Late last Dmitry Ionov tore the biceps of his left hand during a fight with Oleg Zhohom. Nevertheless, he got the national team of Ukraine, and he’ll defend its honor in the international arena. ()
Dmitry took over the six-month rehabilitation course at the left hand and more intensely trained right. What came of it?
Dmitry, how's your hand? It was possible to recover from the injury and start training on the left?
- My hand feels good. Thank God, a young body gives the ability to quickly heal injuries and to start a new training. Although psychologically I did not include in the fight at 100%. I train left hand the same way with the exception of some technical features.
Tell us about your preparation for the World Cup? What prefer, iron or table?
- In preparation for Worlds I use the training system that has developed by myself on the basis of 8 years’ experience in arm wrestling. I work very little with iron, mainly I work at the table with partners and specialized exercises with rubber. Many of exercises are invented by me. I do not like to repeat the wrong training methods and exercises. Plyometric exercises and static prevail in my preparation. But for such training I need competent sparring partner. I have several of them: Kyiv region champion in 110+ kg Gevorg Muradyan, national’s winner in the 90 kg Taras Poddubchenko, the vice-champion of the Ukrainian championsip 90 kg Pavel Evstratenko, as well as winners of the Kiev region - Nagornyi Vitali, Vladislav Prokopenko, Alexander Omelchenko and Dmitry Schatzman. Without themmy preparation would be impossible.
Also in our club "BARS" very talented girls train: a champion of Ukraine Koziratskaya Veronica, by the way we are together ready to go to Bulgaria, a winner of Ukrainian championship Victoria Kargopoltseva and winner of the World Championship Alexandera Artemova.
This is your first international championship. Do you feel the excitement?
- Yes, this is my first championship outside Ukraine. Worried only when I heard about the amount of money needed for travel, accommodation and participation! And I'm not worried about my strength. During the years of performances I learned that my true potential discloses only when I come to the fight with the "cold" head. But before it my training process must be performed at 101%. Then the result of the competition will be proportional.
In your category there are a lot of big-name rivals, would you like to meet in a duel with someone specific?
- Yes, in my category 110 kg threr’re a lot of much respected athletes who can restore order even in 110+ such as Krasimir Kostadinov, Ivan Matiushenko and Rezo Lutidze. I find it difficult to assess their level of strength, but I hope that I deserve to fight with them at the table.
How do you treat a professional tournament, would you like to try?
- I'm fine about professional tournaments. Zloty Tour is the best of them, every athlete would like to visit it and to hear the cherished invitational phrase on the stage: "Please welcome representing Ukraine ...!" Igor Mazurenko holds tournament, which has no equal in the world. I hope someday I will be able to participate there".
How successful will be the performance of the young heavyweights - soon we find out. We wish Dmitry luck!
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