Volodymyr BRYNZAK: "Dreaming of the cosmos without rockets is senseless but possible"

The Day: Did you expect such spectacular performance? How do you explain it?

V. B.: We had lacked stability for a long time. Unlike Germany whose athletes remained title-holders even when worse came to worst, our biathletes experienced continuous ups and downs, victories and shattering fiascoes. Besides, each new season saw one or another shootout. This winter showed that Zubrylova had come through a certain psychological stage. Now is the turn of our other girls, for they will be under a double strain this season, their rivals being hot on their trail.

The Day: As President of the federation, what do you think you have personally achieved?

V. B.: I have put together a team. The athletes, coaches, and founders are all now working toward the same goal. We have reached a qualitatively new level precisely because we have managed to keep to our plans and schedules, training sessions, and appearances in competitions. Now we are stable and confident. We have the confidence and security to yield positive results. And now you can see that we have medals.

The Day: In other words, we have a combat-ready biathlon unit. How about reinforcements? I mean locating and training young talent? Do you have the required conditions?

V. B.: Regrettably, I have to say no to the last one. We have fanatics, local trainers. With their indefatigable selfless efforts they prospect and now and then strike gold. But it lacks a regular basis. In this sense we are far behind Germany where 8-9 hopefuls appear every season and where the national coaches can always have - and make - replacements.

The Day: But we also have hopefuls, don't we?

V. B.: Yes, there are a couple of girls that could well replace veterans.

The Day: And finally, what is the main task of the day?

V. B.: To keep ourselves together for the next three years to the Olympics. We don't have a wide range of choices on whom to send, and for this reason the main thing is to deploy our forces. Let the girls rest, preparing for one or maybe two starts each season. Well, and then we'll see.