Bolshunov decided to fight the disease at a distance: not to dig himself into a hole

True, the words of Alexander Bolshunov after ninth place in the time trial were completely different, of a different shade, without excuses or complaints: the race didn’t go well, I didn’t feel my best, I needed to finish calmly, but there’s nothing terrible about defeat. The skier stopped to comment after the finish, and his cold was noticeable during the conversation.

This loss… Finished one series, maybe starting another. Or don’t start. And win, give up the lead, win again. Both will benefit our skis. Because there is a reference point for all skiers – in every sense of the word. Of course, for some of them there is a “red rag” of Bolshunov’s victories in the season. In the end, irritation: how much is possible? True, anger also adds strength. And it makes you think about tactics: when and how to do it at a distance so as not to fall behind and to force a fight. But all this… is a complete plus, no matter how you look at it.

So Ermil Vokuev, who aroused admiration not for the fact that he defeated Bolshunov, but for the way he did it, admits: all skiers develop when they lose to the leader, because at that moment they take a step closer to the champion.

No, it might be interesting to send a star on sick leave. More than one skier was close to success in the season, it seemed that he was just about there. But so far only Ermil Vokuev has achieved gold. And the place of the leader will become vacant… But there will be a victory without a leader, with reservations.

…Yes, Yermil Vokuev himself seemed a little taken aback. He said that the victory was more over himself, and not over his opponents, because “he made risky moves – hit or miss, it turned out that he won.” And he no longer feels joy from the fact that he “beat someone”, but that he won by taking risks (by double-polling, Vokuev is one of the best specialists in stepless running in the world, the winner of the classic 70-kilometer Marchalonga marathon in 2022). And he clarified that, in fact, more than 70 people came to the start of the classic 10 km time trial, and not just him and the three-time Olympic champion.

Says Yermil: “I am the winner of the whole race, not just Bolshunov’s.” And, probably, in vain he is still a little offended, stating a day later that they talked less about his victory than about Bolshunov’s interrupted golden streak. Firstly, everyone in the know paid tribute to the beauty, strength and fearlessness of Vokuev’s gold. Secondly, that’s what a leader is for, to attract everyone’s attention: both those who follow ski racing constantly and those who are attracted to unusual people.

And Bolshunov, of course, is not among the standards. And attention to him did not arise from someone’s desire or artificial ideas. So both his victory and his loss are under a magnifying glass. And we can find symbols anywhere: for example, this never happened figure of 25 continuous victories in a season. Isn’t it beautiful? Without a doubt. But you can replace it right now: 20 gold medals at the Russian Championship in your career! Indeed, in the next race after the defeat – the team sprint – Alexander again won gold (paired with Savely Korostelev).

Today it looks like this, follow the years: skiathlon – four golds (2021–2024); race with time trial – three (2018, 2022, 2023); sprint – two (2021, 2024); team sprint – six (2018, 2019, 2021-2024); relay race – two (2018, 2021); 50 km mass start – two (2017, 2022); 70 km mass start – one (2022).

And now, after this list, again about why he went to the start without being healthy? Will he bury himself in a hole? Or maybe? Harm yourself? After everything that has gone through and is going through in sports? Analyzing, overcoming, searching and finding, motivating yourself and others (“everyone wants to win, but I want to win a little more”)?

This question about the “pit” probably had some other meaning before the start of the season, which, due to a back injury, might not have happened at all. And there might not have been a continuation of my career either. But big athletes don’t have a quit button. If he feels that he can turn the situation around, he will turn it around. And myself.

Of course it’s character. Of course, an iron will. Another thing is psychological preparation. I recently read from a specialist that child athletes already perceive pain differently. They get used to it during training, and understand that they have to endure it, and change their attitude towards it, thereby raising their pain threshold. There is also a “side effect” here: for example, they can even say that something is bothering them when it is actually too late, the problem has crossed the red line of what is acceptable.

Pros of the highest level will not go beyond the red line, but, without feeling the hints of the body, they then reproach themselves even for this. Everyone remembers how Arthur Dalaloyan did the impossible to compete with the team at the Olympic Games, tearing his Achilles at the finish line for Tokyo 2020. He lifted himself up after the injury titanically, contrary to all the doctors’ forecasts for a six-month absence from the platform. But he also admitted: there is this moment of guilt, I didn’t take care of myself, I need to listen more to the body – what it requires, what it lacks. “This is always visible, we just close our eyes to some signals or don’t notice, or rather, we pretend that we don’t notice.”

He also said (after the Olympic victory) that doctors can describe anything they want, but there is also an internal recovery schedule: your condition, how you feel it all, your strength, positive attitude. And all of this, Arthur admitted, he thinks is above recommendations. “I chose this path immediately after the operation.” Although Dalaloyan, albeit “for an hour” somewhere, had a moment of despair: “How is this possible? It’s me who brings such an imbalance, the guys have a headache: what and how will happen to the team?” But there was no other way – “everything is lost, I’m going to throw myself into the pool” – not for a second.

Can Alexander Bolshunov harm himself by performing with the consequences of a cold? It’s probably stupid to ask. Not a first-grader. Yes, and behind us is overcoming the highest intensity, you don’t have to go far, last autumn threw it up, although after the brilliant victories everything was somehow forgotten a little. Is it possible that he will forget this? And rush to ruin himself with a runny nose?

“I read the doctor’s report and… My first thought was: why do I need all this?! The main thing for me is that I can walk.” Bolshunov said that he could not resist being harsh then (one can imagine), but Yuri Borodavko and physiotherapist Sergei Chechil still convinced the champion to listen to them. A detailed daily back treatment program was developed to reduce pain and allow the body to begin exercising.

Following the first day of the doctors’ detention, a sporting life began, based on the same conclusion as Dalaloyan’s: the human body can really do anything. Yes, Alexander could not, sitting on a chair, bend over to his sneakers; he could barely go down the stairs, because any shock load had to be excluded. And when colleagues trained in the usual hard style, Bolshunov and Alexey Chervotkin (also overcoming a back injury) took sticks and walked with them for four hours.

And what could drive anyone into depression, Bolshunov, as he admitted, provoked him. Imagine, after such an injury, he wanted to understand how possible it was to go through the entire season with high results? So that the form is on par? And it’s clear which one. At his level.

…They, elite athletes, approach problems, including health, in unexpected ways. To use the language of Alexander Bolshunov, “perky.” And in the most difficult moments they don’t think about “holes” or “whirlpools”. What seems right to us simply does not occur to them. And what does not come to ours works for their victory.