Russia was forced to lose the coach of Olympic champions. Disappointment or relief?
The era of the German coach in Russia is coming to an end, or at least suspended. Kramer, who prepared for the Olympic victory of Alexander Legkov, also worked with a scattering of the strongest athletes, was forced to stop for a 12-year-old autumn in Russia.
Despite the success of his team at the Olympic Games and World Championships, there is an opinion that this situation can play into our game. And this is not the opinion of an ordinary fan, but of the President of the Russian Ski Racing Federation, Elena Vyalbe.
Why do we have to say goodbye to Marcus so easily?
Strong start and indistinct history
The results of the work of the German specialist must be evaluated in conjunction with his team: coach Reto Burgermeister and physiotherapist Isabelle Knaute. It was with this trio that cooperation began after the failure of Vancouver, Alexander Legkov, the future winner of the marathon at the Sochi Games. The third then was Ilya Chernousov, who also worked in the international program.
After the success in 2014, Marcus’ group gradually began to increase in athleticism in order to prepare for the revision of the PyeongChang Games. Many of them have already come to the German instructor with serious achievements behind them: Olympic silver medalist Alexander Panzhinsky, world champion Alexei Petukhov and World Championship medalist, winner of the World Cup stages Evgeny Belov. But these athletes did not achieve improvements in their bodies.
However, Kramer’s relatively unsuccessful performance was offset by the brilliant performance of Sergei Ustyugov, who became a triumphant pre-Olympic season: a victory at the Tour de Ski, two golds and three silvers at the 2017 World Championships. At the Olympics, Ustyugov was not allowed to go to South Korea, but Yulia Belorukova (Stupak) sparkled there, winning two bronze medals (sprint and relay).
Despite this success, after the 2018 Olympics, Kramer’s wards began to leave the athletes from the Borodavko group. At two world championships and the Beijing Olympics, in individual form, the only medal won by Gleb Retivykh (bronze in the sprint at the 2019 World Championships). Most of the rest of the patients in the main races covered by skiers, Kramer did not train: Bolshunov, Nepryaeva, Terentyev, Spitsov are athletes from the Borodavko group.
Although Stupak and Ustyugov were able to win the Beijing relay titles, their performance in the individual races of the season is a mixed bag. The pace of victory that Kramer set began to fade.
“I wouldn’t leave her with Marcus”
During the Russian Championship in Syktyvkar, it became known that Markus Kramer would not be able to work with the team in the next case due to the decision to ban the consequences for his group.
By this time, the German teacher had, in fact, two athletes who compete at the world level: Ustyugov and Stupak. But if for the first the most successful years, unfortunately, are behind, then the 27-year-old Olympic champion in the relay race has not yet overcome her peak. The absence of a coach may indicate the appointment of an athlete, but Vyalbe believes that Kramer’s departure will play in favor.
– Yulia Stupak, if the Presidium illustrates, will be with Yuri Borodavko. This is partly a forced decision. On the other hand, I wouldn’t leave it with Marcus. If you hang out – yes. Showing results is another matter. And here it’s not about any claims to Marcus. It’s just that in his group Stupak there is no one to train with, there are no very talented girls, – Elena Valeryevna frankly admitted.
With Ustyugov, the case is more complicated, since the 29-year-old athleticism does not have plans for the preparation of other coaches because of his mental peculiarity. Vyalbe says that Sergey is “spoiled” and has problems with discipline, so no coach wants to take a skier to the team. His future is indeed uncertain.
The 12-year era of Cramer gave our team a lot: from bright Olympic victories to invaluable experience of working with an international team on an ongoing basis. But it is assumed that for the expected triumphs of Russia, it is worth moving on. And without Marcus.