In the material distributed today by the press service of the WFTU, head coach of Russia Natalia Ivanova talks about the challenges facing the Russian delegation in Enoshima (Japan):
In the preOlympic week we feature eight athletes. Plus there is training Eugene Aivazian (RS:X), and the beginning of Ivanov. – The weather is very hot, with high humidity – an incredibly harsh conditions, both physically and functionally. So no one from our team ever faced. Until now the hottest event was held in Oman – a comprehensive world Cup, but it was dry, so all were transported much easier.
Exhausting weather conditions greatly affect the results, in this regard, of paramount importance is the process of acclimatization. Temporary acclimatization is our guys pretty easily and quickly – just two or three days and everything feels fine, logged into a rhythm. But acclimatization to the weather conditions – very heavy. Now, the second half of the regatta, all feel incredibly tired, everybody’s against this background, it’s just nerves… But I must say, some of our guys cope with the situation heroically.
Stefania Elfwina probably suffer from the heat. This is because the nature of the class RS:X, which are allowed to “paddle” in the gentle breeze. In strong wind, when the athletes wet from the water, easy. But in a weak… the Other classes in the gentle breeze, not much work physically – it’s a head should think, not to overheat.
The team is in Japan with a large research team which conducts various studies. The project is called “Adaptation”. This is a project of the Russian Olympic Committee. Research is conducted in order to more successfully plan for the final stage of preparations for the Olympic games 2020. To know the individual characteristics of each athlete to display some patterns.
Take attention – we took a clear pattern. One group arrived in Japan on July 26 for the world championship in the 470 class, the other came on August 8. So, between them there was a huge difference in the first four days. Especially very different as morning.
Monitoring functionality. So, was made to test all the guys before flying here, and now experts are watching on what day the athletes will come to its baseline condition, which was normal for them in Moscow.
Also continuously measured the body temperature of athletes – non-stop 24 hours a day. And I must say that the class RS:X when the athletes are on the water, the body temperature is rises above 39.5 degrees, which is very dangerous. This is evident in athletes: after one of the races Stefania was just in a semiconscious state. Was even thinking if it will be better to withdraw from the next race. Stephania not alone – with several riders had the same thing. With these conditions the athletes during the competition we had never met.
For this reason, there were two meetings of the medical Commission. And coaches – including us – have struggled to the event allowed the athletes to at least not wear during the race vests and t-shirts provided by the organizers. In order to reduce, at least by degrees, body temperature. The result was a modified sailing instructions, and Stephanie said that it has become much easier.
Hopefully, the Olympic games, the organizers will consider this experience. We share our data with the medical Commission of the international Federation to work together to protect athletes from the risk.
As for the waters Enoshima, it is also very specific. Talk with many foreign colleagues, and everybody, even those who have serious meteorologists work, the same Danes, they say that it is very hard to predict the weather. Strong racers suddenly show weak results, and their coaches are puzzled, do not understand what is happening. Most of the riders, even the leaders just get lost…
A great influence on the local conditions render local features (very rugged coastline), plus there are such strong factors as the heated mainland Asia and the ocean. There are plenty of global processes and overlapping local features.
We conduct research, do their measurements, trying to get some patterns. We study the forecasts and provide comprehensive scientific data group that in reality was on the course. All reconcilable, trying to figure out what predictions work better what is the uncertainty in which direction the offset and so on.
Plus, Enoshima very unusual wave. For example, after the Typhoon, which was held in the first day of racing at the pre-Olympic weeks, the wave was such that some racers, for example, in Windsurfing, just fell – it was too hard. Not our riders, thank God… But the same Elfwine says well it is very hard to control the Board because of the very steep waves. Guys who have not formed the race, complain that can’t adapt to such conditions.
Conclusion: in Enoshima need to spend a lot of time to train, train and train. Teams that have the opportunity, it has long been doing. We are planning next year before the Olympics at least one more trip in Enoshima. So I hope our athletes will have another opportunity to “get used”.
The preparation of the next plan year, taking into account these circumstances very similar to this area. And even during winter training will try to simulate such a wave. There are several places with more or less similar conditions, will do our best to include them in the training plan.
As for the sports part of the regatta in Enoshima, then here came the strongest racers – about 90% of those who will be participating in the Games-2020. This is a very good opportunity to see the balance of power at the moment. There is still time to correct something, somewhere to make the leap that we will try to make next year.
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What do you think?