Vladislav Kireyev: "My goal is to show all the hard work I did over these four years and improve my results"

— Vladislav, how is your preparation for the Olympics going? 

After the World Cup in the Czech Republic, we went to Italy, to a town called Ridnaun, for a training camp. The first days were mostly for recovery: we had only one training session a day and also had a day off. Now, the main preparation has started. We are doing a lot of hard training for strength and stamina. In the final days, we will do some fast speed training, and then we will go to the Olympic Games. In general, the preparation is going well. 

— This is your second Olympic Games. What did you feel the first time, and what do you feel now?

 The first time, I was very nervous and did not really know what to expect. But now, I have much more confidence: everything is familiar, the rivals are the same, so I don't feel any special anxiety or worry.

— How do you prepare yourself for the races, knowing that this is the Olympic Games and not just a normal World Cup?

 I try to think positively before every race to show a good result. The rivals are the same people from the World Cup, so my approach to the start remains practical and professional.

— This season in Hochfilzen, you got a historic result for Kazakhstan's biathlon. Do you feel pressure because people now expect more from you?

The pursuit race in Hochfilzen was indeed very successful: good shooting and steady skiing. But that was just one race. I want to have this kind of stability more often. The high expectations do not put pressure on me. We always try to do our best, but unfortunately, in sports, things do not always go as we want.

— What is your main goal for the Olympic Games in Milan?

My goal is to show all the hard work I did over these four years and improve my results.