Her presence in the World
Championships were in doubt, but Svetlana Mironova never stopped
believing. In the end, a bronze medal with golden streaks and a pair
of beautiful moments, here recalled with intensity and passion.
How was your training time? Did you
feel well prepared for the WOC? What goals have you drawn?
Svetlana Mironova (S. M.) - This
year was complicated. I planned a couple of Training Camps in
Scotland, but I was injured just before the first one, so I spent my
time there just walking. This injury took a lot of time finally and
my coach and I had doubts about the possibility to enter the WOC at
all. But we decided that we had to try. We had to change the
trainings in a way that my knee could recover well but at the same
time to follow the training program as much as possible. We had to
plan every training carefully! A couple of weeks before the WOC I was
still in doubt if I would be ready to compete or not, but my coach
made me believe in myself again.
Would you like to talk about your
bronze Medal in the Long Distance? Did you expect it?
S. M. - As I told you before, to
participate in the WOC was out of question three months ago. But I
wanted so much to run. Honestly, to get the Bronze this year was
finally more difficult than the Gold of last year. Not so many people
know what I went through this year but some of them who were going
this way with me tell me that this Bronze is “in gold colours”.
Yes, this Bronze is so important. It is a victory over me and over my
injury.
And what about the 13tht place in
the Sprint? What feelings do you keep from the race?
S. M. - Actually, this is my
best WOC-sprint! I have only one better sprint result which is the
EOC 2012, where I was 7th. This year I was selected for all
individual races and forest-relay. But I needed to think well what I
wanted more: to run everything or to run better. My injury made me
choose. My coach and I decided to refuse to run the Middle Distance
to let me recover better before the Relay. I think it was a good
decision. We built the WOC program as a “stair”, every step from
Sprint Qualification until the Long Distance being tougher and
tougher. I knew that I wouldn't win the Sprint so I decided that I
needed to do almost perfect orienteering at the maximum speed I can
run in the city. And even with a 12 seconds mistake I’m quite
satisfied, because I was better than last year when I was in better
shape (last year I was behind the top 20 in Sprint). I like sprint,
its dynamic and beauty. And I’m sure that my Middle is waiting for
me too.
How do you feel about the “mp”
in the Relay?
S. M. - Relay was a bad
surprise! Russian women’s team has never been disqualified before.
We started well with Natalia, she was extremely fast and even with a
really big mistake she came in 2nd place. I knew that I needed to run
a clear race with no mistakes, first of all. But another thing
happened – my SI “touch free” was broken after the 1st control.
I lost some seconds at 2nd control misunderstanding what happened and
then I needed to punch every control by the normal way. So, I
understood that I was losing seconds because of that and I needed to
be faster. Finally, I came 2nd with the same advantage over the third
team (I won’t speak about the Danish, they were extremely fast).
Something happened with Tatiana, I don’t know what, she is really
the most experienced runner in our team… but things happen, and
this is a Relay, always unpredictable. At first, after she finished,
we were shocked but then I decided that there was already nothing we
could do and the most important thing should be to keep energy and
emotions for the Long Distance. So, we just forgot it. I was
satisfied with my 2nd leg because I realized that I could run as fast
as other strong girls and it was important for me that day.
What motivation do these results
represent for the future?
S. M. - I wouldn’t like to
make the question this way. Orienteering is my life now and I want to
continue, to improve. I’d like to do it the best way. Just because
I like my life.
What about the Russian team?
Overall, what results do you highlight?
S. M. - This was a difficult
year for our team. But I see that my team mates are really
hard-working. We were happy to watch the Sprint Mixed Relay where we
got an almost impossible Bronze. It was so great and I’m proud of
Galina [Vinogradova], who did a great job at the last leg.
How do you rate the WOC 2015 from a
technical and organizational point of view?
S. M. - Well… amazing! I think
these were the most “TV-highlighted” championships ever. From the
spectator’s point of view, it was really well organized. Every race
was set with a tough end, which is better visible for spectators. A
lot of cameras, running operators (even so far away from the Arena at
Long!), I think TV broadcasts were the most interesting ever! Another moment is the way from
Quarantine to Pre-start at the Long Distance. One of the buses fell
into the ditch and that made it impossible to drive other buses to
Pre-start, so we walked 20 minutes on foot. But what can I say? It
was the only way to organize the course at this really unique
terrain! So, no complaints!
If I asked you a moment - the great
achievement of the Championships -, what would your choice be?
S. M. - The title of the WOC
achievement I’d like to give to the moment (really, a moment) of
admiration when I came to the highest point of the first long leg at
the Long Distance and saw the beautiful landscape of surroundings –
forrestless mountains with small areas of snow not melting even in
August, brightly green in the sun. I saw that only one second because
I needed to continue the race but even this second made me admire the
wonderful nature of the northern Scotland! (Sorry for the runners who
chose the right route, they couldn’t see it).
Honestly, I’d like to notice that the
terrain of Long Distance that has been offered this year is really
unique. It was the most challenging and demanding day of the WOC,
first of all, a terrain without roads, an extremely tough ground. It
was really great and I’d even like to make the women’s course
also for 1hour30min winner time, as in men’s course. So, I’d like
to announce Glen Affric as the Achievement of WOC 2015!
The season is approaching an end.
What are the goals for what remains of the season?
S. M. - I’d like to spend the
last part of season with my preparation for the CISM in which I’ll
participate this year. It will be an exciting trip and, I hope, a
great experience too.
[Foto: Team Russia Orienteering /
facebook.com/TeamRussiaO]
Joaquim Margarido
