Alexey Avdokhin - about the German coach Markus Kramer.
Who is Marcus Kramer?
54-year-old German coach entered the headquarters Russian skiers in the fall of 2015. Prior to that, he had a contract with the German Ski Union and secret cooperation with Alexander Legkov (about five years), who worked not only according to the plans of Burgemeister and Knaute, but also according to Kramer's notes.
Who did Kramer work with before Russia?
The launch of his coaching career in the late 90s coincided with the advent of the eccentric Johann Mühlegg in German skiing. Over the next two decades, Kramer crossed paths with almost all the Bundesgrands; eTobias Angerer (4x Olympic medalist), Jens Filbrich (7 World Championship medals), Rene Sommerfeldt (silver 2001 World Cup in the marathon), Axel Teichmann (two wins at the World Cup) collaborated with Kramer at some time.
Later there was a short job in Italy and a contract with the Swiss during the heyday of Dario Cologna (until 2010). Then another five years - in his native team with young people, who are now trying to return glory and honor to German skiing - Jonas Dobler, Peter Charnke, Lucas Begl.
Who brought Kramer to Russia?
The phone call from physiotherapist Isabelle Knaute found Kramer as he moved from Switzerland to the German Ski Association in the summer of 2010. Isabelle got a job in Russia a few days before the uncompromising Elena Vyalbe took her throne, and offered Marcus to work with Legkov, who was looking for a change in a stalled career.
Kramer agreed, but wanted to meet with the leadership of Russian skis. A couple of months later, Vyalbe invited the German to secret negotiations at Sheremetyevo airport - an agreement was born there that Legkov would prepare for the new season according to Kramer's notes. But as part of the Russian national team.
Later, the German convinced Vyalbe of the need individual work with Legkov and suggested in personal trainers former student of Reto Burgermeister, who recently completed ski career and worked as a bicycle guide in a Swiss sports shop.
Vyalbe and the head of the Center sports training Alexander Kravtsov agreed, but demanded to load Legkov's group with three more skiers - Chernousov, Devyatyarov and Kravtsov's son-in-law - Novikov.
When did Kramer and Ustyugov know about each other's existence?
Perhaps earlier, but it all started after the Olympic nightmare in Sochi, where Ustyugov fell in the sprint finals, and he was not entrusted with other races. That season Ustyugov was extremely agitated and asked not to be reminded of the problems.
Having barely completed the season of torment, Ustyugov called Vyalba and confronted her with the fact of joining the Burgermeister and Knaute group. To escape from the close sprint role, no matter how the president of the federation opposed it, it was only possible in this way - and in the new Olympic cycle Ustyugov met Kramer and his training programs in absentia.
The results came almost immediately - Ustyugov finally hit the podium in the long race (15 km at the stage in Rybinsk), and a year later he became the winner of the Tour de Ski. Then they started talking about him seriously as the main hope of Russian skis.
When Ustyugov began training with Kramer
In September 2016, almost a year after Kramer's official move to Russia, news suddenly flashed - three skiers who had trained with Burgermeister and Knaute moved to Kramer, and their former group disbanded. One of these skiers was Ustyugov.
There were rumors about dissatisfaction with the volume of past and future loads, about strained relationships with coaches, but neither Ustyugov, nor Belov and Volzhentsev explained the reason for such a decision for a long time.
Only in January, having already won the Tour de Ski with one wicket, Ustyugov admitted that Knaute and Burgermeister often had to listen to reproaches for laziness and unprofessionalism, no matter how hard work was done. There were so many quarrels that I had to run away.
What is the secret of Kramer's workouts
Kramer uses complex methodology, in which a lot is taken from the Norwegian system - individual programs for each athlete, constant communication in search of feedback.
Everyone who came into contact with Kramer at work noted a scrupulous attitude towards planning and scientific support. His training programs Analyzed by experts from the Leipzig Science and Sports Institute (by the way, CSP analyst Yegor Sorin works as Kramer's assistant), there is a constant monitoring of lactate (some skiers even wondered why in previous seasons blood was taken 2-3 times per season, and under Kramer almost daily), and athletes are constantly being offered new exercises.
However, Kramer does not torment the team with overloads: the same Ustyugov is still doing about 900-950 hours of training per year - the standard for a skier of his age.
- We have no secrets. We train hard and hard, and we have adopted some of the Norwegian system. My approach is to develop more personalized programs and communicate well with each athlete. It is very important to receive feedback and to engage in ongoing dialogue. This is what I changed on the team.
I made it clear that Russian skiers can be the best without doping. You can beat the Norwegians without cheating. Now athletes understand this. We are no better than Norway, but we are getting closer to it.
You can take Ustyugov as an example of how hard they work. He hasn't been home since November 6th. He does everything to be as good a skier as possible. He sacrificed his home life to succeed, because it is better to train in the Nordic and Central European countries than in Russia. It's too cold there.
What did Kramer give Ustyugov and Russian skiing?
Belief in one's own strength - perhaps the main changes took place in Ustyugov's head. He finally gained calmness and confidence, turned into a self-sufficient skier who is not afraid of anyone or anything, but on the contrary - looks at those around him slightly condescendingly, from the height of the strongest.
site / Winter sport. The coach of the Russian national cross-country skiing team, Markus Kramer, has assured that he is ready to sign a new labor agreement with the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation.
IOC President Thomas Bach is your compatriot, and you can judge him not only in terms of how he is perceived in Russia.
In Germany he is under pressure from the press. I perfectly understand that it was difficult for him to make a decision on our team in Pyeongchang. It really was a tough choice. But why did the athletes suffer as a result of this choice? As far as I understand from communication with our lawyers, ultimately no one really knows what happened there in Sochi. Personally, it sounds more like science fiction to me. I myself was not at that Olympics, but all my athletes say: no one offered us doping, we did not pass clean urine beforehand and did not even hear about any substitutions. I am one hundred percent sure that they are telling the truth.
- Have you regretted your decision to work in Russia? After all, including your reputation was under threat.
Not a drop. I have known Legkov for many years. I have never seen an athlete in my life who would train with such dedication as he did. He works in every workout, not even one hundred, but one hundred and ten percent. When I had the opportunity to work with him and with Ilya Chernousov, I had no doubts.
- By the way, about Chernousov. How do you feel about the words of Wart, who suspected him of slander?
We talked about this with Borodavko, and he claims that the journalists misunderstood him. It's crazy for me to even suggest something like that. Last year we seriously discussed that Chernousov would start training in my group. We met, I showed him our entire training plan. My only condition was that he strictly followed it. The option "I will go to this training camp and not the next one" did not suit, because then other athletes in the group would want the same conditions for themselves.
- In the end, Chernousov himself refused to work with you?
Yes, and I understand him perfectly. He has a family in Switzerland Small child, biathlete wife ... Ilya thought for several weeks and made his choice. No offense, this is his life and he has every right to do as he sees fit.
- Are you going to renew your contract after the Olympics?
The decision will be made by Vyalbe, but personally everything suits me. Your team has really become a second family for me. Not only athletes, but also a service team. These guys plow 12 hours a day so that we have best skis... I would be happy to stay and try to take one more step forward together. A step towards becoming the best in the world.
Sergei Ustyugov's mentor, German specialist Markus Kramer, talks about how a Russian skier is going to prepare for the World Championship, Alexander Legkov's "cleanliness" and Norwegian asthmatics.
If you think that after winning the most tense stage race, which replaced his New Year's Eve, you finally celebrated all the festive events at once, you are mistaken. The very next morning after the conquest of the Alpes de Cermis, the team was to move to Toblach, to the site of the next stage of the World Cup. And therefore - "we'll just sit in the bar for a while, everything is very modest" - as he said. And even then, the lion's share of these gatherings was taken by the distribution of interviews.
"USTYUGOV WAS NEEDED AT LEAST A MINUTE ADVANTAGE ON THE MOUNTAIN"
Markus, Ustyugov set off for the final climb, having 1 minute 12 seconds of advantage over the Norwegian. In all honesty, were you sure that this advantage is no longer recouped?
A few more races before the finish of the "Tour" I said that Sergei needs at least a minute of advantage on the mountain to feel calm. That would be enough to hedge against poor health, lubrication errors, and the like. But in the end, Sergei didn't even need that. When I saw him at the top, it became obvious that he was feeling fine and would never give up the victory.
- What did you talk about with him before this ascent?
I asked Sergei not to start too quickly. But at the same time, on the gently sloping part, which took about 3-4 kilometers, I planned a slight acceleration for him. On this stretch, we wanted to beat Sundby a few more seconds to make him nervous. And so it happened: by the start of the climb, Ustyugov's advantage reached 1 minute 14 seconds, which made it clear to the Norwegian: you are not approaching, but even vice versa. And already from the first movements of Sergei up the hill, I realized that everything would be fine.
Ustyugov won six out of seven races at this stage. Did you expect such a phenomenal performance from your student?
Of course not. Before the "Tour" we had a very high quality ten-day training camp in Toblach. The guys completely complied with mine training plans, the weather was fine, everyone was healthy. After that, I thought that Ustyugov was ready to fight for a place on the podium of the stage race, like last year. But I had no idea that he would be able to perform so strongly.
"A HUNDRED PERCENTAGE IS SURE OF" LEGKOV'S CLEANLINESS "
Ustyugov emphasized in almost every interview that this victory was for Russian skiers suspended from competitions. Do you think any of them could also have taken a place on the podium of the Tour de Ski if they got the right to compete?
Of course. If a few days before the start of the multi-day you asked me who, judging by the training, will be the best in Russian team, I would say - this. He was on the podium at the World Cup in La Clouse and was in excellent condition. It was a shock for all of us that the guys were forced to stay at home. Therefore, Sergei spoke about this in an interview.
As a foreign specialist who did not work in a team during the Olympic Games in Sochi, after this story with scratches on test tubes, did you have any doubts about your own students? Have you asked them questions, tried to find out what really happened during the home Olympics?
Conversations that Legkov may have some kind of problems have been going on in the Russian press for a long time. But I have known Alex for many years and I am one hundred percent sure that he was and remains a "clean" athlete. I saw and know how he trains, how he treats his body. It is not clear to me how an athlete can be responsible for what happens to his doping test after it has been sealed and handed over to the doping controller? Is this fair and is the responsibility of the athlete?
- You said that you are one hundred percent sure of Legkov's purity. And what about the other five distant skiers?
I can only be responsible for the athletes who have trained with me. As a team, we talked about this, of course. And the guys said: "Markus, we didn’t accept anything, we don’t know anything, we have no idea what was happening there in Sochi." You can check: all the guys from my group had negative doping tests before, during and after the Olympics. It's hard for me to understand why people who have never tested positive and were "clean" are no longer eligible to speak.
How do you feel about the problem of Norwegian asthmatics and personally about Martin Sundby, who was disqualified for an overdose of his prescribed medication? Double Olympic champion from Poland, Justyna Kowalczyk, for example, called Ustyugov almost the only healthy athlete on the tour.
I am a trainer and not an expert in such matters. Now I also have to read a lot, study all the information that appears in order to form my own opinion. So far, it seems to me that the rules should be clearer and more understandable for everyone. What exactly can be taken, in what dosage, during a competition or only during the training period ... But believe me, I would gladly discuss only my work, and not all these matters that cause great harm to the reputation of our sport.
"IN KOREA ATHLETES DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO"
The World Championship in Lahti starts on 22 February. Do you have a plan on how to keep Ustyugov's current super-form for another month and a half?
When you are working with an athlete, it is very difficult to plan something. More precisely, the plan can be one, and then the reality is completely different. Now it is important for Sergey to recover as quickly as possible after the "Tour". He will perform at the next stage of the World Cup in Toblach, then we will hold a training camp in Austria, we will perform at the World Cup stage in Falun and again we will sit down for a training camp, now in Norway. There I plan to include speed training and the direct line to the world championship. The plan seems to me to be good, but now it is important that nothing prevents it from being carried out.
- Do I understand correctly that you are not planning a trip to Pyeongchang for the pre-Olympic week?
No, I think that the leading athletes have nothing to do there. There are too many flights. It is enough for servicemen to get acquainted with the track. It is important for them to understand in advance what is the structure of the snow, what about the weather and the like. A week of training before the competition is enough for athletes to adapt. It makes no sense to carry them that far for a whole year before the Olympics.
The first coach of Ustyugov, Ivan Bragin, said that he was ready to easily sacrifice the fight for victory in the overall World Cup for the sake of Lahti gold. Do you share this approach?
Of course. The title of a medalist or, moreover, a world champion is much more important than a place in the overall standings of the World Cup. The World Championships are held only once every two years, this is the peak point of any season. For me personally, this is the most prestigious thing this year.
One of Ustyugov's previous mentors, Isabelle Knaute, called Sergei the most talented athlete she has ever worked with. Will you subscribe to this statement?
Sergei is definitely a great talent. But also, for example, Legkov and Belov are also very gifted. Ustyugov is distinguished, first of all, by his versatility - he is very good at sprinting and at distance, in skating and in classics. Units all over the world are endowed with this quality equally well to run anything -,. Ustyugov has every chance to stand on a par with them.
- Is it true that Sergei has a complex character and it is not easy to work with him in training?
It is very important for me that the athlete does not just mechanically perform the work, but also think. Every time I say why we are doing this or that exercise, what goal can be achieved with it. Sergei is always very interested in such explanations. In addition, he is extremely motivated, asks questions, for example, on the technique of movement, in everything he tries to achieve the ideal. Personally, it is very easy for me to work with such a person.
The name of the German coach Markus Kramer is hardly known to a wide range of people, but in the world of cross-country skiing, it is very popular. This specialist has brought up several strong athletes, his students have demonstrated the highest results at major and prestigious competitions. One of these wards is the Swiss Dario Cologna, who won gold at Olympic Games in Vancouver.
For the past few years, Kramer has been working with the Russian national team. And now he is preparing the team, including Alexander Legkov and Yevgeny Belov, who were suspended from participation in the Games for life, for the start of the new Olympic season. The first stage of the World Cup will take place in Finland from 24 to 26 November, but so far the group is working in the Swedish Gallivare, where from 17 to 19 November competitions will be held under the auspices of International Federation skiing(FIS). Colonya is planning to perform at this tournament, as well as a three-time Olympic champion Markus Helner from Sweden and world champion Alex Harvey from Canada.
Russian skiers are disqualified by the International the Olympic Committee(IOC), but they have the right to participate in competitions under the auspices of the FIS, so they will compete on an equal basis with everyone at the tournament in Gällivar, Sweden.
In between intense training RT managed to communicate with Kramer, who did not hide his indignation about decisions taken in relation to Russian skiers.
“There is no doping - only their hard work! They are very motivated and work hard. Skiers go through so many doping tests - before, during and after the season! Actually, literally this morning, the anti-doping service officers took samples from us. We have no problems with doping! " - assured the German specialist.
- Training of Russian skiers led by Kramer
“I have been training them since 2010, when Alexander Legkov first approached me after the Vancouver Olympics. Any modern coach constantly takes samples from his athletes. It is absolutely impossible that they could at some point take doping, and I did not pay attention to the results of their analyzes and did not suspect anything. The decision of the IOC Disciplinary Commission is based on the testimony of Grigory Rodchenkov, who told how he prepared cocktails from anabolic steroids for athletes, including for my skiers. But in our sport, there is no sense in such cocktails, any specialist will tell you this. And to accept this just before the Olympics is sheer madness, ”said the coach of the Russian team.
At a distance of 50 km at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Legkov took first place, and Maxim Vylegzhanin became the second. However, the IOC canceled their results. As a result, the title of champion passed to the Russian Ilya Chernousov, who took third place. Kramer believes that a situation in which one athlete takes doping, and his compatriot does not, is impossible.
“We spend 250 days a year on training, travel and competitions, mostly outside of Russia. Over the past few years, my athletes have been tested for doping dozens of times, and the results have always been negative. Legkov underwent a thorough doping test immediately upon arrival in Sochi. The IOC took medals from him and Vylegzhanin. It turns out that the champion title should go to Chernousov. But this is absurd: Ilya and Legkov trained side by side for four years! Can you imagine that one would be doping while the other was not? Everyone is talking about urine samples taken during the Sochi Olympics. But in addition to this, blood was taken from the athletes for analysis. What happened to these samples? Have they been checked? And if so, where are the results? " - Cramer wonders.
Opponents of the German specialist may well argue that Kramer is protecting the Russians because they are paying him. The coach has an answer to such comments.
“If anyone has any suspicions, I invite everyone to come to our training base and see what we are doing there. There is no dope and there never was! If someone tested positive, if someone was caught doping, this, of course, can and should be condemned. But if the tests do not show the presence of doping and have never shown it, then making suspects clean athletes is a very bad practice, ”he said.
- Russian skiers in training
Kramer is trying to find an answer to the question of who might benefit from the removal of Russian skiers. Initially, he ruled out a political motive in this story.
“Now it seems to me that someone is looking for an excuse to exclude Russia from participating in the Olympic Games. At the same time, it does not matter what exactly it will be possible (or will not be possible) to dig up. Athletes in this case are just pawns, the least protected. But catching one athlete is not enough to exclude an entire country from the competition. So they are trying to remove as many athletes as possible and settled on skiers. I would not want to be like them and make accusations against anyone without having convincing evidence on hand. But if you read and hear about corruption in the IOC, how sports functionaries took bribes for the right to host the Olympics in a particular city ... How can you trust such people from this system to judge athletes? " - asks Kramer a rhetorical question.