By Kyrylo STADNYCHENKO, special to The Day
Iryna Taranenko-Terelia's visit to Kyiv was probably just as
unexpected as the first medal in Ukraine's skiing history. And just
as much a jump as Ukraine's top skier's. She stayed only one day in the
capital. Nonetheless, I managed to ask Iryna a few questions on the run.
"Iryna, first let's recall the race in Ramzau."
"I would say it has been the most exhausting, but at the same time,
my luckiest race in this championship. When you can see all your competitors,
you don't have to think about seconds, and you can choose your tactics
and strategy. In fact, just like your rivals can. The name of the game
here is not to make unnecessary movements."
"By the way, what went into your choice of wax then?"
"That's another story. The issue is that we don't have a coach
responsible for this kind of work, something the leading world nations
like, for instance, Russia can afford. In our team, all the ski coaches
were engaged in choosing wax. They had to get up at 4 a.m. and come home
at about 7 p.m. Besides, the Austrian weather is unpredictable. In open
country, there was usually the sun shining, but in the valleys it was dark,
which makes snow properties and characteristics different. Still, it seems
to me that our coaches that specific day selected an ideal wax. My skies
didn't slip and I didn't have to make unnecessary movements. I could see
all the developments of the race, and the result is obvious."
"When did you feel the medal within your reach?"
"You know, I remembered too well the Nagano lesson, when the medal slipped
away from me at the very finish of the race. This time I kept my concentration
fully to the very finish line. It was only about ten meters from the finish,
when I realized that I would finally get a medal in the world championship.
And then I couldn't suppress my emotions any longer. While after my Nagano
finish I had tears of frustration with defeat, this time there were tears
of joy and victory in my eyes."
"Who was the first to meet you on the finishing range?"
"Yuri Dekhtiariov, our doctor. To him I gave my "lucky" starting number.
He has been of great help to me, and actually to all the girls during the
championship. On the whole, all our unit worked in harmony and coordination.
It's a wonderful team we have. But I would like to say special words of
gratitude specifically to our doctor. The other day he turned forty. Through
your newspaper I would like to say happy birthday to him, to wish him great
success in his work, and to go more often with us to contests, for his
support cannot be overrated."
"Let's come back to the very beginning of the conversation: what
plans did your have for this championship, what have you achieved and what
have you not?"
"My plans mostly related to this 10 km. distance, which brought me the
medal. There was also a task not to lose too much to my competitors in
the 5 km., and to at least make it into the top ten. I think we accomplished
this. In addition, I consider my performance at the 30 km. marathon distance
as excellent. I had never before finished higher than eighth in the marathon.
This time, all of a sudden, I was fifth. But then, to my mind, I raced
the other events according to my capabilities. Someone may say that 27
seconds of loss at the 30 km. distance is too much. I don't agree. If I
lost that time in a sprint, well, it would be really much. Then one should
take into account the psychological and physical tiredness after the bronze
race."
"And the traditional question: what are your plans for the future?"
"I don't object the idea of competing in Salt Lake City. I am very grateful
to all those who had faith in me after my bad luck in Nagano and did not
turn away from me when I had difficulties. This includes the State Sports
Committee, Kyiv Oblast State Administration, and the Kolos Sports Society.
I hope this first medal will not be the last. I will fight to win."







