Skier Stupak entered the World Cup track: “It will soon become a reality”

The story of Yulia Stupak in this post-Olympic season of the removal of our athletes from international starts is shrouded in some kind of mystery. In fact, it may not be a secret at all, but not all of our skiers, like Veronika Stepanova, who is actively working in the media space, are eager to share information. Either something is happening, or not, but Stupak has not yet competed this season. She flashed in the sprint of the Russian Cup stage in early December, went through the qualifications on a thin one, nothing happened in the quarterfinal race. And – disappeared.

Coach Yuri Borodavko even suggested that the athlete might miss the entire season due to health problems. It was for him that Julia worked in the group after Markus Kramer was forced to stop working with our team. Wartko’s questions about what happened were answered without specifics: this is personal.

Elena Vyalba also had to answer questions. From what was said, it was also clear that it was not just a banal injury. Vyalbe said: “I think everything will be fine.” And maybe it’s better for Stupak to miss the season than to leave the sport altogether. “We are working on this issue.”

This weekend the skiing world was discussing the appearance of Yuliya Stupak on the slopes of the World Cup in Italy. In Toblach, which is associated with pleasant memories for Julia – it was here that she won the race as part of the Tour de Ski. And on the eve of the World Cup in cross-country skiing, most of the leading skiers came here for the World Cup stage.

Why is Yuliya Stupak, whose appearance at the start of the season seems to have finally been announced: she should appear at the Champion Heights start in Malinovka (February 23 – March 5), which will be an alternative to the World Championship, trains in Italy, and not with the group ? And, apparently, at your own expense? (The order of the Ministry of Sports to ban training at foreign bases for Russian athletes has just been canceled.)

The answer, apparently, is on the surface, it is not so difficult to find it: coach Markus Kramer. It was to him that Julia went to the mountain gathering. Clarification – Kramer is now working with the Italian national team. Also with Sergei Ustyugov, but remotely. It seems that two of our stars are not very good at working with other coaches, as they say.

Julia Stupak conducts a training camp at altitude in Livigno, Italy. In this place, a year ago, our athletes also held a training camp before the Olympic Games in Beijing. And not far from the meeting point are the tracks of the World Cup stage in Toblach.

Foreigners with Norwegians at the head – in protests and bewilderment. How was this Russian woman able to enter the World Cup tracks at a time when Russian athletes were suspended from participating in the World Cup and international competitions in general? Eric Reste, a member of the FIS board, immediately made a conclusion that goes directly to the IOC: they, that is, Russian athletes, have gained such confidence in themselves over the past few days precisely after the support of the IOC.

The official believes that Stupak’s entry to the track is a desire to emphasize what “will soon become a reality for everyone.” And Norwegian commentators say that Yulia could train elsewhere, but it is clear that “the Russians want to show their presence.” If Julia, in addition to training, pursued the goal of reminding her rivals of herself, then everything was successful.

Our answer is offensive: where the skier wants, she trains there. True, again Elena Vyalbe is forced to quickly explain: there is no question of changing citizenship. Few people think what.

Yuri Borodavko has confirmed that Stupak is training in Livigno. And he explained why: the athlete believes that it is this mountain height that is most acceptable for her when

preparation. And, if someone is dissatisfied that Yulia entered the World Cup tracks, “let them keep these dissatisfaction to themselves.” Moreover, the coach emphasized that Stupak was not disqualified, although she could not participate in competitions.

Be that as it may, but even if Stupak entered the track in a training bib, it should be issued only upon accreditation of the participants, no one will be punished. Although the versions – whether there was an official vest on Yulia or not, differ. According to FIS rules, a bib is required for access to competition courses. You can not change vests and put on other people’s numbers.

FIS Flight Director Michal Lamplot, answering the question of the Norwegians whether the organization intends to reprimand someone after Stupak’s appearance on the World Cup track, answered in the negative. He said that he knew about the appearance of Stupak on the World Cup track. But I didn’t know about the bib. Although you can, of course, guess where she got it from. But the International Ski Federation will not punish the team that gave the bib to the Olympic champion for training on the World Cup track. Although in a conversation with the team, he reminded the skiers: training is only for athletes who will participate in the race. “The case is closed for me. The team will not receive any sanctions.”

True, Markus Kramer himself said that no one gave Yulia anything, he does not know how this can be explained and who saw Stupak in the participant’s vest. And he stressed that the skier trains in Italy, because there are many good tracks for training. “I don’t see this as a problem. She can go wherever she wants, I don’t know why it’s so important now.”