Igor Pavlov wins the 2004 World Indoor Pole Vault title (© AFP/Getty Images)
The night before the first of two day’s competition at the annual ‘Russian Winter’ indoor meeting (22/23 Jan), the cream of Russia's athletics community celebrated its Olympic victories in the premises of the Olympic Committee of Russia in Moscow.
On Friday evening (21 Jan), the Federation of Sport Journalists of Russia held a big party to distribute it’s traditional prizes – the statuettes called “The Silver Deer” to the ten best athletes of the Year of 2004 in all sports, as well as to the best coach. In December 2004, more then 500 Russian sport journalists had voted and the result was very surprising for there were no footballers, figure skaters and tennis players on the prize list. For the first time since the awards began in 1952 the four top performers were all representatives of Athletics!
Usually “The Silver Deer” is distributed in alphabetical order but this time it was decided to change the protocol. Yelena Isinbayeva deserved the exception due to her outstanding results in 2004 and was the first to be invited on stage. The Head of the Federal Agency of Physical Culture and Sport, Vyacheslav Fetisov and the President of the Federation of Sport Journalists of Russia Nickolai Dolgopolov presented her with the top award.
Yuriy Borzakovskiy and Yelena Slesarenko were next to be honoured, while Tatyana Lebedeva sent her apologies of absence because of the sudden illness of her little daughter. Given the dominance of Athletics in the awards it was not surprising that journalists also declared the Chief Coach of the Russian athletic team Valeriy Kulichenko, the Best Coach of 2004.
Women's World 200m indoor season lead
The following day (Sat 22 Jan) on the first day of the ‘Russian Winter’ meeting in the Vladimir Kuts arena in Moscow, several Russian athletes were found to have prepared very well for the new year of competitions.
The 21-year-old sprinter Yuliya Gushchina from Rostov was one of them. In the women’s 200m she clocked 22.84. Gushchina is better known as a 400m runner and last year this disciple of coach Maslakov achieved her victories at that distance. “But I’ll rather try 200 metres in 2005 to get a sense of high speed,’ commented Gushchina.
“I’m a member of the sport army club of Rostov. And several days ago I was promoted to the first officer’s rank. It also gave me a push,” admitted the smiling sprinter.
Pavlov in good form
The World Indoor Pole Vault champion Igor Pavlov was also in surprisingly good form for the beginning of the year. He cleared 5.60m, then 5.70 with astonishing ease. He was twice very near clearing 5.80, having the height but his technique let him down. Still the beginning of the season looks very encouraging for the experienced pole vaulter who is coached by Anatoliy Chernobai.
Since the time of Valeriy Brumel, high jumping competitions have always held a fascination for Russian spectators. On Saturday two former greats, the 2000 Olympic winner Sergey Klyugin and 1999 world champion Vyacheslav Voronin. Both cleared 2.25m but lost to Pavel Fomenko whose result was 2.28.
Two years ago many specialists believed Fomenko who lived in Bryansk would soon become the new Russian star of international high jumping but somehow that form never materialised. After a another season of lost hopes Fomenko changed not only his city of residence but also his coach as well. Now he is permanently living in Volgograd, coached by Yelena Slesarenko’s tutor Boris Gorkov. Perhaps this season the hopes of Pavel Fomenko will finally come true.
World champion to retire?
The 1992 Olympic Shot Put winner Svetlana Krivelyova, who took the 2003 World title, and Olympic bronze in Athens declared that she would definitely retire after the 2004 Olympics but now she is thinking again. Maybe she’ll stay for one more year or even two. A lot depends upon the doctors, for Krivelyova has suffered from many injuries and it’s up to the medical staff to decide if she can sustain the hardships of the event.
In her absence the women's Shot Put at “Russian Winter” was won by Olga Ryabinkina from Bryansk – 18.85m. She was near her outdoor best of last year (19.12) and is taking up the family baton from her father who was a very well-known shot-putter in his time.
Men’s Shot Put was won by the 34-year-old veteran Alexander Salnikov from Kazan – 19.51m.
Close women’s Triple Jump
It doesn’t happen every day. Two athletes, Oksana Rogova and Elena Oleinikova got the same result in women’s Triple Jump – 14.10. Oleinikova was declared the winner because her second attempt was better.
The 1500m normally attracts a lot of Russian running stars but not so on Saturday. In their absence Yuliya Chizhenko from St-Petersburg took the lead from the very start and gained the victory, clocking 4:11.18.
Dmitriy Saminskiy from the far away city of Vladovostok was first in the men’s Long Jump – 7.65m. The 29-year-old Oleg Sergeev from Tumen’ clocked 21.27 at 100m.
The main prizes of the “Russian Winter” will be at stake on Sunday 23 January at the IAAF indoor permit section of the meeting when there are 13 official events on the programme.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
