Igor, what’s happening? Only a silver medal after the first day. Why?

Igor Mazurenko: I ran into an Italian David Cappa, he is strong…

I know, he is also dangerous, he’s the same guy who burst Dimitrij Trubin’s hand. However you should admit that the title of the World Champions obligates to become a European Champion. And here is only silver.

Igor Mazurenko: I was a bit tired, you know...

Okej, silver is silver, but the 8th place on the second day? For the World Champion?

Igor Mazurenko: On the second day I was even more tired.

What made  tired?

Igor Mazurenko: Preparations to the Championships.

But your crew, with Ania Mazurenko, Pawł Podlewski and Marcin Mielniczukhave been around the ridges  in organizing events.

Igor Mazurenko: They do, but we have never did anything on such a large scale! Six hundred participants! For days of the fights, and earlier – the EAF Congress, referees’ meeting the ending of preparations. Many people were helping us in this championships, many people and each of them does their job but despite of that all there’s much more work than what we’ve met so far, even during the NEMIROFF WORLD CUP. Moreover, tell me, have you ever seen such a huge opening ceremony at any Armwrestling tournaments? Has there ever been live broadcast of the fights at six tables? Music played by Chassis band during the cup-final? We’ve already have good equipment in the Federation’s office, but particularly for these tournaments there was much more equipment needed. It needed to be checked, fixed. We were working form early morning until morning. See yourself what ours look like wearing identical clothes,  how everything is vibrant, and that’s all form the first day.

That’s true, it really is the organizational impetus. I’ve never seen such tournaments in our sport. What did you feel when the anthem was played for Janusz Piechowski?

Igor Mazurenko: I did envy him a bit, cause I was not able to listen the anthem in Kazakhstan. There, the organizers forgot about it on the first day. I’ve been proud of the Polish Armwrestling which is flowing out to European seas. We are becoming respected. Until now we were known as a great team, as inventors of the program for conducting tournaments, equipment producer. The world knows is in these ranges.

Now it’s time for sports achievements!

We’re becoming respected, that’s true. The vice-President of the EAF Aleksander Filimonow was joking in an interview that Russia’s started to look at us with fear. So far it’s rather been an complimentary phrase towards the hosts, but… Something really begins! Igor, you, as an and organizer and a competitor, had not many occasions to watch the fights. However there was something you saw. Which fights of these championships will you remember?

Igor Mazurenko: The duel Gashevski vs Matsakanian for sure deserves a title of the Fight of the Championships. I’ll watch this recording many times for sure. The mastery showed by the „Professor” Gashevski – priceless!

I know, that you’ve also been an inventor during these championships. Details, please.

Igor Mazurenko: I’ve had an idea, I told Mariusz about is. Mariusz Opalinski designed and made mechanical platforms which could easily be lifted and lowered whether players need it or not. Instead of metal boxes, which were lying about the stage, we have only two black keys. Everything is happening faster and easier. The new equipment was accepted by the EAF.

It’s impossible to mention every person who participated in the success of the Gdansk tournaments. But is there anyone you'd like to mention?

Igor Mazurenko: I’m glad to have this opportunity to thank Elzbieta Opalinska for organizing, fitting, bringing and  the whole work of the “Fun Club”. The perfect, colorful and dynamic group really helped every Polish competitor to feel like home. So, thank you very much. I also felt some additional strength when they were screaming “Poland, Poland!”

Who was the best form our team?

Igor Mazurenko: Everyone did their best. For the first time our anthem was played twice in a row. We got 21 medals including: 5 gold, 7 silver and 9 bronze ones. A lot of 4^th places. I’d like to thank all the players. As soon as the championships are “closed” in organisational terms – I’ll sit down at the scores. But I’ll tell you that every medal is now equally important for our sport in Poland. The competitors will come back home and I hope, local authorities and media to look more well-wishingly at Armwrestling.

Thank you for this interview.

Igor Mazurenko: Best wishes to all readers..

PeSzy