Even though your fights rarely took more than five seconds, I think everyone had a chance to notice your technique and great style of fighting. How long have you been in armwrestling?

I’ve started training with my coach Andrey Barskowy in September 2010. Before that I was just playing around. My biggest achievements to date are the 1^st place in juniors in Ukrainian Championships 2013, Ukrainian Cup 2013, Ukrainian Championships student category 2013 and second place in Ukrainian Championships, seniors.

What are your thoughts on the Ukrainian Championships? Were the fights hard?

We’ve been preparing for a long time or those championships, I couldn’t wait to fight. I can’t say if they were hard, but they were very interesting.

Which fights were the most interesting?

The semifinals for left hand, with Evgenyi Litovtsevy. He really put himself into that fight, because winning it meant getting his master title. Also the fight with Maxim Tereschjuk was great, I’ve won by changing my style.

You have great technique and a lightning-quick start. Do you have some special training methods?

Thank you. The more I think about it, the more it seems that a quick start is not something physical, but mental. Of course I practice with expanders and with partners. Recently I’ve utilized a bodybuilding technique – box jumps that train the whole body for quick movement. But I concentrate mostly on the mental aspect. As a great sportsman and coach, Arkady Worobjov, once said: “We must wait for the moment when strength is ready to explode”. All my exercises are good. If I have any doubts about an exercise, and I seldom do, I exchange it for something similar that suits me better, because without enthusiasm one cannot reach one’s goals.

What should be the dominating aspect in armwrestling – strength or technique?

Armwrestling is one of the most technical strength sports, technique should come first.

Are there any sportsmen who are an example to you? Whom of the armwrestling stars would you like to meet at the table?

For me, the best in the world is Dzambolat Tsoriev, especially in left hand. I’d love to just meet him at the table, without any hope for victory.

Are you going to start in European / World Championships?

I won’t be in the European Championships. This is my last year of studies and the championships overlap my exams session and my master thesis. I’d love to go to the World’s, but in the light of recent events in my country I don’t like to make any plans for the future.

What do you do in your spare time?

Everything I do is connected with sports, one way or another. I study sports medicine, theory and methodology of training in various disciplines.

Anastasia Kisileva
Photos: Oleg Demura