Russia (bbabo.net), - Natalya Nepryaeva, who won the 4x5 km relay at the Beijing Olympics as part of the Russian women's cross-country skiing team, could not help skiing as a child: her mother, Irina Vladimirovna, is a master of sports and a ski coach. cross-country skiing.
- She began to study with her peers from the second grade, - says Irina Nepryaeva. - I passed the basics, and when the abilities became visible and the results appeared, I transferred Natasha to the coach Alexander Vasilievich Smirnov, and he already brought her to the All-Russian level.
Since February 5, when Natalia had her first start and she won silver in the women's skiathlon (and the first medal of the Russian team), her coaches, and "the whole large family of Tver skiers" have been living in great tension. Everyone was especially worried after the insulting fourth place in the 10 km race in the classic style, when a fraction of a second was not enough for her to third place.
- When the relay was successful - like a stone fell from the soul. Because the day before there was an offensive fourth place. And now we are all happy. Thanks everyone! - the coach and mother share their experiences. - All four girls came out charged to win. Each went like it was the last time.
According to Irina Nepryaeva, on the eve of the “golden” race, she called up her daughter, but after the fourth place she had a “great psychological strain”.
- She went into herself, and they prepared the whole team as a whole, - recalls Irina Vladimirovna.
The fact that in addition to good physical data, the Olympic champion Nepryaeva has a strong character, says her coach Alexander Smirnov. And also, according to him, she is very hardworking, because the training is long and a lot of endurance is required.
- At the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, Natasha had a bronze medal in the relay, and at these Olympic Games she planned to earn a personal medal. And, of course, the athlete who does not dream of Olympic gold is bad. Everything happened, - the coach says with pleasure. Without hiding, however, that he is rooting for the student "validally."
- I don’t drink medicine, it’s just a condition, we are all very worried ... We already had great joy and disappointment. Nerves to the limit. We live in tension from start. And the family, and the coaches, and the whole Tver region. And today's emotions, of course, cannot be conveyed. - says Irina Vladimirovna.
By the way, before the Olympics, Natalya Nepryaeva, a graduate of the Tver ski school, president of the Tver Region Ski Racing Federation, won the prestigious Tour de Ski multi-day race. She became the first Russian skier to win this title.
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