Igor Malinovsky biathlete. Igor Malinovsky: “I read an interview that it’s too early for me to go to the World Cup. It’s early now, then it will probably be too late.” Awards and achievements

Igor Malinovsky is a successful biathlete from Russia. He participated in the World Cup and became the world and European champion among young athletes more than once. He is a master of sports of the Russian Federation.

Childhood and youth

The future young biathlon star was born in the spring, March 18, 1997, in the village of Milkovo, Kamchatka region. Igor Malinovsky's father had his own airline, Rubus Air.

When Igor turned 11 years old, the strongest biathletes in the world came to Kamchatka to raffle off Gazprom cars. The competition was held annually for the next three years.

In my childhood I tried to practice sambo and judo, but martial arts did not work out. I became interested in skiing after successfully running a cross-country race with ninth graders in the eighth grade.

After that, the guy had no luck in competitions for some time. The young man was barely persuaded to go to the All-Russian tournament in the 11th grade. And not in vain: Igor took second place. After graduating from school, he entered the flight school in Omsk. In Omsk he began to train under the supervision of Zhadgir Kagirovich Makhambetov. The young man’s first coach was Yuri Grigorievich Kotov.

Biathlon

In fact, Igor’s career biography began in the 2015-2016 season. In 2015, he won the “Prize in Memory of A. Strepetov”. Then he went to the Junior Cup in Lenzerheide. The individual race brought the young athlete fourth place. But the sprint race allowed the young man to take the second step of the podium. The World Championship among young athletes in 2016 was successful for Igor. In Keile-Gradistei he became the winner in the sprint, second in the pursuit and relay and fifth in the individual race.

The 2016-2017 season brought Igor victory in the IBU Cup in the relay and mixed relay. He took first place in the sprint race. In 2017, at the European Junior Championships, he won a gold medal in the individual race. But in the sprint he reached the finish line only 64th.

At the World Championships among young athletes he won three times in a row: in the sprint, pursuit and relay. In the personal race I came 14th. In March 2017, he started in the IBU Cup at the stage in Otepa. He took 4th place in the mixed relay and 23rd in the sprint.

Personal life

Igor's father, Vladimir, is a helicopter pilot. The young man has been flying with his dad since childhood. At the beginning of May 2018, Igor defended his thesis on the topic “Analysis of the characteristics of the flight operation of the Mi-8 helicopter in difficult take-off and landing conditions.” If the defense is successful, the young pilot will receive a license to fly a helicopter.

Igor is often asked what he will choose – biathlon or aviation. For now, the young man is hesitant to answer because he wants to stay in the sport and pilot. He believes that in both cases one should remain collected, otherwise the cost of a mistake will be great.

The young man has a microblog on "Instagram", where he shares personal photos. Igor began maintaining an Instagram page on February 5, 2018, posting a photo after winning the European Championship.

“My profile will begin with this winning photo. Thank you all for your support! moving on,” he wrote.

Many people wonder if Igor’s heart is occupied, and if so, what is his girlfriend doing? However, information about whether Malinovsky is romantically involved is not available to prying eyes. It is only known that the young man is not married.

Igor’s fans maintain the athlete’s fan page on Instagram, where they post pictures of their favorite athlete.

Igor Malinovsky’s favorite biathlon discipline is mass start.

He prefers Fischer skis and an Anschutz rifle.

The athlete’s height is 174 cm, weight – 72 kg.

In March 2018, a commentator wrote an emotional post on the Instagram microblog dedicated to Igor Malinovsky. In the note, he wondered why Igor was not taken to the adult World Cup. According to Guberniev, the young biathlete is capable of running at the adult level and achieving unprecedented heights. Dmitry’s post was a response to the statement of the senior coach of the Russian national team, Andrei Padin, that it was too early for Malinovsky to win the Senior Cup. Igor himself admitted in an interview that Padin’s words were offensive.

Igor Malinovsky now

Now Igor combines biathlon training and studying to become a pilot. In February 2018, at the European Championships, he won three gold medals: in the pursuit, sprint and mixed relay. Next, at the World Championships among young athletes, he won the relay and individual race.

As a result, Igor Malinovsky became the most titled junior, winning five medals. He overtook the record of Fabian Mund, who won four medals in 2000. The athlete himself tries not to think about his awards, but perceives it as one of the pleasant aspects of his career path.

On March 18, 2018, it became known that Igor would go as part of the team to the World Cup stage in Tyumen.

Awards and achievements

• 2016 - IBU Junior Cup - 1st place (relay)
• 2017 - IBU Junior Cup - 2nd place (sprint)
• 2017 - IBU Junior Cup – 1st place (mixed relay)
• 2017 - World Championships - juniors - 1st place (relay)
• 2017 - World Championship - juniors - 1st place (pursuit)
• 2017 - World Championships - juniors - 1st place (sprint)
• 2017 - Junior European Championship - 1st place (individual race)
• 2017 - World Summer Biathlon Championships – 2nd place (pursuit)
• 2017 - World Summer Biathlon Championships – 1st place (sprint)
• 2017 - World Summer Biathlon Championships - 1st place (mixed relay)
• 2018 - World Championship - juniors - 1st place (individual race)
• 2018 - World Championships - juniors - 1st place (relay)
• 2018 - Junior European Championship - 1st place (sprint)
• 2018 - Junior European Championship - 1st place (pursuit)
• 2018 - Junior European Championship - 1st place (mixed relay)

Igor Malinovsky is the most titled junior in the history of biathlon: after the 2018 Junior World Championships, which finished the other day, he has 5 gold medals - no one else has.

The first cup attempt happened a year ago in Holmenkollen: Igor became 86th in the sprint and disappeared from the base for a long time. And at the beginning of the current season I almost gave up biathlon:

“Perhaps tomorrow is my last race in my career,” Malinovsky wrote rashly in December on his Vkontakte page. This is because he is a hereditary pilot - he completes his studies at the Omsk flight school, pilots helicopters and is eager to take to the skies. It’s hard to combine aviation and racing: Malinovsky is still an athlete, but he still hasn’t decided - for how long?

Vyacheslav Sambur phoned the main talent of Russian biathlon, who would certainly be useful to the frail team right now. But Malinovsky was not taken to the next stage of the World Cup in Norway - the same ones will go: and if there are no questions about Shipulin and, perhaps, Malyshko, then he could successfully replace Babikov, Tsvetkov, Garanichev and Eliseev. But our coaches are not used to trusting young people.

Perhaps Malinovsky will be invited to Tyumen? That would be right.

I solved the task set for the season: I won races where I had not yet become a champion. For Europe it is a sprint pursuit, for the world it is an individual race. There is always something to improve in the results, but even now I am satisfied. I didn’t think about moving to the adult level, because the preparation was built only for junior tournaments - special work, special training.

After the summer World Championships, the thought crossed my mind that I could become the most titled junior in history. But now for me it’s a nice tick, nothing more.

. My father is a helicopter pilot. From the age of three I went on flights with him: both on fires and on inspections.. He is a private pilot, he has flown everything possible: large aircraft, small, ultra-small - right up to motorized paragliders and hang gliders. I managed to feel it all.

The older I got, the more often I flew with my dad. He recently got a personal gyroplane - essentially a mixture: it takes off like an airplane and lands in place, without passing through the runway. The main rotor rotates due to the oncoming air flow - this is called autorotation. If the engine fails in flight, you will not fall to the ground like a stone, but will glide easily.

Since childhood, I tried not to miss a single flight; I took off and landed very early - it’s better not to even mention my age.

I was born in the village of Milkovo in Kamchatka - the only sports there were sambo, judo, skiing and biathlon. I tried Sambo and judo - I didn’t like it, but it so happened that in the 8th grade I became third in cross-country, where ninth graders also ran. The ski coach invited me - why not? I quickly realized that I not only liked it, but also enjoyed it. It was step by step: it wasn’t like I, after success in the region, immediately won in Russia. At first he lost, then he found himself somewhere close to the podium.

I no longer wanted to go to the All-Russian competition in the 11th grade - I was sure that I would lose. They forced me, they took me almost by force - and I won silver. If it weren’t for this, I would have already finished biathlon.

. After school he went to the flight school in Omsk, and his relatives remained in Kamchatka. In the first place for me was and is study, but it is already balanced by biathlon, it competes with it. In Omsk I train wherever I can - in parks, on amateur tracks. There is no shooting range here, so I essentially do cross-country skiing - I shoot at the shooting range and on the SKAT simulator.

In Kamchatka I trained like a village, without a system, without a plan. In Omsk, on the very first day, they put me under a rifle and began adjusting the weapon - I had never had anything like this. Then technical training, strength, special exercises - I really began to learn something about biathlon. Thanks to coach Zhadgir Makhambetov (pictured), he gave me more than anyone. Now I understand that in Kamchatka I did physical education.

That record in December is an emotional outburst. This has nothing to do with individual failures in sports - it’s just that age is so hot. I was faced with a difficult choice: either biathlon or aviation - I thought that, most likely, I would leave biathlon. I am in my final year at the school - and I was worried about expelling me, about how to normally close my studies. I'm not an excellent student there, but at least I'm good - I worry about that too.

But then I was left alone with myself and thought about everything. Why did I start the season then? If we were to stop, we should have done it earlier, and not in December. I opened my sports diary, leafed through where it was hard for me, where it was easy - I appreciated the work. And I think: I’ve passed halfway and will I give up? Well, no, there’s no need to cut it off during the season.

Before learning to fly a gyroplane, my dad spent evenings and nights watching the flights of American pilots. And they are such aces, they do such feints that it’s scary. The computer was in my room, and I couldn’t sleep for a long time - I studied these videos.

When Dad bought a gyroplane, he quickly learned different tricks: police aerial turn, low-altitude flight, flying between trees, fast landing, fast take-off. There are a lot of cool tricks - that's what I remember most. When I fly with my dad, he always does something like this. I also want to learn, but For now I don’t fly that often: either on a training simulator or at home several times a year.

It’s difficult to combine study and sports, especially since I don’t have a specialty where tests and exams are given automatically. I work on all fronts: the profession is serious, and I’m not going to be a freeloader. On the contrary, I will study and learn everything, like my father, and follow in his footsteps.

Studying consists of lectures, simulators and practice. But it’s difficult with practice now, because there are a lot of people and the equipment simply won’t be taken out. Either it breaks down, or there is not enough fuel - a large queue has already accumulated, and it seems that I am also in it.

At the beginning of May I have my thesis defense, a difficult topic - “Analysis of the features of the flight operation of the Mi-8 helicopter in difficult take-off and landing conditions.” But it will definitely come in handy in life. After defense I will have a Mi-8 helicopter pilot’s license, and at the same time I’m studying the Mi-171 and Eurocopter - this is a smaller helicopter. Theoretically, I can fly airplanes too., but haven't tried it. There are enough skills, but not enough knowledge, you still need theory.

In airlines there is no division into pilots of transport helicopters or passenger ones - it’s up to the bosses to say. I don't care. An airline pilot earns a little more than a titled biathlete such as Shipulin. Private pilot - ten times more. Aviation is more profitable, but for me it's not about the money.

My father opened his own company, Rubus Air: the fleet has one helicopter and one gyroplane, there is a small technical staff, but there are no pilots yet - they are recruiting. I don’t know how it will be, but I support dad in every possible way.

In biathlon, the Bo brothers are my favorites, plus skier Petter Northug. The brothers are cheerful guys: Tarjei has been sad more often lately, but Johannes is always positive. It’s difficult to speak for myself, but I try to be the same. In juniors we don’t have such exciting guys, in juniors Andrey Vyukhin is an exact copy of his brothers, at the World Cup in Estonia I just cried from him.

Andrey Vyukhin

I read an interview with Andrei Padin (senior coach of the men’s team - Sports.ru) that it seems like it’s too early for me to go to the World Cup. It’s early now, but later it will probably be too late. I believe that at the World Cup level we can cope, we are all people with two hands, two legs - there is nothing supernatural about our opponents. The only thing is that they have more experience and less fear. Although, as they ran the Olympics, everyone had the same fear.

To be honest, Padin’s words hurt. The Swede Samuelsson is my age, he competed at the World Cup for a year, barely ran at 20-30, and now he is an Olympic champion with personal silver. We give young people a chance for one or two races. Did not work out? Goodbye, home again - this is the main problem.

Everyone always asks what I choose: biathlon or aviation? Of course, I want to stay in biathlon, but damn, I want to start at the World Cup. It is clear that at first it is not very successful, but at least gain experience and look around. If juniors are given a year at the World Cup, the result will come. The junior team is no worse than the adult team, we just have less experience.

Biathlon or aviation? I still won’t say it now, it’s very difficult for me. To some extent undecided, to some extent a secret. The soul is in the sky - this cannot be taken away, my childhood and my life. I don’t want to change myself, I will be a pilot. The question is now or later?

Biathlon is something that is hard to do without. As long as I have the opportunity and strength to realize myself, I will try. Whatever happens, it will be my own choice. I would like to make a decision myself, so that nothing pushes or forces me.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeniy Tumashov (4.5); instagram.com/malinovskii_igorek; vk.com/minsportomsk (2,3)

zakol, What nonsense are you writing? Who did I demand? Where did I claim that the junior team is not weaker than the base? I don’t like to compare juniors and adults, it’s of little use. I believe that juniors should not be required to achieve high results in km immediately, as, for example, Padin does with Malinovsky last season, or Kasperovich does with Kaisheva in 2015. But we need to be more bold in attracting young people. The debut of foreign youth per km occurs much earlier than ours, by two years on average. And that's a fact. The transition of our juniors to the adult league is happening late and is very difficult. And this is the problem with our system.

Igor Malinovsky Urgently to the main team!
Where are you looking?! Either the coach is blind or an enemy for Russia. They collected ass-lickers, but they are of no use, how many parasites are divorced, the guys are plowing, and they are the coaching staff getting money?!? Only Tikhonov knows that - This is the work he himself went through from the bottom to the top, he should be appointed commander of the biathlon, he will definitely figure it out and in Biotlon there will be Order and everyone will be busy with the work, it is necessary to put the youth, they have earned a place in the lock-up Dear government, deal with the workers who put sticks in wheels so that Russia doesn’t run away?! We had a rocket Maxim Chudov ate and didn’t choke, so put Tikhonov, he deserved to head Biotlon, do you have the courage to face the truth?! Put yourself in the place of the children who struggle on the track, and your child runs around eating, then you would definitely do everything so that he would be at his best so that he can be proud, do it as if it were a job for your child, and not a bandwagon, so that they feel a shoulder of support. Be People with a Capital P, and not pawns who cannot make decisions! Don’t disgrace the country, don’t do something that will shame your children, that you are cowards and can’t make the right decision, go to the mirror and look at yourself. Aren’t you ashamed to look yourself in the eyes?! It’s better to leave and let someone who can decide and not be afraid to make the right decisions!? How long can you tolerate watching how you servants of sports cannot stand up for your family?! It’s your family who entrusted you with children, but you don’t fight for them?! Find the courage not to work as a cohabitant and let those worthy take your place!

Igor, choose biathlon. I wish to become the owner of a BHG.
Vyukhin is a funny comedian. Tenacious boy.

Sergeev Valentin Ivanovich: “Find out the secret of Martin Fourcade’s performance... ”
This has long been no secret: Marten naturally has an extremely high level of hemoglobin in his blood. Plus, to some extent, by nature, excellent skiing technique. Plus the ability to gather at a crucial moment.
Many famous athletes had a high level of hemoglobin, for example, Zidek and our Cherezov had it, who was inferior to the same Fourcade in the technique of movement and the ability to gather at the right moment. :- (

Alexey the Cyclist: “We need to encourage young people to compete in the World Cup”
Maybe I can pick it up straight from kindergarten? So that you can immediately get an invincible champion in about a few years. ;-)

Yurievna, or in the national team of another country under a foreign flag. There are simply countless examples of such prospects for our former and talented ones growing up...

Old curmudgeon, I agree and have written about this many times. We have too many who consider themselves first-class coaches, but we don’t see impressive results. The distribution of athletes among teams is primarily based on the interest of the regions and their financial capabilities. Whoever is stronger is more representative. Therefore, choosing between sports and profession is very difficult. You can remain unlucky both here and there.

To be like Björn Dallen and BJO, you need to get permission to take stimulants like Americans and Norwegians, at least Panangin. (And in case of a cold or runny nose, coordinate with Rodchenkov and Co. from Vada) Find out the secret of Martin Fourcade’s performance, because it’s not for nothing that he is super productive. There is a limit to everything, and Martin, for all his surprise at the results, is just a very capable person. Regarding our candidates for the national team, I agree with much of what has been written. But the main thing for general physical preparation is psychological. Calm, just calm. Nikolai Kruglov had such indifference. Achieved results when others missed at the shooting range. And Mikhail Shulman Where is he? (our biathlon clothes) He started from the start with trembling hands, counting on the chance. The examples of Kuzmina and Domracheva confirm that the requirement and accounting of medals, especially for women, is nonsense. There are specifics of the body and there is nothing a person can do about it. Confirmation at volleyball competitions. That is, the result is No. As one can only assume, Critical days are here to stay. The specifics of biathlon are such that a person must be sure that his mistake will not ruin his well-being and place in the team.

Everyone says that it is necessary to attract young people, but no one says why this is not happening? Does no one really know about the personal interest of coaches and functionaries in this matter? Doubtful...

We need to encourage young people to participate in KM!

nadyushka, after all, Igor is a full-time student at a serious educational institution, this also takes time.

For me, Vyukhin is more promising than Malinovsky. Vyukhin had just appeared, but the nickname “rocket” had already stuck to him. Igor’s results this year have seen some swings. This season started poorly. Although maybe he was peaking for the World Cup.

Viktor, I see you are not very close friends... Where in my comment does it say that there is no need to attract young people? So they brought in Pashchenko and Eliseev; they, too, were young people not so long ago. But it was you who started to “demand.” And Makhambetov was attracted. Also a junior champion. Yes, every year there are a couple of new champions for juniors, so what? As a result, do we have new adult champions every year? Where do the long-term leaders of the Fourcades and Bjoerndalens come from?

That is, not understanding the real state of affairs and considering the current junior team to be no weaker than the current base is from a great mind? Or is it normal for you today to demand that Malinovsky be elevated, tomorrow to drive him away and replace him with Vyukhin, and so on ad infinitum?

zakol, The guy is eager to fight, strives to perform at the highest level. This could be our biathlon Bolshunov or Spitsov. For me, you, zacol, are not very smart when you write such nonsense. We need to be more bold in attracting young people, not giving them short-term results, otherwise in 2022 there will be a similar situation to the current season. The conditional Paschenkos and Slepovs never run away, as some would like, and finally fizzle out, but the Malinovskys and Vasnetsovas are the Kaishevs and Mironovs of this season. After all, already 3-4 years ago it was obvious that Ulyana would be in the lineup in 2018. But few people were interested in this. We didn’t prepare and got the result we deserved. There is no need to go the same road, getting bumps from the rakes scattered everywhere.

It seems like the guy is not very smart. All junior regalia is far from a guarantee of a future career. There are plenty of examples of this in history. And not only in Russia. Does not understand...

So they give him a chance to prove himself in “adult sports”, and for now at KE, and in Tyumen there is a high probability of performing, especially if he shows himself in Khanty.
And there will still be an opportunity to show yourself in the Chechen Republic in competition with the “men”, because no one limits quotas there. Let's see what shows whether there is enough strength and talent for such competition, or whether there is only desire.
His desire to compete at the KM is understandable, but there are other young people who are already performing at the KE and performing very well, and who also want to compete at the KM. Should they be moved aside for the sake of Igor’s wishes?

Angelina, in my opinion, no one stopped him from competing at the Junior European Championships, Junior World Championships, and Junior Championships. Now he can show his best side at the KE in Khanty.

Until Igor is allowed to compete, he will not be able to be super convincing. The surname Padin alone is worth something, as is Konovalov. And also Mudko.

Elena Tashkent, I have always been neutral towards Guberniev. But it seems that he does not understand that with such self-promotion he is increasingly compromising himself. Well, excuse me, why does it have to go straight to KM? Why not after at least a couple of podiums at KE or CR? Moreover, at the last Junior World Championships Igor was not very convincing.

Good luck to Igor! I want everything to come true for him!
Gu about Malinovsky and youth sports.ru

Good luck to Igor, I hope that he will be able to spend time in biathlon, I agree with Yulia, you can get into aviation later, I hope there will still be changes in our biathlon and such guys will be given a chance to prove themselves.

1. Alexander Loginov - This is a World Cup-level athlete
2. Petr Paschenko - interesting to watch him at the World Cup

These biathletes have the same pace of work at the turn. True, Peter is worse in accuracy.
3. Alexey Slepov - mood racer, World Cup level in terms of work on the track. At the turn, unfortunately, he loses a lot for the World Cup sprint. (Sparring with Volkov. I remember a separate European Championship, when he bombed on the lines)

Now it’s still interesting to watch Nikita Porshnev at the iBU Cup (this giant would be very welcome to the national team)

It’s never too late to go into aviation, but you won’t return to biathlon later... but the SBR just doesn’t want to understand this! (

The title is not serious. Neuner had super talent - she left no chance for her rivals in terms of speed, being much more fashionable. And how can one talk about professional control of a helicopter by a person who has not yet graduated from college, and has not even completed flight practice yet?
But the talent is definitely there. I would not lose it, and I would not lose it.

Evgeny Kazakov, it’s possible that getting into the starting lineup and the likelihood of competing at the World Championships will increase Igor’s motivation and he will improve, but yes, I haven’t noticed any progress from him this season!

Malinovsky showed himself inexpressively in the sprint at the World Championships in Estonia.

Overall progress on the track +38.5 seconds from Eremin Circle travel 7.39.0 7.40.7 7.45.8
Work on the line: +15.5 (25th) from Bogdan Tsymbal (1.24.1 excellent level). For example, the sprint winner Tomshin showed 1.29.5 (8th result)

Also, Tomshin’s laps were 7.44.0 7.56.9 7.38.0 (I added on the 3rd lap and this is the 4th move, where the fastest Eremin won 1.3 seconds from Tomshin)

The guys have something to work on. Good luck to both of you.

Good luck to Igor!

I haven't become a pilot yet, I need to join the national team

Marina, positivity causes less harm than negativity and mistrust. IMHO.

Oh how I want people like that to join the team! But not in the current one, but in one where the sporting principle reigns.
If they take the guy to another place, what are we going to do?

Even young athletes understand that we have a complete mess in the RBU.

If everyone waited with such compliments, they wouldn’t jinx it! ((
In every generation we have talented juniors who “tear” their foreign rivals and peers, only then it happens the other way around, unfortunately.

I saw Vyukhin. This Ryzhik can become a Russian Sunshine (PO GU about Byoshka). The grandfathers probably got their last name from the word Vyuga. It rushes like the wind! We need to let young people work. Glad, that
We'll see Malinovsky in Khanty. Or maybe later in Tyumen?!

Breaking records, torn between biathlon and aviation and knocking on the tightly locked doors of the national team. Will they open?

In the company of the greats

With his victory in the individual race at the World Junior Championships in Otepää, Russian Igor Malinovsky made history. He became the first five-time world champion among juniors, surpassing the previous achievement of German Fabian Mund, who won four gold medals in 2000. A year ago, in Brezno, Slovakia, Malinovsky became the champion in the sprint, pursuit and relay race, and now he has added success in the individual race to his team victory. If he also manages to win the sprint and pursuit, he will equal the unique achievement of Magdalena Neuner, who won her first world championship gold medal at the age of 17.

How to feel about such an achievement? On the one hand, among the many three-time champions there are many random people, such as Mund. On the other hand, in this cohort are Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, Emil Hegle Svendsen, Simon Fourcade, Andi Birnbacher and two Russians - Sergei Chepikov and Anton Shipulin, who became our best biathletes of their decades. Most of these stars had a blast at only one championship, and then moved on to adult biathlon the next, but Igor was delayed and didn’t even get a chance to qualify for the Olympics.

Between biathlon and aviation

Malinovsky was born and raised in Kamchatka in the family of a helicopter pilot. When the guy was 11 years old, a big biathlon came to the peninsula. The stars of the strongest biathlon teams came to the Fatyanov memorial to compete for Gazprom cars, and then did this for another three years. However, the conditions for biathlon in Kamchatka have never been conducive to high results.

The most famous Kamchatka biathlete Dmitry Yaroshenko emerged as a mature master already in Khanty-Mansiysk. So Igor moved to Omsk to fulfill his dream, although it was not entirely connected with biathlon. Since childhood, the guy dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps and learning to pilot a helicopter - perhaps the most valuable form of transport in Kamchatka. The nearest flight school is based in Omsk. Since then, biathlon and aviation have been tearing Igor apart. Even at a recent press conference after winning another medal of the highest standard, he stated that his favorite metal is not gold at all, but duralumin. Several times he faced the choice of continuing his career as a biathlete or becoming a professional pilot, and each time he postponed the decision. The last such choice was in December, when he rashly announced on social networks that the upcoming start would be his last in his career. Fortunately for numerous fans, Igor changed his mind and has already won four victories in a row. He started the series at the European Championships in Pokljuka, and continued in Otepää at the World Championships.

It is already obvious that Malinovsky has grown out of junior pants and needs to start breaking him in as early as possible. His peer Sebastian Samuelsson, with whom he raced together at the European Olympic Youth Festival, has already become an Olympic champion. Igor needs to be given the opportunity to smell gunpowder in Tyumen, and then compete with the best at the Russian Championship, where, in addition to the usual medals, prize money will be awarded for ineligible Olympians.

The Russian national team promises to enter the next season with new leadership and coaching staff. It is still difficult to judge how the national team will be recruited, but one place in it should be reserved for the best junior. He still has four years ahead, but Russian biathlon, which has reached a dead end, definitely needs fresh blood, new names are needed. Maybe Malinovsky will turn into a biathlon

The 2016 world champion among youth, 18-year-old Igor Malinovsky, who also has two silver medals, said that he perceives biathlon in his life as a temporary phenomenon.

- Is gold and two silvers at the tournament an unexpected success?

This is a very big success! I set this goal for myself back in the summer; I was eager to win gold at the World Championships. I wanted to show off right away in the first race - individual. But he burned out before the start and ended up fifth. The coaches calmed me down and helped me understand where my mistakes were. I went into the sprint with a clear head and everything worked out! Won. And in the pursuit race he became a silver medalist. Couldn't cope with the shooting. Couldn't - that's putting it mildly (7 misses - approx. Sportbox.ru). I had to “beat off” the lag with my feet. They also took silver in the relay. We could have won, of course, but it was still a relay race. Everyone tried and worked until the last minute.

- In each of the races you showed the best or second fastest result. How did this happen?

I just used to do cross-country skiing in addition to biathlon. And everyone runs well there. But specifically, I have been in biathlon for six years.

- You were born in Kamchatka. Do you know famous Kamchatka biathletes?

Yes, I was born in the village of Milkovo in Kamchatka. I know of course. Dmitry Yaroshenko! Only then he began to run for Khanty-Mansiysk.

- And you now live in another place.

I went to Omsk to become a Mi-8 helicopter pilot. This is my dream since childhood, because my dad is also a pilot. And the helicopter flight school in Russia is only in Omsk.

- So you combine biathlon and study at a flight school? Is it even possible?

It's very, very difficult. But if you want, I am constantly convinced of this, you can do anything!

- Well, you have toto miss lessons because of training. Or maybe you, like , train less than others, but win more?

No, I’m far from Be. Sometimes one helps the other a lot. And sometimes it does a lot of harm. Especially when there are important starts, you have to leave your studies on the back burner, and then vice versa... Learn, teach and teach again. In general, the teachers immediately made it clear to me that there was no place for athletes here. But after I finished the first year with straight A's and only one B, they began to treat me less strictly. And then I went to Europe and brought back two medals. And it became even easier. But it’s still hard to study at flight college... Fortunately, I was very lucky with my classmates. All the guys are great friends! They help me always and everywhere.

Igor Malinovsky

Of course, you follow the performance of the strongest athletes at the World Cup. Is there a biathlete you like or want to be like?

I really like the Boe brothers. These guys fight to the end, in addition, they are very positive and very strong in their moves. I always root for them.

- You are probably the only biathlete in history who is a world champion and at the same time a pilot.

Probably, yeah. I wanted to prove to everyone that you can combine everything. Of course, I don’t consider myself a full-fledged pilot yet. While a cadet. But this is temporary.

- Do you go to training camps during your studies?

I train in Omsk and go to training camps. It’s just that biathlon is not very developed in Omsk... I’m trying to get more machine guns so that I can get away. It's like mass start biathlon. You shouldn't let the race end in a showdown at the finish line. True, at this World Championships I still had to take part in one.

- How did dad manage to infect you with love for heaven?

My dad is a small aircraft pilot, he flies a gyroplane (an aircraft between an airplane and a helicopter - approx. Sportbox.ru). Since childhood, he took me with him on flights. I’ve even flown in a gyroplane myself.

- Sooner or later you will have to make a choice: biathlon or helicopters.

I understand that I am faced with a choice. While I'm studying, I try to do biathlon. And so - helicopters.

- Even if you make it to the first team?

Of course, I would like to get through. But in the future I still dream of becoming a pilot.

Igor, did you expect that you would make your debut at the World Cup at the age of 19?

Like all young athletes, I dreamed that I would make my debut, but when they told me, it was a pleasant surprise for me.

What were the main instructions your coach Zhadgir Makhambetov gave before the race?

He is an experienced coach, knows my weaknesses and strengths, and knows how to guide them in the right direction. At a certain hour he will calmly say, “Everything will be fine.” He always exudes care and warmth. I believe that the relationship between coach and athlete is an important part in achieving high results.

What were the difficulties of performing at the World Cup?

The World Cup already speaks for itself. The strongest, fastest and most experienced go there. I am proud that I had the honor of being appreciated and given the opportunity to perform with the stars of world biathlon.

You are very disappointed because you did not qualify for the pursuit race. You shot well, but lost by move. What should you work on?

I was just one step away from the pursuit race. It was a shame, I wanted to compete more and gain experience. But as my mother always tells me: “Get over it and move on.” Such races motivate you to move forward, and you gain important experience from them.

What advice did our biathletes give, how did they support you?

The team treated me friendly, with understanding, and everyone helped with advice.

In world biathlon, who do you consider the favorite? Did you manage to communicate with someone?

My favorites have always been and remain the Bo brothers, but unfortunately I never had time to communicate with them.

After the end of the season, criticism fell on the work of the national team, coaches and the Russian Biathlon Union. Do you think it is justified?

The Team has experienced coaches, they have a lot of experience, I respect them very much. I have no right to evaluate their work, I am too young an athlete.

This season was not bad for me. I have completed my tasks, I don’t make any plans for the future, but I will work. I'm not going to stop there.

You are also interested in aviation. What comes first - biathlon or helicopters?

I have loved aviation since childhood, so I entered the only civilian helicopter school in the country. It is interesting to learn, experienced teachers never refuse to help, and I am very grateful to them for that. I dream of flying high and running fast, so biathlon is parallel to me. But both still need to learn a lot.

What are your plans for the near future? Now you are completely immersed in your studies. Are you planning to relax?

At the moment, as always, I don’t have enough time, I need to improve my studies, catch up with my fellow students. It's very difficult, but I'm not used to dwelling on difficulties. Of course, I’m tired and want to go home to my native land, where they love me and wait for me.

Reference:

Igor Malinovsky was born in 1997 in the village of Milkovo, Milkovo district, Kamchatka Territory. He started doing biathlon in Kamchatka, and at the age of 17 he moved to Omsk and began representing it in competitions. He is the most titled junior in the world. Master of Sports of Russia, World Cup participant, multiple world and European champion among juniors. In March 2017, he made his IBU Cup debut at the Otepää stage, finishing fourth in the mixed relay and 23rd in the sprint. On March 16, 2018, at the IBU Cup stage in Khanty-Mansiysk, he took 26th place in the sprint and came fourth in the pursuit.

Photo courtesy of Igor Malinovsky