Nadia Belova: I already have a plan in mind for the 2026 Olympic Games.

This year, under the guidance of Belova, the men's national team has made significant progress compared to the previous season and is currently even competing for positions in the top 5 of the Nations Cup – the maximum quota of 6 biathletes for the sprint and individual races in the upcoming World Cup season.

In an exclusive interview with "Champion", Nadiya Belova discussed why the European Championship is not a priority, the psychological and functional condition of Vitaliy Mandzin and Anton Dudchenko, as well as the two most desired goals for the competitive season 2025/26.

– Ms. Nadiya, did the relay in Antholz raise more questions or provide answers for you?

– It showed us what we need to work on. Overall, we are satisfied with this relay. However, there's always something to improve. Each of the guys performed to the best of their ability at the moment of the relay.

– The European Championship is coming up. Considering the health issues of Dmytro Pidrychniy, will there be changes in the relay team?

– For the European Championship, Tyschenko, Tkalenko, and Nasiko will definitely compete – they are already in Martell (the interview was recorded on January 26 – Note from "Champion"). Tsymbal will join them. On the other hand, Dudchenko, Mandzin, and Lesyuk will come only for the relay. Pidrychniy will not be there. We will determine the fourth athlete for the relay based on the results of the individual races. On February 2, we will leave for the race and return that same evening for training in Antholz.

– Previously, the men's team always participated significantly in the European Championship, but this year only in one race. Why is that?

– Firstly, we lost the fifth quota; we only have four people competing in the World Cup. Secondly, I see what is lacking in shooting and functional training. I need to correct this quickly, literally in 10 days – to rest and address all the issues. The European Championship takes me off track; it does not allow me to do this because you cannot approach it like a "control training."

I understand that our main focus is not the World Championship in 2025, but the Olympic Games in 2026. I already have a plan in mind for the Olympics and do not intend to compete with the main team at the European Championship next year (the European Championship 2026 will take place in Shushen, Norway, from January 26 to February 1 – Note from "Champion").

This year is tightly packed, with events happening back to back. Perhaps next season, some athletes will skip certain races, as they need to rest before the main event of the four-year cycle.

– This year, the training camp before the World Championship will be held in Antholz because there was a World Cup stage here to avoid travel, or because the Olympic Games will be held here next year, allowing athletes to acclimatize and better familiarize themselves with the course?

– Yes, absolutely, the most important factor is the altitude and the fact that this is an Olympic course.

– All the guys have noticeably improved their shooting this season, and the percentages are very good. In your opinion, what has helped the guys enhance this aspect?

– During the off-season, I analyzed shooting performance percentages. Throughout the training process, I observed what they were lacking: technique and psychology. I believe that 90% of shooting is psychological. When an athlete knows how to shoot, the accuracy is influenced solely by psychology. We must manage our thoughts during the shooting process. Take Mandzin, for example: we desire that zero for hours, but we don't think about how to achieve that zero.

One should not approach shooting emotionally; shooting does not favor emotions. Emotions can be present on the course, but shooting requires calmness, balance, and composure. I focused more on teaching the guys control. During the off-season, we worked extensively on emotional training so they could quickly make decisions on how to proceed to achieve that zero. Each training session allows us to assess the athlete's condition. In the evenings, I sit down and review our performance metrics, including shooting percentages and functional form, and so on.

– Has Vitaliy Mandzin surprised you this season?

– No. He is a very ambitious and hardworking guy. In fact, I have been working with him for less than a year, but I already see what he can achieve. We approach the starts realistically, considering the athlete's shooting and running capabilities, and we look at functional preparation. I saw that he has the potential to shoot those zeros. He possesses a character that enables him to fight until the end. During the summer training, I noticed that he genuinely could be a leader among the juniors (Vitaliy is 21 years old and can still compete at the junior level – Note from "Champion"), firstly. Secondly, I saw that he progresses with each training camp.

– Anton Dudchenko does not look as bright in the second trimester as he did in the first, due to illness. Do you have an understanding of how to handle such a situation?

– After his illness, we had to completely adjust Anton's training for the upcoming World Cups based on his health condition. I communicated with the doctor and then planned the training. I concluded that it is better to do less than to overdo it with an unclear impact on his health. He has had a tough time recovering from his illness: one day he feels okay, and the next day the aftereffects resurface. This instability has concerned me. He starts, finds it functionally difficult, and when functional performance is hard, shooting also suffers. Everything is interconnected. How you feel is how you perform.

It is also essential to understand that the entire group of athletes is experiencing a decline both morally and psychologically; they are tired – it is evident. I am confident that all the guys will improve. Dudchenko will gradually find his state and return to his best form. Not just him, but all the guys in general. It's challenging because there is practically no time for recovery: we arrive, have two days, and then we are already competing. There is not enough time to rest and conduct proper training.

– Is Taras Lesyuk officially the fourth member of the team?

– Yes. Initially, he showed good results in the IBU Cup, where he was the best among the entire team. Then, he demonstrated solid performance in the World Cup, securing his place in the team.

– Does Bogdan Tsymbal's absence from the races affect his competitive form?

– Yes. He is attending the European Championship to "get back into racing."

– What were your main goals as a coach at the start of the season?

– To regain the quota because we lack a fifth athlete and to achieve stability in shooting. I realized that the guys are agile; they can compete with the best, but as a realist, I must say – time is needed. For me, as a coach with years of experience, it is clear that joining the group two years before the Olympics is nonsense. More time is needed, the same four years. But I see that the guys can do it; they are motivated, and thanks to the group leader, Dmytro Pidrychniy, they are progressing. I am doing everything to ensure the best results and to see that we are not declining. The main thing is that there is no functional drop, and we need to ensure that it does not happen later.