The last few years, the famous swimmer, four-time Olympic champion Vladimir Salnikov did not appear very often at home. He lived in Spain, was engaged in business, raised his son ... He often went to Moscow only in the spring, after he was appointed vice president of the All-Russian Swimming Federation. Not only Salnikov told Izvestia columnist Vladimir Raush about the chances of Russian swimmers who will start today at the European Aquatics Championships in Budapest.
Question: Have you finally moved to Moscow?
Answer: Now I spend most of my time here. In Spain, his wife remained with her 18-year-old son, who is seriously involved in tennis. He trains at the same center as Marat Safin used to be. In addition, Vladimir Jr. is now going to go to university and cannot return to Russia.
Q: What about your business?
A: The swimming school in Barcelona had to be closed - there was simply no time to attend it. There was also a center for the rehabilitation of athletes in an accelerated manner - in the water. I even worked with several teams of the football Premier League - Lokomotiv, Saturn ... The methodology brought good results: the players recovered and gained shape much faster. But now the center of time is also gone.
Q: What have you exchanged all this wealth for?
A: In the federation, I am responsible for preparing the national team. I really want her to return to the old traditions. We have developed a special program designed for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. One of its main points is the restoration of the Comprehensive Scientific Group, which was the driving force of the national team in the 80s gold for our swimming. Personally, I can not imagine high results without the latest developments in the field of biomechanics, hydrodynamics. Over the past few years, this work has been abandoned due to a serious lack of money.
Q: Is the financial situation of the federation improved?
A: The new leadership has led sponsors, which immediately affected the stimulation of athletes. Say, at the recent Russian championship, swimmers who set the country's record received $ 1,000 each. For the world record we will pay up to 15 thousand dollars. And the Olympic gold medal is estimated at 45 thousand dollars - this is in addition to all the awards from Rossport and OCD ...
Q: And how many such prizes can be issued after Beijing?
A: We would like to win three gold medals there. I will not give the names of the applicants - out of superstition. I can only say in which disciplines we can count on success: in male and female stayer swimming and in a 4x100 combined or relay race. Another two or three distances may be medals of another denomination.
Q: And what “catch” do you plan in Budapest?
A: There we can have from three to five gold medals. Maybe even more.
Q: Does the current management team have carte blanche before the 2008 Olympics?
A: The term of the contracts of the national team coaches is determined by Rossport: while it is a year and each time it is extended. To extend the mentors need to go through recertification. This is the procedure, there's nothing to be done. Although I will not hide: we assume that the current coaching team will remain until Beijing.
Q: Over the past few years, much has been said about the return to Russia of the famous coach Gennady Turetsky. How relevant is this?
A: I do not quite understand what is meant by “Turkish return.” Recently, he came to Moscow for the national championship, he was awarded the order. Work with the team? It entirely depends on Turetsky himself - his plans and desires. While he serves as a consultant to the Russian team. Periodically, groups of athletes who train there under his supervision leave for the training camp in Switzerland.
in: Turetsky himself says that he has nothing to think about: he did not receive any offers ...
A: I am not ready to answer this question, since we did not discuss this topic. I think that so far we will confine ourselves to his help precisely as a consultant to the national team. Although other options cannot be ruled out either.