Khadzi, please tell me why you weren’t in the European Championships?

It’s because I got injured at the gym. I got back to training after the Russian Championships, and after one workout I’ve decided to spar at a table. The Europeans were coming soon, the TOP 16, the A1, so I wanted to be prepared. My sparring partner was 85 kg, I let him attack and I started to pull. My hook was a little weak, so I wanted to pull him up. When I started pulling towards the pad, I felt something in my neck snap. I couldn’t move my neck for two weeks, not to mention training. I’ve done tests and the doctors told me that I’ve got chondrosis, that the nerve is squashed, and all sorts of other stuff I couldn’t understand.

Why did you lose so much weight?

I just haven’t been working out for two months. I can’t even lift 10 kilos. I warm up with light weights, and the next day my neck hurts like hell. Today I feel pain even when I’m talking. I was scared to write the article, that my fans would say I’m on chemistry or something. But everyone is very supportive and they all wish me well. I can’t wait to get back in shape, there are many tournaments that I want to take part in, but in my present condition I can barely start at regional levels.

Will you be able to get back in shape for the World Championships?

I think so but I have to start working.

And what do the doctors say? Do you need any serious intervention?

They’ve already given me loads of medicine. I’ve decided that if it didn’t start working by the end of this week, I’ll try physiotherapy. The doctors told me that some treatments cannot be used at this point in time, because the vertebrae in the neck section of the spine are very delicate and it could hurt a disc. Not worth the risk.

I had the first attack in January, before the Russian Championships. Hurt for a week and then I got back to training. But recently it snapped again and it won’t let go. Let’s hope it’ll turn out ok and I can get prepared.

The Zoloev family never ceases to surprise us. Spartak has entered the scene now, and he’s way better than many other sportsmen.

We do our best to keep the “brand” at high level.

Is the youngest one going to fight too?

He had a taste of the sport, but now he’s into football. We are four brothers, the third one is in the military now, and he also armwrestles. We’ll see when he gets out of service, will he fight or will he immerse himself in work.

When do you want to get back to training?

I’ll rest and heal for about two weeks. My whole spine hurts now, but I’m getting used to it.

How much weight did you lose?

I haven’t lost weight, I still weigh 79 kg, only my muscles have shrunk a bit.

What are your plans after regeneration?

I want to get to the A1, I always do. But I’m still not 100 % sure that I will. If the injury still holds, I won’t enter the OPEN, where you really have to go all out. Some people from across the ocean are coming, it will be interesting.

Igor Mazurenko