Reptyukh ‘confident on all points’ ahead of Worlds

The Ukrainian world champion Nordic skier believes that everything is in place for him to top the podium at the 2015 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships. 30 Dec 2014
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Ihor Reptyukh

Ihor Reptyukh competes at the 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships in Solleftea, Sweden.

ⒸIPC
By IPC

“During the competition race, the results are not always expected - winning where you did not expect and losing despite being sure and having all the chances. “[You have to] fight until the finish line.”

Ukrainian Nordic skier Ihor Reptyukh has spoken of his confidence that all the signs point towards him winning gold medals at the 2015 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships in Cable, Wisconsin, USA from 23 January – 1 February.

“[…] It is a solid system all together that leads to the result: athlete, coach, equipment, training, preparation, will to win and so on,” he said. “I am confident in all of these points so am sure that nothing can stop me on the way.”

Reptyukh, a reigning biathlon world champion, was speaking ahead of his win at the season opening IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup in Vuokatti, Finland. There he beat Russian Paralympic champion Aleksandr Pronkov in the men’s 10km middle distance cross-country standing, showing his potential across disciplines this season.

“I like both cross-country and biathlon,” the 20-year-old said. “Each of the sports has its interesting peculiarities with chances to win. In biathlon accurate shooting gives advantage, in cross-country the most important is dexterity and endurance.”

It has not all been plain sailing for Reptyukh. He entered the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games as one his country’s brightest medal prospects after a series of World Cup podiums in 2013-14.

However, he did not make it onto the podium and left disappointed with his Games debut.

But Reptyukh is determined to move on and with a new training regime and shift in focus, he believes that it is the winning formula of the Ukrainian approach to para-Nordic skiing that will be the difference between him and his competitors.

“The team is quite strong, we have conditions and climate to achieve results,” he said. “Staff, coaches and athletes work together and make all their best to achieve these results.

“We all train together, together do control tests, compare strengths of each other. This also creates the conditions to achieve good results. Team spirit is extremely important.”

He also feels strongly that victory at Cable 2015 will help fans at home.

“Elite sport is an outstanding opportunity to prove your talent and abilities, to realise ourselves and win our spurs. Our victories glorify Ukraine in the world, we need it so much in the current hard times in our country.”

Reptyukh refused to be drawn on which medals he is targeting at the Worlds, which will be the biggest gathering of Nordic skiers since Sochi 2014.

He just hopes that focusing on his shooting for biathlon and changing the number of events he enters will be the difference between triumph and failure.

“I cannot tell for sure, I got medals and won in different events,” he said. “During the competition race, the results are not always expected - winning where you did not expect and losing despite being sure and having all the chances.

“[You have to] fight until the finish line.”

Cable 2015 will gather over 150 athletes from 20 countries. Media accreditation is available at the Cable 2015 website.