Russia (bbabo.net) - But in fact, the whole ski team performed great in Beijing. The Russians took four "gold". Just one less than the Norwegian team, which has dominated the main tournaments in recent years. And in terms of the total number of medals (4 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze), the Russians completely surpassed the Scandinavians, who have 8 awards (5-1-2). Compared to the previous Olympics in Pyeongchang, where our team won a total of 8 medals and not a single "gold", the progress is more than noticeable. If we take a very fresh starting point, last year's World Cup, then the step forward looks even wider. At the 2021 World Cup, our team had only 4 awards with one of the highest dignity.

In Beijing, ours not only won, but also rewrote history. In the women's relay races, the Russian team has not won the Olympics for 16 years, and in the men's - 42 years.

Alexander Bolshunov became the driving force behind the success of the Russian team. “I know that in May he made entries in his diary - three Olympic gold medals,” said Alexander's wife, Anna.

Although even in the summer it was not so obvious. After the 2018 Olympics, where Bolshunov's star flashed for the first time (3 "silver" and "bronze"), Alexander's career was on the rise. The skier approached this season with two crystal globes for winning the World Cup, two victories in the prestigious Tour de Ski stage race, and the title of world champion in skiathlon. But everyone almost crossed out the problems with teeth and gums that came from nowhere. In October, Bolshunov underwent surgery, and this completely confused his plans for preparing for the Olympic season. Sasha, who did not spare himself in training, had to train even more.

The return to the previous form was slow. In the overall standings of the January Tour de Ski -2022, Bolshunov completely lost to his main opponent, the Norwegian Johannes Klebo, and was almost in despair. “He is in such a shape that he can stop training, go to Beijing and take his own there,” it’s hard to believe that these are Bolshunov’s words. True, already in Beijing, after the first victory in the skiathlon, Alexander will say: "I understood that there was nowhere to go further. There is only one way - to climb the stairs."

Before the last race, a 50 km marathon, Bolshunov and Klebo had two gold medals each. The Norwegian took both in personal and team sprints, his core disciplines. Moreover, Alexander did not participate in the personal sprint. How the previous fight of skiers at the “fifty kopecks” ended in the framework of the 2021 World Cup, everyone remembered very well. At the finish line, Klebo broke the stick for the Russian and was disqualified, while Sasha was left without medals and could not hold back his tears after the race.

The weather intensified the intrigue in the confrontation. In the morning, in the mountains where the ski competitions were held, a hurricane wind rose, which, coupled with -16 degrees Celsius, put the race in general in jeopardy. As a result, the organizers made a Solomon decision, reducing the length of the mass start by 20 kilometers.

There was talk that this step was pushed through by the Norwegians in order to make it easier for Johannes Klebo, who theoretically runs the "thirty" easier than the "fifty". These guesses were confirmed by the words of the President of the Russian Ski Racing Federation, Elena Vyalbe: "Klebo said that he would not run 50 kilometers. They offered 30 - he agreed. I do not comment. Maybe a person cannot really."

Klebo reducing the distance did not help. I could not stand the pace of the leaders and capitulated ahead of schedule, finishing the race after 20 kilometers.

But the changes did not affect Bolshunov in any way. “It seems to me that Sanya would have won 30, and 50, and 70 kilometers if we had run further. It’s just that the gap would have been greater, and we would have caused him discomfort: he would have to wait for us, to freeze,” Ivan Yakimushkin then laughed , who took silver in the mass start.

In general, the race was a bit unusual. We are already accustomed to the fact that Bolshunov fights alone against the Norwegian flock. Now it was the other way around. The Scandinavian Simen Hegstad Kruger was surrounded by our people: Bolshunov, Yakimushkin, Artem Maltsev. Alexander failed to impose a fight on him, but Ivan Kruger fought almost to the finish line. But "bronze" for him is also a great success. Due to covid, Simen Hegstad missed almost the entire skiing program of the Olympics, the 30 km mass start was his first race in Beijing. This could become the main story of the ski day, if not for Bolshunov.

Having finished, Sasha immediately fell, but not from fatigue, but "because I wanted to kiss the Chinese snow. Because I want to say a big thank you to the Chinese land for accepting me like that." Then - the inevitable embrace of the President of the Ski Racing Federation Elena Vyalbe. "We want to continue the banquet. A very good Olympics," Elena Valeryevna shouted to someone. She also danced passionately.

Alexander Bolshunov is the most titled Russian skier in history with nine Olympic medals, three of which are goldAlexander went to the awards ceremony in gold boots. “After the skiathlon, in which I won gold, I saw them and thought: it would be nice if I also had these,” Bolshunov told reporters. “Moreover, I have a gold medal. And when I earned the third, I got shoes They brought it in. In principle, they suit me." Who would argue!

As you know, the winner of the skiathlon and the 50-kilometer marathon receives the unspoken title of the king of skis. After reducing the distance to 30 km, questions may arise. “Apparently, they specifically reduced the distance like this,” Sasha laughed. But we have no doubts about the title. As well as about whether Bolshunov can be called great.

The skier himself disowned the "title". "You can call me whatever you want, but I don't consider myself great. Because there are still a lot of athletes who have a lot more medals."

But the facts speak for themselves. Bolshunov is already the most titled skier in the history of Russian skiing with nine Olympic medals (3 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze). Incredibly, he did not remain without awards in all nine Olympic races, including Pyeongchang 2018, in which he participated. And if you add the "silver" in the 15 km separate race and the "bronze" in the team sprint, it turns out that the Russian took five medals in Beijing. Before him, none of the skiers could do anything like this.

“That's it, the Olympic Games have passed, you can tie it up,” Sasha laughed in an interview after the race. But we all know Alexander's maximalism. Of course, he is not going to stop.

Direct speech

Yuri Borodavko, coach of the Russian national team:

- When Alexander had his first victory, I congratulated him and said: Sasha, you have completed the most important task, you have become an Olympic champion. Now I wish that the multiplicity of your championship has increased. And the title of Olympic champion is already forever. Alexander held the Olympic Games in a very collected way, approached the aspects of preparation and recovery responsibly. He was very worried that they shortened the distance, because it was not in his favor. But the outcome of the race pleased us: he won with a clear advantage, leaving no chance for anyone.

Petter Northug, two-time Olympic champion, 13-time world champion:

- All the honors of the world go to Bolshunov. We know how good Kruger is, but Bolshunov just walks away from him. I congratulate Alexander on an excellent Olympics, for which he has been preparing for a long time.

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