Isinbayeva loses her coach

[Mecham]

You talked on the phone with Petrov?!?

[roger/over]

Beg pardon, but shouldn't that subject line have been:

Isinbayeva Looses Her Coach

[BruceFlorman]

Beg pardon, but shouldn't that subject line have been:

Isinbayeva Looses Her Coach

Possibly. There's obviously some major hard feelings involved. There was another interview with Yevgeny Trofimov published in yesterday's Sovetskiy Sport, and a bunch of bridges appear to have gone up in flame.

As usual, take my translations with a grain of salt. Some of the Russian idioms leave me completely clueless (like the headline for example), but here's how I read it:

05 December 2005, 12:55

Yevgeny Trofimov: Isinbayeva did not endure the trial of copper pipes

The former trainer of Yelena Isinbayeva, Yevgeniy Trofimov, with whom the sportswoman achieved 18 world records, described in an interview for "Moskovskomu Komsomoltsu", the relationship with his former ward, the reasons for their break, and what lies ahead. We present the most interesting excerpts from this interview.

- Who is guilty, Yevgeny Vasilyevich?

- On me there is no fault. I think Lena herself created the circumstances when on 25 September she called and said: "Yevgeny Vasilyevich, on the 20th I arrived, tomorrow I will not come to training; for the next week and a half to two weeks I will be occupied with problems." – "Lena, if we thus swing, then we can not begin the program of preparation". – "Well, when I arrive we will have a talk about everything." – "Alright, of course". But on the telephone I briefly presented to her the program of future preparation. First of November she comes without her sport bag. "Yevgeny Vasilyevich, excuse me, I will be trained in Volgograd no more, I will work with you no more." – "Lena, how, why?.." – "Of course, with you I have no grievance, you are a class trainer." – "You understand, I gave eight years of my life to you, I gave you my soul." But she said: "And I return it to you."

- What did you say after this?

- I was simply overwhelmed with this agitation... She reached the Olympic summits and came to the attention of many influential people. She brilliantly passed fire and water, but she did not endure the trial of copper pipes. There are other people-loach [an insult? A loach is a fish – BF], who now spin themselves near to her, their influence. They pursue their own material benefit. Indeed Lena is not leading, she – slave. She easily yields to suggestion.

- And nevertheless, you quarreled?

- There was no conflict with me – this is conflict with the conscience. I was always demanding: if you are a professional, you must be to the end. And several times, I didn’t conceal, I made observations to Lena. She became very nervous. She attempted to provoke scandals. I tolerated them, even hid from husbands. [What?!?] Earlier prior to the start of leaving to herself, she was occupied with meditation, tuning; I gave her special films – her record leaps, this started, and she left, already prepared to jump well. But the latter starts – like a washcloth she left: in Moscow, Shanghai and Yokohama, where she generally gripped the wheel. These were the leaps of a person whose head was oppressed by another matter.

- You did not attempt nevertheless to convince her not to tear up your union?

- In the latter half year she came to this decision. She concluded an advertising contract with one firm, and she began to untwist. When they present you in the specific foreshortening... And she went to all interviews: I am most beautiful, I am most charming, I want to be filmed in Hollywood – and, I think, my charm for this will be sufficient, others work hard, but I fly, I was created by God for high flights...

- Do you curse the moment when you introduced Lena to Sergey Bubka?

- I did not introduce them. Their acquaintance occurred in Sydney. I was not nearby – she approached Bubka herself and asked to photograph. Then in Munich, when she was already on the pedestal, Sergey approached her himself. Then again – at the World Championship in Budapest. Well and further this continued. Bubka always there, always in cadre. Do you know what bothered me most of all, when sent the first responses to our break? "Yelena Isinbayeva left from her trainer, since from him ended motivation." We made nine world records in the year, she jumped five meters, 5.01 - with a reserve of fifteen centimeters. She should jump 5.20-5.25 – this is her level, for which she is prepared even now. And from me ended motivation? This is a lie. Another motivation appeared for her. Not sport.

- And indeed Bubka himself once scandalously left his trainer?

- Yes, he establishes eighteen world records and then departs. Lena does the same. And for sure Sergey said to her: "What do you fear? I left from my trainer – and nevertheless grew!" That’s correct, he grew, because in him was placed such mad potential that he could be trained by a metalworker or gynecologist. You know, when we took the five meter height in London, Bubka approached with the face of man, to whom I climbed into the pocket. [Huh?] Certainly he wanted to participate in this event. But indeed I rescued Sergey Nazarovich very healthily, when his tournament was stale, and in January of 2003 he phoned: "I greatly implore you that Lena should come, because my tournament is not very expressive..." But after this baseness, he never called. I called myself; I wanted to pose only one question: How are you with your conscience? He said: "Yes? Who? Excuse me, the sound is very bad; I’ll call you back." He hung up the phone and no longer answered.

- Now Lena is being trained by Vitaliy Petrov, who was deserted by Bubka himself. Why did Petrov take her?

- I wanted to learn this myself. Bubka proposed to several trainers to work with Isinbayeva; they refused; they understood they cannot. But indeed he [Petrov] and I were friends until this history. When for very long Bubka left from him, Vitaliy Afanasevich wrote letters to me, and when they encountered each other, he was indignant: here the new trainer will go, using the results of my work! But now he repeats the same.

- Did he call you?

- The phone hasn’t rung. And I haven’t called. I await. He could say: "Excuse me, Yevgeny Vasilyevich, you understand, here is this situation, well, man is weak, well, fovgive me!" He concealed. I will say nothing about his conscience, but there must be some ethics among trainers?

- Do you feel that the morale of Isinbayeva did not suffer?

- I think she does not feel guilt; I understood that she steps over people and goes further. In 2002 I was already warned about this, but then I was not ready to accept it. She without any explanations parted with her splendid manager, the Hungarian. He was in shock; he asked me: "Lena first leaves from me, next – you!" Apparently, this person acts like a rocket, which as it goes upward discards its boosters. After our conversation she left and has not called back. The telephone is available. She requested through her parents that I return her poles. I returned them.

- You do not find for Lena any justifications?

- None.

- Financial problems sound already like the primary version of your break.

- This is simply foolish. I took 15 percent. That’s the minimum. But why is it larger? This is completely normal for Volgograd. Never nothing was discussed, I arrived to Moscow by necessity, and all international departures – from Sheremetyevo [airport] – with her money, but poles were transported, at half price.

- You had no with contract Isinbayeva?

- None. And it’s not only me, but all trainers. And treachery goes on at different levels – from the Olympic champions to the masters. Two people here are now enticed into Moscow.

- But here now for the [national] team you will be responsible for the polevaultings...

- There will be one condition: that for me there will be no contact with Isinbayeva.

- You encountered her here. Did you greet?

- Naturally, I am not a savage. I will say nothing. Everything is already said. But the main thing - everything is already done.

- For Lena now maybe, in your view, there will be complications in the sports world?

- No one will be throwing or scratching her, but they told me that her get-together does not greatly assume. Indirectly Lena drove away entire my bench of athletes. I now do not have anyone, all my time was given to Isinbayeva. You know, indeed she once threatened me: I will take and will leave you! I answered: then your image will be completely soiled, because no one can say anything poor about me, everyone knows me. She says: "About me also. I am good, Putin loves me... " Lena – this is an iceberg, I saw only the above-water part.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the soap opera plays out.

[BruceFlorman]

I figured the full text of the Vyes sport interview would eventually turn up, but it took a couple of days for me to locate it.

Yelena Isinbayeva: "I am not running from Russia"

20.12.2005

Olympic champion of polevaulting, Yelena Isinbayeva, in the past month astonished everyone, after leaving her long-standing trainer, Yevgeny Trofimov, and subsequently going abroad from her native Volgograd to the former trainer to Sergey Bubka, Vitaliy Petrov. For a long time the famous sportswoman declined to comment on her actions. And only now, when passions have calmed themselves down a little, she agreed especially for "Izvestia" to answer questions from Andrey Mitkov, the editor in chief of the agency for sport information "Vyes' sport". This is the first detailed interview with Isinbayeva after the turning-point in her career.

Izvestia: The most important question: why you did leave from Trofimov?

Yelena Isinbayeva: With Yevgeny Vasilyevich I attained everything, what only it is possible to dream. I became the European and world champion. I won in the Olympic games. 18 times I renewed world records. Finally, I was the first to overcome the height of 5.00 meters. And I understood at some moment that to me it is required after such stunning successes, new motivation, the new strong desire to create, namely creation I consider sport as a whole and polevaulting in particular. In this situation the change of trainer I calculated as a normal act, necessary for achievement of new apexes"

Izvestia: There was some concrete episode, when you decided: that’s all, I’m leaving?

Isinbayeva: There was not. The decision to change my trainer arrived not in one day... I never make decisions rashly. Before saying or doing something, I think much, I weigh, I am advised.

Izvestia: By who were you advised this time?

Isinbayeva: By my closest people – my parents and sister. When everything was explained, they understood and they supported me. The decision to part with Trofimov was not light, but in this situation was the only one possible and even necessary.

Izvestia: They say "financial component" played a role in parting with your trainer...

Isinbayeva: This is not true. I was not offended by Trofimov’s money.

Izvestia: Still they indicate that you grew tired of the constant control from the side of your trainer.

Isinbayeva: "Control" sounds too hard. Yevgeny Vasilyevich did not constantly check upon me, but he always prompted about how it was necessary for me to act in various situations. Not only in sport, but also in life.

Izvestia: Did you part with Trofimov in an amicable way or with scolding?

Isinbayeva: In an amicable way. After making the decision, I immediately met with Yevgeny Vasilyevich, and explained everything to him. I said that I am sincerely grateful for everything that he did for me.

Izvestia: However, he is bitter toward you. And in his interviews he is not so correct to you as you to him.

Isinbayeva: I have no claims against Yevgeny Vasilyevich, no offences. Even after his interview. In spite of his stories, I did not "run off", but I proceeded in the manner that I calculated to be necessary. Before departing to the pre-season gathering in Monaco, I placed in my reputation about my decision of all, to whom this should have been known.

Izvestia: Trofimov considers that from the true course you were brought down by Sergey Bubka...

Isinbayeva: Bubka does not have any relation to this happening. For all of my decisions I accept independent responsibility.

Izvestia: And how do you now work with Petrov?

Isinbayeva: To work with a professional is always easy and pleasant.

Izvestia: Do you already feel some changes, progress?

Isinbayeva: Prior to the official starts it is early to speak about this. Let us see!

Izvestia: Should the continuation of your phenomenal series of world records be expected?

Isinbayeva: At all competitions I set for myself only maximal goals. True, it is not always possible to attain them. But I will try.

Izvestia: Who now comprises your team? Indeed you parted not only with Trofimov, but also with your manager...

Isinbayeva: My team now - these are my trainer Vitaliy Petrov, my Swedish manager Daniel Vesfold and the Podium company, headed by Andreas Metzler.

Izvestia: Do you consider the question about a change of sport citizenship?

Isinbayeva: I never even thought about this! As before at all competitions I will defend the honor of Russia and my native Volgograd.

Izvestia: Does this mean that information about your move to a constant place of residence in Sergey Bubka's native land - in Donetsk does not correspond to reality?

Isinbayeva: Absolutely!

Izvestia: What country, what city will now become your place for constant dislocation?

Isinbayeva: This will depend on my training and competing program. As you already know, I attended the first pre-seasonal gathering in Monaco. Now I am found at the second gathering in Italy. The third and final will pass in Donetsk. And there, in Donetsk, I participate in the first start of the season - traditional "Stars of the Pole" on 12 February. 18 February - tournament "Norwich Union Grand-Prix" which I also love. 3 March - "Gaz de France" in Paris. And finally, the World Indoor Championships in Moscow on 10-12 March. My winter season will end on this, and after brief rest I will begin preparation for my summer season.

Izvestia: You have decided the everyday questions?

Isinbayeva: Everything is in order. Now I live at the Olympic base in the Italian city Formia. Here are created all conditions for work, restoration and leisure. I neither experience constraint, nor do I require anything.

Izvestia: Is it not boring to be alone in a strange country, in an unknown situation?

Isinbayeva: I do not feel bored. I simply don’t have time for that - I have two-time trainings each day.

Izvestia: How you do associate with your friends, your parents?

Isinbayeva: With my close ones I correspond via electronic mail. Sometimes I ring them.

Andrey MITKOV, "Izvestia"

The usual caveats concerning my proficiency as a translator apply here of course, but I don't think I screwed anything up too badly.

[dafox]

Bruce- THANK YOU for the translations. Its much better than reading the computer generated stuff. I know it must've taken you some time to read/type those.

Question for the masses: Bubka left Petrov. When was this, why, and who did he go to? Is there a 'quick' biography/timeline of Bubka somewhere?

[achtungpv]

Bruce- THANK YOU for the translations. Its much better than reading the computer generated stuff. I know it must've taken you some time to read/type those.

Question for the masses: Bubka left Petrov. When was this, why, and who did he go to? Is there a 'quick' biography/timeline of Bubka somewhere?

I "think" Miro Zalar who was a 5.70 vaulter coached Bubka after Petrov. Zalar coaches pretty much all the swedish vaulters. Could be totally wrong on the coach though, but for some reason that was the first name the voices in my head told me.