Bjoerndalen personal. Biathlon. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen announced his retirement from sports. Dasha's swimsuit defeated the champion
Early years, childhood and family of Ole Einar Bjoerndalen
Ole Einar Bjoerndalen was born on January 27, 1974 in the Norwegian city of Drammen, but as a child he moved with his family to another locality - Simostranda. From an early age, our today's hero was fond of various sports. Studying practically did not occupy him, and therefore the Norwegian devoted most of his time to football, handball, cycling and athletics.The love for sports was passed on to the young guy from his father. At one time, Björndalen Sr. achieved good success in athletics, but later was forced to leave the sport due to financial difficulties and responsibilities associated with supporting his family. Later, the father of our today's hero was engaged in farming. Often, a man was helped in everyday affairs by his sons, among whom Ole Einar was the middle one. In addition, the family of the future famous athlete also had two sisters.
As for the passion for biathlon, it appeared in Ole’s soul relatively late. First, the boy’s older brother, Doug, began to engage in this sport, and subsequently made a good career in professional sports. Thus, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen simply followed in his footsteps. The guys began to train together. But later their paths diverged.
Thanks to his good skiing, already in his teens Ole Einar managed to make an excellent impression on some prominent Norwegian coaches. He began studying at the best academies in his country, and therefore soon began appearing at junior world championships. After a number of high-profile victories at the “junior” age level, Ole Einar was promoted to the adult group.
In the 1992/1993 season he made his first appearance at the World Championships, and a year later he went with the Norwegian national team to the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. At the “home” Olympic Games for the Norwegian team, the young athlete performed quite confidently, but his lack of experience did not allow him to ultimately take a high place. The best result of that season was seventh place in the team relay.
Ole Einar Bjoerndalen's Star Trek in biathlon
Ole Einar Björndalen achieved his first major success in 1996, winning a silver medal at the “summer” World Championships in Hochfilzen. After this, medals of various denominations began to appear on his record with amazing regularity. In the 1996/1997 season, Ole won his first gold medal at the World Championships in Krakow (4x4 relay), and then also won bronze in the individual sprint.Einar Bjoerndalen took gold in Sochi 2014
The 1997/1998 season and the accompanying Olympics in Nagano became even more striking in the Norwegian’s career. That season, the talented young biathlete managed to win his first Olympic medals - gold in the 10-kilometer individual sprint and silver in the team relay. It was at this moment that Ole Einar Björndalen's victories ceased to seem to spectators and specialists a happy coincidence. Everyone began to take the Norwegian's medals for granted. The young Scandinavian approached almost every race as a favorite. And subsequently, Ole repeatedly proved that he was capable, if not of everything, then of a lot.
During his career, our today's hero became an Olympic champion eight times. Such an achievement seems even more impressive considering the fact that at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, America, the famous athlete managed to win victories in all four biathlon disciplines. Thus, that year Ole Einar Björndalen became the absolute biathlon champion. Such an achievement has not yet been repeated by any athlete on our planet.
The athlete’s performances at the Biathlon World Championships and Cups have always been no less striking. Over the years, the Norwegian won nineteen victories at world championships. During his career, Ole won six times overall and in cup competitions. In total, our today's hero won ninety-five victories at various stages of the Biathlon World Cup. Such results, you see, inspire respect.
Personal life and other interesting facts of Ole Einar Bjoerndalen
In the life of a famous athlete, marriage with Italian biathlete Natalie Santer. The marital union of the two celebrities lasted about six years (from 2006 to 2012), but later broke up. 
In July 2016, the Norwegian and Belarusian biathlete Daria Domracheva tied the knot. The athletes met in 2010 at the Olympic Games in Vancouver. At that time, the biathlete was still married to Santer, and many journalists suspected that it was the affair with Daria that caused his divorce.
In October 2016, the first child of Bjoerndalen and Domracheva was born. The 30-year-old athlete gave birth to a girl.
In everyday life, Ole Einar loves good literature, music and travel. He speaks four languages (Norwegian, German, English and Italian) and always takes with him on every trip... a vacuum cleaner. This funny fact is associated with the well-known oddity of the athlete - a craving for cleanliness. He avoids shaking hands and pays great attention to the cleanliness of his body.
Ole Einara Bjoerndalen now
Currently, despite his rather advanced age, Ole Einar Björndalen continues to participate in races. Despite the fact that recently his name is rarely mentioned among the favorites, the Norwegian continues to surprise all biathlon fans. Just look at the two victories won at the recent Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi (in the 10 km sprint and mixed relay).Bjoerndalen and Guberniev
Many spectators perceived such victories as a minor sensation. And only Ole Einar Bjoerndalen always knew what he was capable of at the age of forty.
The 42-year-old eight-time Olympic champion gave an exclusive interview to SE during his visit to Moscow.
Bjoerndalen moves as quickly in life as he does on the track. Just 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 one, that she and the Belarusian biathlete Daria Domracheva will become parents in October.
The very next day, Bjoerndalen presented his own watch collection in Moscow together with the Certina company. 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 start of the interview, he suggested vacuuming the hotel carpet, because there may be germs there. And then he defiantly extended his hand to the TV journalist - here, they say, is proof 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 still remains taboo for Bjoerndalen. The great Norwegian admitted that he and Domracheva are a couple and are expecting a child. But he did not intend to go deeper and warned in advance that it was better not to ask him questions on this topic.
"BIATHLON IS A HOBBY FOR ME, NOT A JOB"
After a brilliant performance at the home World Championships in Oslo, you apparently 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 Olympics in Sochi. Now I feel the strength and desire to run, my results last season were simply fantastic: I won four medals at the home World Championships, won and was on the podium at the World Cup. Although, of course, I still had something to discuss with the people 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 see! There is a fairly big chance that in one of the next seasons I will not be able to achieve results and will perform catastrophically poorly. And people say that you should quit 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 is a hobby for me, not a job. Work is, for example, what I do 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 are no less motivated now than you were 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?
- Perhaps motivation should change over the years, but for me it doesn’t. Both then and now I did biathlon because I like it. Of course, I am aware that sooner or later the day will come when I will have to leave the sport. I have to feel this moment with my heart. So far, it seems to me, he has not come.
It seems to me that even when you stop competing, you will continue to train as before - because you simply cannot do without it?
- Of course, if only because abruptly stopping training is dangerous to your health. I will reduce my loads, but very gradually.
- Tell us about your training - how does it change as you age?
- Now I train a little less than at the beginning of my career. But I focus on quality, speed work, and various technical aspects. I have never paid as much attention to this as I do now.
You were never afraid of experiments - you changed your skiing technique several times, performed with curved poles. Should we expect something similar in the future?
- Yes, sure. I'm collaborating with a ski company and we're preparing something interesting. Also next year, the service person we worked with throughout my career is leaving my team. He said he was tired and wanted to spend more time at home. Although he will still help me during the preparatory period. I'm sorry, but this is my friend and I have to 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 the work of my team.
"NORTHUG - PARTY CHAMPION"
Your compatriot, two-time Olympic champion skier Petter Northug is looking forward to how you will celebrate the good news in your personal life together at the “Race of Champions” in Tyumen. You are ready?
- Petter is my good friend, we have a great relationship. I would love to celebrate everything with him, but I can’t do it. When it comes to partying, Northug is a true pro, a champion. I don’t know how to have fun like that, I’m much more modest here. I also like holidays, I like to relax a little, but I’m far from some.
You run no worse than young people, but in life you behave like a mature man - from the classic style of clothing to the refusal of wild 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. I'm old enough to be the father of Johannes Boe, so what? This makes me feel young and strong like before.
In 2007, when we did an interview during the World Ski Championships in Sapporo, you said: “Little children often get sick, and I can’t afford it. Two professional athletes with children is not an optimal option.” Apparently your opinion has changed since then?
- I don't remember these specific words. It seems to me that in general this topic is just another story that is written about me and which has no relation to reality. I never said that I don’t want and don’t like children. The infection can be caught anywhere; the more people around, the greater the likelihood. But that’s 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?
- This will be a new life, very different from the one we led before. Daria wants to start competing in January, and I'm looking forward to that 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?
- No way, I practically don’t understand or speak a word. 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 realized that I didn’t know the language at all, I changed my mind.
Ole Einar BJORNDALEN in Olympic Sochi. Photo by Fyodor USPENSKY, "SE"
"I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RETURN TO PYEONGCHANG AGAIN"
- Have you heard anything about the latest doping scandals involving Russian athletes?
- Yes, but I don’t 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 was always and everywhere extremely careful with the drugs I took. Sometimes you have to double-check everything several times until you find a familiar tool that you are confident in. But this is entirely the responsibility of the athlete, because in case of a mistake, you will expose not only yourself personally, but also your team.
- How do you feel about the Frenchman Martin Fourcade being called “the second Bjoerndalen”?
- Martin is a fantastic biathlete and of course he will be the first Fourcade, 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’s difficult to explain how it works, but it is this intelligence that helps him cope with difficult situations from which not everyone can get out .
Our Olympic champion Olga Medvedtseva said that when you finally end your career, she will cry. Do you often encounter such manifestations of feelings?
- Often. I'm glad that people think that way, but I can't draw motivation from such words. It is somewhere inside me, not outside.
At the 2009 World Championships in Pyeongchang, Korea, where the next Olympics will be held, you won four gold medals. But that tournament was also remembered for your offensive mistake, when in the pursuit race 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 mistakenly drove over the bridge and not under it. It's my fault, although the route markings weren't done in the best way. I think the appeal jury made the right decision then, leaving me with 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.
Seven-time Olympic biathlon champion Ole Einar Bjoerndalen was born on January 27, 1974, 40 years ago, in the city of Drammen (Norway). His father once left his sports career to support a family with five children. Perhaps, with his victories, Ole made not only his dreams come true, but also the dreams of his father. Another example for Bjoerndalen Jr. was his older brother Dag, who was also involved in biathlon.
They won't catch him!
In stories about his childhood, the Norwegian skier often said that even then he simply hated losing to anyone, especially his brother. Ulle was bored at school, but he devoted all his free (and sometimes not free) time to sports. He played handball and football, was involved in athletics and cycling, but in the end he chose biathlon as his main vocation and has not left this sport since 1986.
At the age of 20, Ole Björndalen took part in the Olympic Games for the first time (Lillehamer, 1994). The first pancake went wrong, but next year the young biathlete took 4th place in the general classification of the World Cup.
And already at the Winter Olympics in Nagano (1998) Bjoerndalen takes gold, and on the second attempt. The first sprint results were canceled due to a snowstorm. “I was very angry then,” Bjoerndalen recalls. “But I pulled myself together and was ready for the race in 5 minutes.” The next day, the Norwegian became an Olympic champion. In the same year he won the World Cup. From now on, Ole Einr is a cult in world biathlon.
For the next 4 years, the Norwegian has an almost personal sports battle with the Frenchman Raphael Poiret. The opponent is slower, but shoots better. As a result, 2004 remains with Poiret, Bjoerndalen leaves first place, having won only 3 bronze medals in Oberhof at the world championship. That same year, the biathlete’s mother died, which also affected Ole’s performances.
Hard training and unbending will are doing their job: the Norwegian unique returns in triumph. 12 victories at the World Cup, 4 more gold at the championship, and Bjoerndalen surpasses his idol, Bjorn Daly, in the number of victories.
We can say that Bjoerndalen trains constantly. He lives most of the time in the highlands of Italy with his girlfriend Natalie Santer, also a biathlete.
During the 2003 Biathlon World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russian commentators made a mistake when they said that Bjoerndalen had asthma and was taking anti-asthmatic drugs (while the journalists actually accused the famous Norwegian of doping). In fact, although asthma is not uncommon among Norwegians (a feature of the climate), Ole Einar’s respiratory system is fine. By the way, he regularly undergoes an asthma test.
By 2005, Björndalen had won the right to be called not only the best runner, but also the best shooter. At the 2005 World Cup, he made 53 accurate shots and achieved 7 victories in a row.
Who would have thought that at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, shooting would become Ole Einar’s weak point. It was as if he had been replaced: problems with shooting did not allow the Norwegian to compete for first place, and in the sprint the best shooter and driver ended up in 12th place!
Anyone else would have lost heart, but not the steely Norwegian. In the 2005-06 season, Bjoerndalen took part in six out of eight starts and crossed the border of 60 victories at the Biathlon World Cup. In addition to the medals, Ulle won the Great Crystal Globe.
Although the Olympics did not work out in 2006, the athlete’s personal life did work out: on May 27, Natalie Santer married Ole Einar Bjoerndalen. They got married in Italy in the city of Toblach, where Natalie was born. After leaving the church, the newlyweds walked through a “tunnel” of crossed skis. Alas, in 2013 the marriage broke up. There are rumors that the reason for the divorce was Bjoerndalen's affair with Daria Domracheva, a biathlete from Belarus.
In 2007, the confrontation between the Norwegian and his eternal opponent Raphael Poiret ended. The mass start in Holmenkollen was supposed to be the Frenchman's farewell race, where he intended to win. Björndalen beat his opponent by a tenth of a second at the finish and left him in second. This race was an amazing ski competition. Now there is only one king left in biathlon.
Did the Norwegian biathlete compete at the 2008 Russian Open Championships, but show poor results? Sprint - 9th place, pursuit - 13th place. Bjoerndalen won the Christmas Star Race four times.
The next Winter Olympics has arrived. This time in Vancouver, Canada. The 2010 Olympic Games brought Ole Einar silver in the 20 km individual race. The “King of Biathlon” lost to his compatriot. The Norwegians took first place in the team relay.
After Vancouver, Bjoerndalen's results began to decline (besides, he). Despite this, at two world championships, the tireless Norwegian took two gold medals in relay races, and, along with Nikolai Kruglov, became a two-time world champion in the mixed relay. In 2011, Ole Einar was awarded the Holmenkollen Medal.
The years pass, but time seems to have no power over Bjoerndalen. In the 2011-12 season (Kontiolahti, Finland), the Norwegian becomes the oldest biathlete (he is already 38 years and 16 days) to win an individual event at the world championship.
In 2013, Bjoerndalen announced that he would end his career. He announced this after the 2013 World Cup in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic), where he took 4th place.
Now that at the Sochi Olympics the “King of Biathlon” managed to win another gold in the sprint at the age of 40, it is clear that he will leave the sport as an undefeated, seven-time Olympic champion.
The name of Ole Einar Björndalen is forever inscribed in the history of sports and biathlon, as the best and fastest biathlete, and at the same time the oldest winner.
Valentine's Day falls during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics this year. It is there that one of the most famous couples in the world of sports - biathletes - will celebrate Valentine's Day Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Daria Domracheva. In honor of the holiday, we decided to tell you how this “sports” love story was born.
How it all began
Some say that Domracheva met her future Norwegian husband at the Olympics in Vancouver in 2010, others suggest that they began to communicate closely in 2012 at a summer training camp in Austria. However, we know only one exact date - October 4, 2012, when Bjoerndalen broke up with the Italian biathlete Natalie Santer. Apparently, then the biathlete already felt sympathy for his Belarusian colleague.
Veil of secrecy
Over the next few years, the biathletes carefully hid their relationship, the most discussed at that time was Daria’s phrase: “The only official information about my personal life will be the message about my marriage.” Soon it almost happened! Of course, many friends and fellow biathletes knew about their relationship, but the strength of friendship was stronger than the desire to tell the public about the personal lives of Domracheva and Bjoerndalen.
The first person to puncture was a French biathlete Martin Fourcade, who in 2015 said: “I am on good terms with Domracheva, but, of course, not as close as Bjoerndalen.”
Official confirmation
On April 5, 2016, at Bjoerndalen’s press conference, at which, as journalists expected, the conversation was supposed to be about the biathlete’s sports career, the main statement was not only confirmation of the relationship with Daria, but also the fact of the Belarusian biathlete’s pregnancy: “I have an excellent relationship with Daria Domracheva. Now we are a couple and waiting for the birth of a child. We didn't want to keep it a secret, but we will focus on our relationship. It's very exciting to become a father."
On July 16 of the same year, the couple got married in Oslo. The ceremony was held modestly, in the circle of family and friends. The only public photo of the celebration is on Daria’s Instagram.
Not only biathletes, but also parents
Naturally, at first Daria and Ole Einar devoted all their time to their daughter, but already in 2017 they returned to training. At the 2018 Olympics, Daria worthily represents her homeland, and Bjoerndalen helps the athletes with training.
But, despite their careers, the child remains the most important link in the lives of both biathletes. “I need to learn Norwegian, since it is my daughter’s second native language,” Daria admitted in an interview. “Who is the head of our family? Of course Ksenia. She laughs often. I think she will make a great comedian,” says Bjoerndalen.
Now we talked with the legendary Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, catching up with the Norwegian at the presentation of a limited edition Certina watch dedicated to His Majesty. There we asked Ola questions invented by our readers.
The first question disappeared on its own: our reader Alexey Krasnokutsky asked to find out why the biathlete rarely shakes hands, but Ole shook my hand so firmly that I immediately moved on to the next point of the interview.
Ole Einar, as you know, cross-country skiing is much more popular in Norway than biathlon. Why did you choose this particular sport? After all, everyone knows that in cross-country skiing you climbed to the highest step of the podium at the World Championships, that is, you have very fast skiing. ALEXEY BERESNEV
I like sports where you have to think a lot, and biathlon is much more difficult than cross-country skiing. In racing you only need strength and a crazy attitude, but in biathlon you also need enormous control over yourself. You have to be as calm as a boa constrictor and calculating in order to switch from a state of focus on the shooting ranges to the race that occurs between them. It is very difficult to train this combination so that success in one does not lead to decline in the other. It was this complexity of biathlon that attracted me. By the way, it was also a serious challenge, because at first I shot very poorly.
What did you have to sacrifice and give up for such stunning success? What do you regret most (sleep, alcohol, etc.)? DMITRY DMITRIEV
If you have a goal and it takes a long time to get there, it requires a lot of discipline. Our travel takes a lot of time - I am away from home 300 days a year, add training to this - and it becomes clear that my family sees me very rarely. In such a situation, of course, you do not completely lose contact with your loved ones, but maintaining it is more difficult than when you simply return home from work every evening. Here's one victim for you. I brought the other one at the age of 12, when I was determined to become the best in the world and decided never to drink alcohol. Since then I have not broken this promise, and it has not been so easy. In principle, I am not against alcohol. I think that after my career ends, I will sometimes drink something, but first, sports.
What can be an analogue of an Olympic gold medal for you in ordinary (non-sports) life? What causes the same emotions? NINA PEREGONTSEVA
The Olympics are special emotions, but I cannot say that they cannot be achieved in ordinary life and training. For me, a great pleasure, comparable to victories, is the opportunity to advise something to young athletes and see how it helps them become better. Sometimes this immediately affects their results - for me this is a great joy. Another joy accessible to everyone, close in emotion to the happiness of receiving an Olympic medal, is charity, helping children. As for the adrenaline that I get from biathlon, fast cars give me similar sensations. I also love rock climbing and, in general, I love discovering new sports. All these are also sharp and strong emotions.
How did you become interested in auto racing? Do you have your own car, what brand is it?)) IRINA GORBACHEVA
I love speed and racing. When I had a contract with Porsche, I jumped at the chance to drive all of their cars. Now I have a contract with BMW and, again, I test all their cars, and I also look at them from the point of view of an athlete who is used to competition: I mean, I’m interested in watching what they do to be the best in your class, defeating your rivals. I can't even compare myself closely with professional racers, but I like that there is a lot to learn in this sport, and the feeling of being in control of a powerful car is something special.
Dossier:
Born on January 27, 1974 in Drammen (Norway) into a large family - he has two brothers and two sisters. His sports career began when he was only twelve years old. His older brother Dag instilled in him a love for biathlon, and subsequently, with his younger brother, Hans-Anton, the brothers created the “Bjoerndalen Team,” which for many years formed the backbone of the Norwegian national team.
The first competition in Ole’s sports career was the World Junior Championships in 1992. And his first success came to him a year later, at the next world junior championship, when he won three out of four races. In the 1994/1995 season and especially at the 1995 World Championships in Antholz, Ole attracted close attention, finishing fourth and literally losing his medal. Thus began the era of Ole Einar Bjoerndalen in biathlon. At the end of the same season he also finished fourth in the World Cup. But on the same track in Antholz in January 1996, he won his first World Cup victory.
At the Olympic Games in Nagano in 1998, Ole won his first gold and silver Olympic medals in the relay race as part of the Norwegian team. That same year, Ole and his teammates won a gold medal in the relay competition and a silver medal in the pursuit race. And then he won the World Cup for the first time.
2002 was one of the most successful years in Ole's career - gold medals in four disciplines (individual, sprint, pursuit, and relay) at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, as well as brilliant performances at numerous cross-country competitions -country skiing.
Ole Einar Bjoerndalen is a unique personality in the history of biathlon; he rightfully received the nickname "King Ole". The success of this athlete and his charisma greatly contributed to the increase in the popularity of biathlon in the world. Ole's personality, with over 90 World Cup victories and numerous world cross-country skiing victories, is extremely attractive to a wide range of people.
His recent impressive victories and two more gold medals (sprint and mixed relay) at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics show that Ole is still the best in the world. The most decorated Olympian (13 medals) continues to amaze the world at 40 years old, and his endurance remains inexhaustible. In recognition of his contribution to the development of biathlon and sports in general, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen has been a CERTINA brand ambassador since 2011.
What sport would you do if you lived in a place where there is no snow? PAVEL TSYMBAL
Perhaps it would be long distance running. For example, half marathons. Perhaps a mountain bike. I really love mountain biking because you can travel, you can go to places that at first glance seem inaccessible. A very interesting thing. I would advise Men's Health readers not to get hung up on any one sport; there are many activities that do not require special equipment and large financial and time expenditures. The same running. If you run 30 minutes a day, you are already doing a great job If you can’t run, swim. The main thing is not to be lazy, sports are also great fun.
Ole Einar, few people know that you walk a great tightrope and as a child dreamed of becoming a sports photographer, what prompted you to change your childhood dream and become a biathlete? ARTEM
At school I loved photography and became seriously interested in this activity, but gradually the sport took up all my time. Maybe when I finish my career I will return to photography. I learned to walk on a tightrope a long time ago - when I was 12-13 years old. Then my dad advised me to try it, and I liked it, because the ability to maintain balance can come in handy at the most unexpected moment in life. I learned it in two weeks, and this skill is like riding a bicycle, you learn it once and you can always repeat it. I even once showed a striptease at a party, walking to the rope. I had my panties on all the way, but I was able to take off all the other clothes right on the rope.
Ole Einar, please remember the best advice you ever received from your coach. IVAN
My weakness was shooting. And I quickly realized that this technique was much more difficult for me than for others. As a result, I even had to work with a psychologist. But what really helped me was that I trained shooting twice a day, five days a week, for a year. I obviously don’t have any talent for this, but here’s some advice for you - if something doesn’t work out for you, don’t give up, but just put in two or three times as much effort as others (perhaps more gifted than you) and you you will become better than them.
Dear Ole! When did you get more pleasure from biathlon training - at 17 years old or at your current age? ALEXANDER CHERNY
When I was younger, I was more interested in trying new things, learning from everyone and trying to apply and combine different things, looking for optimal solutions. Now I’m probably the most experienced biathlete in the world and everything is different. Now I have to feel where this sport is going and what new athletes are bringing to it - perhaps they will see something fresh that never occurred to me. I have to watch, learn and copy their strengths. I think I'm good at this. If I see a slightly different skiing or shooting technique that brings results to someone else, I will always try it. To do this, I don’t even need to talk to the person I want to copy, just look, feel his movement - and that’s it, I can already repeat it. This is what helps me, even at 40 years old, work on my technique and continue to improve it.
Dear Ole Einar, what thoughts do you have during the race? Thoughts about what make you maintain concentration and the will to win, at the right moment collect all your reserves and rush to the finish line? NIKITA
I always have a plan for the race, it's in my head. Previously, these plans were very detailed and detailed, but now they are more general, since I can already largely rely on my feelings, instincts and experience. I can trust myself. The most important thing is to identify a few key points that will prevent you from missing out on the race. When you're tired, your brain and your muscles don't work as well, and at that moment you need to stay calm. Everything is provided for in my plan, and these, as I call them, “key points” make it possible not to lose control.
Ole Einar, what dreams do you have before important competitions? VLADIMIR SMIRNOV
I may not sleep - worry and endlessly replay in my head the same plan for the race that I already talked about. And sometimes, on the contrary, I fall through and sleep before the start, like a child. It’s always different - sometimes I wake up relaxed, sometimes I’m all wet because I dreamed of a race in which something went wrong. I think it’s not that important, and if girls dream of you before the competition, that’s also good.
Is it true that you come to the competition with a vacuum cleaner mascot? And if so, how did he become your mascot? NIKITA GORLOV
I said that I spend the whole year traveling and I need to always stay healthy. Infections and viruses throw an athlete off schedule and prevent him from training or performing. Therefore, if there is a carpet on the floor of a hotel, I would rather clean it myself again, because I know how difficult it is to vacuum such a thing well, ridding it of any infection. For about fifteen years I flew everywhere with the same vacuum cleaner and, yes, perhaps it was my talisman. But for two years now I have always stipulated in advance that everything in the room should be plastic or wooden, without carpets. So now the vacuum cleaner lives at home.
Of the several dozen questions you sent for Bjoerndalen, our jury, consisting entirely of the golden feathers of Men's Health, selected the best. We admit, it was difficult to do this (friends, you did great - the questions were very good), but since the interview could not last several hours, we had to cut the list almost to the quick. As for the prizes, here they are:
1. NIKITA GORLOV
2. DMITRY DMITRIEV
3. PAVEL TSYMBAL
Congratulations to the winners - wait for your number of Forces to be replenished and send your full name, postal address and telephone number to [email protected] so that we can send you prizes.
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