Russia (bbabo.net), - Tatiana Ivanova still hardly steps on her foot after an injury, but she confidently climbed the podium. In the sum of four attempts, the Russian woman lost only to the German luger Anna Berreiter and her titled compatriot Natalie Geisenberger, who won the third Olympics in a row. Meanwhile, Ivanova's bronze is historical for the women's luge team. The last time medals were won by representatives of the USSR. At the 1980 Games, that is, 42 years ago, Vera Zozulya won, and Ingrida Amantova finished third.
If you read the comments of the fans under the news about the success of Tatyana Ivanova, then very often there is such an idea: "The players should tell this story before each match." Indeed, our luger can make motivational speeches. It is hard to believe that Ivanova emerged victorious from a situation that could put an end to the Olympic dream of so many athletes, if they were in similar circumstances. That is why Tatyana says that her bronze is with a golden tint.
What happened to Ivanova a couple of months before the Olympics? The athlete suffered a leg injury on November 21 at the very first stage of the World Cup. And it took place not just anywhere, but at the Olympic facility. Tatyana made a mistake and caught her leg on the visor of the track so that her leg twisted. The result is deplorable: a torn ligament and a crack in the talus, which forms the lower part of the ankle joint and transfers body weight to the entire foot. It went without surgery. But the doctors said that it would take 5-6 weeks to recover. Ivanova gave herself a maximum of a month to have time to win an Olympic license. Already at the end of December, she went to the start in Winterberg and even scored points there. Although she could not carry the sled herself, she went to the start in a splint or orthosis and with crutches so as not to overload her leg. A real return to the sport and the game happened on the favorite track in Sigulda on January 9th. Ivanova became the third in the classic race and the first in the sprint.
Tatyana Ivanova's Olympic medal is the first in recent Russian history. Before that, our lugers won the Games awards back in 1980
Many were surprised that Tatyana bounced back so quickly after such a serious injury. Doctors, masseurs - many thanks. But without willpower, character and self-confidence, nothing would have happened. In Vancouver 2010, Tatyana Ivanova stopped a step away from the medal. In Sochi-2014, she took only seventh place in the individual tournament and won silver in the relay. Although I had to fight for this medal twice - first on the home track, then - in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But Ivanova was still not invited to the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. She did not give up then, she stayed until Beijing and did not give up now. She simply did not allow herself to relax, went to her goal. Tears were already after the finish, when, finally, it was possible to exhale.
Tatyana, you walked on crutches and in a splint until the very end. When was it removed?
Tatyana Ivanova: I took off Langeta a couple of days after we arrived in China. The competition was already close, and if before that I was allowed to go to the start with a crutch or with someone's help, then here they said: "Come on yourself."
Looking back, can you believe that you were able to win a medal after such an injury?
Tatiana Ivanova: This medal means a lot to me. Until recently, I was not sure that I could win it. In general, when I was injured two months ago, I understood the approximate recovery time and did not want to put up with the situation. I already have a break between the Olympic Games for 8 years. I did not want to bring the pause to 12. For me it would be too hard. And I understood that I needed to recover as quickly as possible and get permission from the doctors. Although my rehabilitation continued and continues in Beijing, I am still under the supervision of doctors.
How did you manage to tune in to the start, given the circumstances?
Tatiana Ivanova: I was getting ready for the competition: you need to be calm, go through four attempts and not to unsettle anything. I didn't chase the Germans. They have come off very far. But she didn’t focus on maintaining her third position either. I just wanted to have two good final races. And I'm happy that I succeeded.
Meanwhile, two more Russians Ekaterina Katnikova and Victoria Demchenko failed to break into the top 20 strongest lugers who fought for medals. Katnikova fell during the first race: she rolled over and could not reach the finish line. Demchenko had a fall in the second attempt, but she managed to finish it. As a result, Vika, the daughter of the three-time silver medalist of the 2006 and 2014 Olympic Games Albert Demchenko, took 28th place in the sum of three descents.
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