable classic suit, thoughtful and extremely correct answers to any questions. At the same time, Bjoerndalen cannot be denied a sense of humor and self-irony: for example, before the interview began, he suggested vacuuming the hotel carpet, because there could be germs. And then he demonstratively held out his hand to the TV journalist - here, they say, is proof to you that in fact I do not suffer from paranoia and calmly shake hands with strangers, without thinking about potential viruses.
But the topic of personal life remains a taboo for Bjoerndalen. The great Norwegian admitted that they are a couple with Domracheva and are expecting a baby. But he did not intend to go deeper and warned in advance that he had better not ask questions on this topic.
"BIATHLON IS A HOBBY FOR ME, NOT A WORK"
After a brilliant performance at the home world championship in Oslo, you probably had almost no doubts about whether to continue your career. Or did this decision cost you several sleepless nights?
- No, this time the decision was not as difficult for me as it was two years ago, in 2014 after the Sochi Olympics. Now I feel the strength and desire to run, my results last season were fantastic: I won four medals at the home world championship, won and was on the podium at the World Cup stages. Although, of course, I didn't care what to discuss with those closest to me: family, coaches, doctors.
- Do you see any disadvantages for yourself in staying in biathlon for at least two more years?
- Of course I can! There is a big enough chance that in one of the next seasons I will not be able to achieve results and will perform disastrously bad. And people say that you have to end up with sports when you are at the top. And if I left now, I would be guaranteed to do so, without any risk.
- But you really didn't want to leave now?
- To be honest, I still enjoy playing sports. It's not even about the result, I enjoy the process of achieving it. The case when the path is more interesting than the goal. Therefore, biathlon for me is a hobby, not a job. Work is, for example, what I am doing now: sponsorship events, interviews and the like. And in my free time I can do what I want - that is, go to train.
You mentioned the day before that you have no less motivation now than 20 years ago. But surely the current incentives are very different from those that were in the past - a beginner athlete is one thing, and an eight-time Olympic champion is another?
- Probably, the motivation should change over the years, but for me it is not so. And then, and now I was engaged in biathlon, because I like it. Of course, I am aware that sooner or later the day will come when I will have to retire from the sport. I have to feel this moment with my heart. Until, it seems to me, he did not come.
It seems to me that even when you stop competing, you will continue to train in the same mode - because you simply cannot do without it?
- Of course, if only because it is dangerous to stop training abruptly. I will reduce the load, but very gradually.
- Tell us about your workouts - how does it change with age?
- I train a little less now than I did at the beginning of my career. But I focus on quality, high-speed work, and various technical aspects. I have never paid so much attention to this as I do now.
You have never been afraid to experiment - you changed your ski technique several times, performed with curved poles. Should we expect something like this in the future?
- Oh sure. I am working with a ski company and we are preparing something interesting. Also next year my team will be left by a serviceman with whom we have worked throughout my career. He said he was tired and would like to spend more time at home. Although in the preparatory period he will still help me. I'm sorry, but this is my friend, and I must respect his decision.
- People around you get tired and leave, but you stay ...
- Of course, it's not easy to work with me. I can be demanding and persistent. But my results are largely the result of my team's work.
"NORTUG - PARTY CHAMPION"
Your compatriot, two-time Olympic champion skier Petter Nortug looks forward to how you will celebrate good news in your personal life together at the Race of Champions in Tyumen. You are ready?
- Petter is a good friend of mine, we have a great relationship. I would love to note everything together with him, but I can’t do it. In terms of parties, Nortug is a real pro, just a champion. I don't know how to have fun like that, here I am much more modest. I also like holidays, I like to relax a little, but I am far from some.
You run no worse than young people, but in life you behave like a mature man - from the classic style of dress to the refusal of violent parties. How old do you feel?
- It's hard to forget that I'm already 42, but I feel much younger. Well, maybe 25 years maximum. I like the feeling that I can still compete on equal terms with guys who are 21-22 years old, and even beat them. For the same Johannes Be, I am fit to be a father, so what? It makes me feel as young and strong as I used to be.
In 2007, when we interviewed you during the World Ski Championships in Sapporo, you said: "Young children are often sick, and I cannot afford it. Two professional athletes with children are not the best option." Apparently, your opinion has changed since then?
- I do not remember these particular words. It seems to me that, on the whole, this topic is another story that they write about me and which has nothing to do with reality. I have never said that I do not want and do not like children. The infection can be picked up anywhere, the more people around, the more likely it is. But this is not a reason not to communicate with anyone, right? You just need to take certain precautions, such as washing your hands before eating.
- How are you and Daria Domracheva going to combine raising a child and active performances?
- It will be a new life, very different from the one we have led before. Daria wants to start competing in January and I am looking forward to this moment. Apparently, it will not be easy to combine everything, but we are not the first to follow this path.
- How are you doing in learning Russian?
- In no way, I practically do not understand a word and do not speak. Although it would be great to learn a little: for example, here in Moscow, I would like to get behind the wheel, but as soon as I saw a noisy intersection and figured that I did not know the language at all, I changed my mind.
Ole Einar BJORDALEN in Olympic Sochi. Photo by Fyodor USPENSKY, "SE"
"I WOULD BE GLAD TO RETURN TO PYONGCHAN AGAIN"
- Have you heard something about the latest doping scandals involving Russian athletes?
- Yes, but I do not think I have the right to give any comments on this topic.
- Have you personally ever been offered doping?
- No. I lived in Austria, Italy and Norway and always and everywhere was extremely careful with the drugs I took. Sometimes you have to recheck everything several times until you find a familiar remedy in which you are confident. But this is entirely the area of responsibility of the athlete, because in case of a mistake, you will substitute not only yourself personally, but also your team.
- How do you feel about the fact that the Frenchman Martin Fourcade is called "the second Bjoerndalen"?
- Martin is a fantastic biathlete and of course he will be the first Fourcade and not the second Bjoerndalen. At the moment, Fourcade is the best in the world. What I like is that he is not only physically strong, but also a very smart athlete. It is difficult to explain how it works, but it is this mind that helps him cope with difficult situations, from which not everyone will get out. .
Our Olympic champion Olga Medvedtseva said that when you do finish your career, she will cry. Do you often have to deal with such manifestations of feelings?
- Often. I am pleased that people think so, but I cannot draw motivation from such words. She is somewhere inside me, not outside.
At the 2009 World Championships in Pyeongchang, Korea, where the next Olympics will take place, you won four gold medals. But also that tournament was remembered for your offensive mistake, when in the pursuit you missed the right turn and accidentally cut off a few meters ...
- That championship turned out to be one of the best in my career, despite very difficult conditions - constant wind, rain, lack of snow. As for that incident, I actually drove over the bridge by mistake and not under it. This is my fault, although the road marking was not done in the best way. I think the jury of appeal then made the right decision, leaving me the gold, since I was the strongest athlete in that race. But I am aware that there are people who think differently. I will be glad to return to Pyeongchang in good shape in two years and try to repeat the same thing, but without mistakes.
His surname is difficult to pronounce for those who hear it for the first time. But those fans who are at least a little interested in winter sports could not help but hear about the great and mighty “king of biathlon” Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.
On Bjoerndalen's birthday, we invite you to remember why he earned the title of a living legend.
They are not born kings, they become
The future champion began to engage in biathlon with the light hand of his older brother Dag. At 18 he won his first medal, at 19 he made a splash at the Junior World Championships in Ruhpolding and immediately became a three-time world champion.
20-year-old Bjørndalen was invited to a home 1994 Olympics in the Norwegian Lillehamer. However, the lack of experience did not allow the young biathlete to show good results.
He often tells a humorous story about his childhood:
I am a Norwegian from a simple peasant family where there were nine cows and five children and where cows were sometimes given more attention than children.
Bjørndalen took part in 6 Olympiads in a row
13 Olympic medals
After Lillehamer, Bjoerndalen took part in six Olympics in a row, and with each of them he did not return empty-handed.
On the account of the 44-year-old Norwegian biathlete: 13 medals brought from the Olympic Games - 8 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze.
Bjørndalen - 8-time Olympic champion
So far none of his colleagues in the shop could even come close to this level.
Björndalen Olympics
Bjoerndalen became a living legend after 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
Then the 28-year-old athlete had no equal in any of the races: he won Olympic gold in sprint, pursuit, relay and individual race.
Bjørndalen won all gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics
Then some people joked that men's biathlon becomes uninteresting to watch, because all races in a row are won by the irrepressible Bjoerndalen.
The most titled biathlete in history
There was some truth in this joke, after all. Because the Norwegian still retains the title of the most successful biathlete in the World Championships.
Per 20 years sports career, since 1998, at world championships he won 44 medals, of which - 20 gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze.
This record, too, still remains unattainable for the pursuers of the "king".
Six Big Globes in the collection
In addition to victories at the World Championships, Björndalen has a record 96 wins at the stages of the World Cup, which today is also an exorbitant record among biathletes.
The Irresistible Norwegian has won the Grand Crystal Globe overall six times - in seasons 1997/98, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2007/08 and 2008/09. Apart from him, only Martin Fourcade from France managed to do this.
Bjørndalen is the most titled biathlete in history
In women's biathlon, only Swedish biathlete Magdalena Forsberg can boast of the same achievement.
Not a single biathlon
When he got bored in biathlon, Bjoerndalen tried his hand at cross-country skiing, and even there he took medals from titled skiers.
In 2006, at the World Cup in cross-country skiing in Ellivar, Sweden, the Norwegian won the 15 km freestyle race.
40 years is far from the limit
Bjerndalen made his way to the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi when he was already in his fifties. Then he repeated the achievement of skier Bjorn Delhi, becoming an eight-time Olympic champion at the age of 40.
WITH 2014 Olympics the great and mighty Ole brought gold in the sprint and mixed relay.
With 13 Olympic medals, Bjoerndalen still retains his title as the most decorated athlete in the Winter Olympics.
Olympic Games 2018 without Bjoerndalen
2018 Olympics in South Korean Pyeongchang, Björndalen obviously wanted to finish his sports career beautifully. However, the coaches of the Norwegian national team decided otherwise.
Already at the beginning of the year, information appeared that King Ole may not go to the 2018 Olympics in South Korea, and everything is trite due to the fact that he does not show good results in the current season.
To get into the Norwegian Olympic team, the coaches have set a task for biathletes at least once since the beginning of the 2017-2018 season. get into the top six in personal races or enter the top 12 twice.
For 5 stages of the World Cup, Bjoerndalen failed to fulfill these requirements. His best result in the current season was 18th place in the individual and pursuit race at the first stage of the World Cup in Ostersund, Sweden.
Bjørndalen did not participate in the 2018 Olympics
On his Instagram page, the profile description still says - " Ole Einar Bjørndalen OL Pyeongchang 2018".
Unlucky in sports - lucky in love
At that Olympics, Bjoerndalen's wife, Belarusian biathlete Daria Domracheva, performed for two. She brought the relay gold and the mass start silver from Korea, and emotional photos flew around the network, as her husband congratulated her on her victory.
Bjørndalen congratulates Domracheva on winning the 2018 Olympic Games
Olympic champions are building a house near Minsk, going to football matches and riding BELAZ.
Threw a goodbye party
More precisely, only Bjoerndalen had a farewell party in fact. Daria announced her retirement later. The event took place in Oslo. Ole invited active and graduated athletes to the party. Those with whom the Norwegian has competed throughout his career. However, many biathletes could not attend an important evening for Bjoerndalen. The Russian side at the event was represented by the “voice of biathlon” Dmitry Guberniev and correspondent of “Match TV” Ilya Trifanov.
In addition to a delicious dinner, guests could enjoy live music, watch the performance of the Norwegian Royal Orchestra and a company of the guard of honor, study Bjoerndalen's awards, of which he has accumulated many. The main entertainment at the party was the dance of Ole and Daria. We have never seen biathletes in such a role.
Building a house near Minsk
It was planned that the house of biathletes in the village of Laporovichi, which is 20 kilometers from Minsk, will be commissioned in 2016. However, the construction was delayed. Now only finishing works are left. Athletes will be able to check in this fall.
The house, which the locals called "the ship", looks unusual in the Belarusian landscape. It is all the more surprising that Domracheva was involved in the project of the building. The mansion will have a gym, swimming pool and cinema. They say that the owners closely follow the progress of construction and often come to Laporovichi.
Attended the final of the FIFA World Cup
There were many recognizable faces in the stands of the Luzhniki stadium. Daria and Ole also arrived in Moscow for the final match. Domracheva had the flag of Belarus painted on her cheek, and Bjoerndalen had the flag of Norway. Although their national teams were unable to make it to the tournament. At the stadium, the couple took a selfie with actors Danila Kozlovsky (AKA Yuri Stoleshnikov) and Oleg Menshikov.
“It was nice to watch beautiful football. The World Championship is well organized. We are happy that we managed to get to the final. Thank you, Moscow! " - said Bjoerndalen after the game to the correspondent of Match TV Egor Kuznets.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlSewo4leRo/?hl=en&taken-by=dadofunDomracheva became the ambassador of the European Games, and Bjoerndalen became an honorary member of the FBN
When Ole Einar announced his retirement, many were sure that the Norwegian would not live long without biathlon. Anders Besseberg named Bjoerndalen his successor as head of the IBU, and in May NRK reported that the eight-time Olympic champion would soon become the head coach of the Russian national team. According to a Norwegian media source, he was supposed to replace Rico Gross. But it seems that while Bjoerndalen is more passionate about family than looking for a new job. The only biathlon post that Ole currently holds is an honorary member of the Norwegian Biathlon Federation. This appointment took place at the organization's gala evening in June.
Domracheva was offered the post of ambassador of the European Games, which will be held in Minsk next summer. Its mission is to inform people about the competition, maintain and strengthen the brand of the tournament through its achievements and successes. The biathlete became the first person who was entrusted with the position of the star ambassador of the Games.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlnqX1UFA8i/?hl=en&taken-by=dadofunDaria is also engaged in her own clothing brand.
The idea for the project came from Domracheva in the summer of 2016, when she was pregnant and could not do biathlon. But I missed my favorite sport. He became the inspiration for the first collection. Love for creativity, according to Daria, was instilled in her by her parents-architects.
On some clothes from the Domracheva line, there are references to biathlon (five target eyes) and an image of an athlete. The spouse also helps to promote the brand.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYU8nH4BIZL/?hl=en&taken-by=shop.daryadomracheva.byEnjoy life in Belarus
The couple celebrated the start of their joint retirement with one day at sea. And then - to Belarus. The rest of biathletes can be traced by the hashtag #NorwegianPoBelarus, which Daria invented for her followers on Instagram.
Acquaintance with Belarus began with a bath.
The couple also attended the World Helicopter Championship. Daria, Ole, as well as Bjoerndalen's younger brother and nephew flew over the outskirts of Minsk.
Last weekend, the biathletes took a ride in the world's largest car - BELAZ. After the trip, they were awarded a certificate of successful completion of the initial mining dump truck driving course.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Blv7FzllpQf/?hl=en&taken-by=dadofunAfter Belarus, the couple will go to Norway. This trip also has its own hashtag - #BelorusochkainNorway.
Photo: globallookpress.com, RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
In addition, Bjoerndalen remembered how the wedding ceremony took place in the summer.
"Daria is incredible"
She is very good, eats and sleeps most of the time. It's just a pleasure to be the father of this girl, says Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.
The most titled biathlete in history also continues to admire his wife.
Daria is incredible. She is at least as good a mother as a biathlete. Her life has changed a lot lately, but she's doing just fine. Ksenia eats with pleasure at night, and Daria has to take on the main load, - says Ole Einar, looking at his wife with love.
Bjoerndalen is happy with his pre-season preparation, has done most of his training work and is determined to continue to fight for medals.
We were prepared for what was about to happen, so the change did not affect me so much. I was able to conduct my workouts almost as normal with minor adjustments. The trailer, equipped with everything necessary for preparation, was also with me in Minsk. We used it for two months before the birth of our daughter. Everything I need is there. Now it has already been transferred to Norway. So everything is in place, says Bjoerndalen.
Photo: Vadim Zamirovsky, TUT.BY
Now a lot of trips await the star family. Bjoerndalen's base is in Obertilliach, Austria. They will also spend time in Minsk, where Daria Domracheva is building a house.
Secret wedding, beautiful ceremony
This spring, Ole Einar and Daria announced their relationship. In addition, they told that they were expecting a baby. To the surprise of many, the couple managed to formalize the relationship before the birth of their daughter. The ceremony took place on 7 July at an idyllic church in the mountains in Shushen (top corner in the photo).
This did not come as a surprise to us. We have been planning this for a long time and wanted to have a quiet celebration with close friends and family members in a beautiful setting. And we did it, - says Bjoerndalen.
The church is located in a place that is familiar to a Norwegian. He ran countless kilometers on the tracks in Shushen. The wedding turned out to be so secret that only a few knew about it.
The event became known more than a week later, when the couple posted a photo from the holiday, where they smile broadly at the camera.
We planned everything together to the smallest detail. Everything went exactly as we wanted. It was just perfect, but we will keep the details for ourselves, says Bjoerndalen.
"Opponents have something to fear"
Bjoerndalen has already started the winter season and is looking forward to the races of the first stage of the World Cup, which starts on 28 November in Östersund. Later, from 8 to 19 February, the World Championships will be held in Hochfilzen, and not long before that, Ole Einar will be 43 years old. But the biathlete really wants to go there and try to get the precious metal again.
In the piggy bank Bjoerndalen - eight Olympic gold medals and 20 medals of the highest standard of the world championships. No one in the history of biathlon can match the hero from Simostranda.
I am not aware of the number of medals. You probably know this better than me. I will gratefully accept new victories, although I know that it will not be easy to win, - he says. - There are still several weeks of intense training, so I am where I need to be.
Bjoerndalen managed to avoid illness, and this is unlikely to be good news for his rivals.
Hehe, let's hope they have something to fear. In any case, for my part, I will do my best, and let's see what this is enough for, ”he says modestly.
Bodyguards are needed only in Russia
Ole Einar is a megastar in many parts of the world with an interest in sports. One of its main sponsors is the Russian network of sports stores "Ski World".
Perhaps most of my fans are in Russia, Germany and Norway, - he says.
Only in Russia does he sometimes need bodyguards.
There I am under tremendous pressure. Obviously, biathlon is very popular and loved, but I must add that I never got into any scary situations. I need bodyguards to get from one place to another, ”says Bjoerndalen.
Domracheva hopes to return to racing in January
These days, the national biathlon team of Belarus is working at a training camp in the Norwegian Shushen. Based on its results, the line-ups for participation in the starting stages of the World Cup in Ostersund and the IBU Cup in Beitostolen will be determined.
The first stage of the 2016/2017 Biathlon World Cup starts on November 27 in Östersund with mixed relay races (mixed and super mixed). On November 30, there will be an individual 15 km race for women, on December 1 - 20 km for men. Sprint races will take place on December 3, and the stage will end on December 4 with pursuit races.
As part of the women's team, Nadezhda Skardino, Anastasia Kinnunen (Duborezova), Nadezhda Pisareva, Irina Krivko, Anna Sola, Kristina Ilchenko, Daria Yurkevich, Maria Panfilova, Dinara Alimbekova are preparing for the season.
In Shushen, the three-time Olympic champion Daria Domracheva, who began her classes in Raubichi four weeks after the birth of her daughter Ksenia, also began training in the snow. Bjoerndalen was also preparing for the season there. And then the star family moved to Norway.
Domracheva and Bjoerndalen train together. Photo: facebook.com
In early November, it became known that the daughter of the famous biathlon couple would bear the father's surname.
Earlier it was reported that the Norwegian coach Roger Grubben, who at one time helped Ole Einar Bjoerndalen to achieve impressive success, will help Domracheva in preparation for the 2018 Olympics.
Domracheva hopes to return to racing in January. And if functional readiness allows, Daria expects to compete for medals at the World Championships in Hochfilzen, which will begin on February 9, 2017.
In the men's team of Belarus in Shushen, Roman Eletnov, Yuri Lyadov, Sergei Chepelin, Viktor Krivko, Maxim Vorobey, Dmitry Dyuzhev, Dmitry Abashev, Alexander Dorozhko and Sergei Bocharnikov are preparing for the new season.
Meanwhile, two months before the start of the season, the post of head coach of the Belarusian national team unexpectedly left the Russian specialist Valery Polkhovsky, who headed the team in May. The helm of the national team was urgently received by the most experienced Belarusian mentor Yuri Albers, who was previously in charge of the biathlon federation for holding international and republican competitions.
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