Russian bobsleigh brakeman Alexey Voevoda displays his vertical alongside driver Alexander Zubkov as they mount the podium to receive Olympic gold medals in two-man bobsleigh at Olympic Park in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 18, 2014. Former U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program Soldier Steven Holcomb, second from right, and Steve Langton claimed the bronze for Team USA, and the Swiss duo of Beat Hefti and Alex Bamumann, far left, took the silver. U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps │ Photo Source: defense.gov
Two new interviews with Alexey Voevoda from September 2014. I made a summary of the interesting points from each interview (but there are many more, you can read all below):
In the first interview from sport-express.ru, Alexey Voevoda speaks about the armwrestling sport which is fighting for getting into the Olympic family. If that happens, he will be able to carry out a cherished dream – to win Olympic gold medals in both winter and summer sports.
Alexey explains that he had about 200 students for armwrestling, but in the end only 10 guys could withstand the pain given by armwrestling – because it combines static and dynamic loads. Muscle pain after exercise is even pleasant, but the pain from bone and ligaments is not pleasant at all. Sowhy torture yourself ? In the name of power, in the name of victory over yourself ! Alexey is convinced that only the person capable of fighting with himself, can achieve something in life. Alexey has a unique training method which has much better results than what can be achieved by standard methods of training, and the risk of injuries is lower.
Alexey keeps training in the same gym from “Pulling John” movie because he loves it, but that gym is located in the basement of the school and it belongs to Department of Education Office. If it was a separate building, he would probably have bought it and made a nice club for the children to go there. But to get into this basement, every day we climbed over the fence height of two and a half meters… Because he always trains late in the evening, from 8 to 9, the school at that time has already been closed, and to get on its territory is possible only through the fence. Previously, clients of neighboring cafe opposite were very surprised to see some healthy men climbing over the fence, but now they got used to it and they do not react. At first it was harder for his 72-year-old coach Viktor Isaev, but now he overcomes the fence along with his bike.
In the same interview Alexey talks about how he became a vegetarian. According to the rules of Bobsleigh, the total weight for the two athletes should not exceed 220 kg. He had to weigh a maximum of 112 kg, while in armwrestling he weighed 118 kg. Naturally, he tried every possible way to lose weight. But there is such a thing as muscle memory – when you’re constantly coming back to the usual weight. He tried different diets – and some of them were really bad for him. And then he read a book by academician Ugolev “Theory of adequate nutrition”, saw the logic in it, and tried it. He became raw foodist for three months. Perfect state of health, stretching improved sleep became smaller and he dreamed brighter dreams. When you eat the right vegetarian food, you just lose the feeling of hunger.
In the end of the first interview Alexey Voevoda tells his secrets for happiness, his formula is simple – be yourself. You have to be good, honest and decent. Live for today, be happy that you have.
Alexey inherited physical traits from his grandparents. One grandfather was very tall – almost 2 meters high (Alexey Voevoda’s height – 194 cm), and the second grandfather was very strong. In old age, he could lift with just one of his “Cossack” hand a Zaporozhets car.
Alexey speaks about what happened in Russia: in recent years, we have shifted priorities. We have ceased to live our lives. We spend too much time studying the news in the media, communicating on social networks. Living this virtual life, detached from ourselves. Today’s children do not know how to grow vegetables and fruits. Clothing and equipment we buy for a long time abroad. Our towns and villages have turned into one big shop. And to be a patriot, truly love their country, it is necessary to participate in the process and see the results of their labor.
There are many other interesting topics in each interview, you can read them below, Google Translate still has a long way to go but it starts to become better. 🙂
Alexei Voivod: “Now my dream –
Olympic gold medal at the Summer Games “
Famous accelerates, two-time Olympic champion bobsled and triple world champion in arm wrestling after the Games in Sochi finish his career is not going to
THIS SEASON – OTHER PURPOSES
– After a successful Olympic season you took a break.What do you do now?
– I pause does not happen – now I am a person bobsled. Just the post-Olympic season – this is the time when you can help the development of the Russian mass sports, to promote it. We’ve got that to promote. In the wake of the success it is necessary to pull a people to wave transformed into a tsunami.
– And what about the performances?According to the senior coach of the Russian bobsled Scheglovskaya Alexander, Alexander Zubkov you missed the second preseason …
– And Alexander Shcheglovsky, and head coach Pierre Lueders know perfectly well that I did not stop training. I was always prepared for an individual program. And speaking too. That is why to save the form before the Olympic Games in Sochi. The same Lueders, whom I sent the entire set of exercises that I do, opened his eyes wide and said that for the first time sees that the bobsled so trained. And when there is no ice training, I do not work with the team at all. So pass fees does not mean anything. Maybe later I’ll join the team. However, all the leaders of this season will rest. Win the gold, of course, possible, but … it’s not the gold, you know? Better will direct their forces to other goals and objectives.
– When you double Olympic triumph you probably generally difficult to find the motivation.How has your life changed after the Games in Sochi?
– Now with me were considered. And those projects that were previously only on paper and in my head, quietly began to be implemented. Show great interest advertisers, hear me power – and at the regional level and at the federal level. If everything is going well, we will implement such programs, just class! It does not matter who does it – I or someone else.The main thing that it happened and we got the harmonious development of society. I really want to.
– And what exactly are you doing?Open a children’s sports schools?
– All in the wait. Moscow was not built. Do you want specifics? Please. One of the projects – a socio-patriotic camp for children.
– Summer Camps?
– No, year-round. There, the children will live and receive an education. We will look for talent, and different, not just sports. After untalented children do not exist. Will inculcate patriotism, love of country, to the land from which they are cut off. You look: now all the guys sitting in the net, lost the habit of communication, from the view of “eye to eye”. I would not want to go into details, but this project was ready two years ago. However, then it was no use to anyone. Now listen to me, and the project was interesting.
In training – over fences
– In one of your interviews you said that when you finish a career in bobsled, back in arm wrestling …
– I’ll show you … (takes off jacket and squeezes his hand). See biceps, these bundles? In sports it is impossible to go away completely. You know, they say, the fighters have their brotherhood. Armrestlerov – is also wrestlers. We never leave your sport, always training, always fighting. Because it really is fun. Arm wrestling – a very interesting sport where you can come in a jacket and prove his superiority over his rival. I had about 200 students, but in the end in the sport have left 10 people guys just could not stand the tests gives arm wrestling – because it combines static and dynamic loads. This terrible ligamentous and bony pain. I’ll tell you a secret: muscle pain after exercise – it is even pleasant. But bone and ligamentous anything not like. It’s a pain to cold sweat when you can not only raise his hand, but also to move it.
– Why torture yourself so?
– In the name of power, in the name of victory over yourself! I am convinced that the only person capable of fighting with himself, can achieve something in life. My students who have passed the school – all accomplished people. I have a lot of fans around the world. And they’re all waiting for me to come and give a master class. Arm wrestling brings together such a mass of people, which other types of never dreamed of! Bobsledding, for example, engaged in 20-30 countries. And here is one powerful network of strong people are united by all countries of the world. Because arm wrestling – sport, accessible to everyone, it does not require a lot of money. Now my colleagues working on a plan to make some kind of master-journey around the world, to visit all the concerned federation. I own unique method, which is largely based on mikromyshechnom apparatus than in large muscles. In the end result I have a much higher than can be achieved by standard methods of training, and risk of injury – on the contrary, below.
– And what about the competition armsportu?How long have you not won the world championships.Vaughn, John Brzenk (arm wrestling legend, 26-time world champion) has already celebrated 50 years, and all the fights.
– I’m afraid, to the point where I’ll be back, John had already gone (laughs). In fact, for a competition, I’ll probably come back next year. After arm sport is now fighting for getting into the Olympic family. If that happens, I will be able to carry out a cherished dream – to win Olympic gold medals in the winter, and in summer sports. In this case, I’ll just do what he likes.
– By the way, where are you now practice?In the documentary “Fighting John”, which tells about your confrontation with John Brzenk and Travis Bagent, appears gym with peeling walls and simulators Soviet times.
– There and train. I love this place. Although this room we have no rights. It is located in the basement of the school, and it’s the Department of Education Office. If it was a separate building, I probably would have bought it and made a good club to go there children. Now, to get into this basement, every day we climbed over the fence height of two and a half meters …
– That is, you were not allowed there?
– Well, open access to it is not. We do not prohibit, and with open arms, too, do not meet. As I always train late in the evening, from 8 to 9, the school at this time has already been closed, and get on her territory is possible only through the fence. Previously, visitors cafe opposite very surprised, seeing to climb over the fence healthy men, but now used to it and do not react. By the way, my 72-year-old coach Viktor Isaev overcomes the fence along with the bike. First climbed a couple of times and said, “We need to swing back to me, and something can not stand.” Disappoint. Now everything is fine.
BOOK WRITING YET ONCE
– Now, many famous people write books.You did not yet think?
– Yes, I already started to write, but no time to finish. My co-author – Sergey Dobrozdravin – a very interesting person: rawfoodist, but not a fanatic, can adequately convey the truth about proper nutrition. And I’m talking about training techniques and their telling.
– And about the stories that have happened to you during your athletic career, did not try to write?
– I do not really want to write about myself. But think about it. Maybe someday …
– You – the famous vegetarian.However, the sport – it’s heavy loads.Some drugs for recovery take?
– Yes, before the Olympics had. We had a very short period of training – we worked with beans, and individual load was huge, so the vitamins and minerals, and amino acids I took. But in the maintenance mode, not too much.
– With the beans themselves work?Do not you have servismenov?
– We have a foursome tehbrigada this: pilot makes front right horse, and the first overclock – front left, the other two – the rear skates, respectively, right and left. Grind them yourself, bring to a shine. Well, we have a mechanic, of course. He had already, and bring all to the condition. In general, when they go to the competition, a dream, there is very little time.
– Tell me how you came to vegetarianism?
– According to the rules of Bobsleigh, our pilot with total weight for two should not exceed 220 kg. I had to weigh a maximum of 112 kg, while in armsportu I weighed 118 Naturally, I tried every possible way to lose weight. But there is such a thing as muscle memory – when you’re constantly coming back to the usual weight. I have tried different diets – and me from them was really bad. And then read a book by academician Ugolev “Theory of adequate nutrition,” saw the logic in it, and tried. Became raw foodists for three months. The feel of the bodies were so fantastic that you can not pass!Perfect state of health, stretching improved sleep became smaller and brighter dreams dreamed. I realized that such saturation and that – overeating. When you eat the right vegetarian food, you just lost the feeling of hunger.
– There were still raw foodists?
– My constant travel, flights, lack of good vegetables, plus enhanced physical training did not allow me to become the absolute raw foodists. So I became a vegetarian. But every summer I try to practice a raw food diet. This is a very good cleaning of the body. In general, I approach everything from the perspective of common sense. If you like sweet, do not torture yourself – go and eat. The main thing is how you feel: smile myself in the mirror in the morning or not. There is a fine line between the fanatics and sane, and it is important not to jump to. In addition, it should be your conscious choice: it is not rejected by your subconscious mind, and as a result, makes your mind calm through all experiments on the body.
– You seem completely happy man.Share your happiness formula?
– Yes, I’m really happy. 99 percent accurate. And my formula is simple – be yourself. You have to be good, honest and decent. Live for today, be happy that you have. My life has not been easy, I had no money, and what I just did not work, I have a very diverse background. But I was not discouraged, doing things you love, struggled with himself. I intuit. In my life there was a lot of intuitive actions. Often they are correct. You only need to learn to listen to yourself.
“Never give up.” The main rule of the Olympian Alexey Voivod
Dossier
Born May 9, 1980.Bobsledder, two-time Olympic champion in the Games in Sochi in twos and fours, Olympic silver medalist in 2006 in fours, bronze medalist in the 2010 Olympics in doubles, World Champion in 2011 in doubles. Alex – Hero of Labor of the Kuban, an honorary citizen of the city of Sochi was awarded the Order “For Services to the Fatherland» IV Degree.
About sports, family values and modern society “AIF-South” has talked to two-time winner of the Olympic Games in Sochi bobsleigh Alexei governor.
Six months after the 2014 Games the liquidation of the Organizing Committee “Sochi-2014”. The amount of income from the marketing of the program exceeded $ 1.3 billion. Total for the Games have implemented 1.1 million tickets. But the Olympics – it is not so much monetary gain much joy and pride in the achievements of Russian athletes. A native of Sochi Alex Voivod at the Winter Games in 2014 won just two “gold” medal.
“Where was born there and handy”
“AIF-South” Fatima Sheudzhen: Alex, you have a lot of honor, there are state awards. They impose on you the additional responsibility?
Alexei Voivod: Human qualities brings us a family at an early age. And so it is hardly rank or awards may affect the appearance of social responsibility, or, conversely, its absence. All my life I have lived in Sochi, but spent vacations with his grandparents in the village Kalinouski Chernihiv region. Superior quality, which they laid in the children, and then in the grandchildren – a conscience.
In this case, they were a good manager, they had gardens, greenhouses, hobbies. Always treated me as an adult, so I was doing all the work around the house with them. Grandfather used to say, “Homeland man – land. No wonder that the place where the person was born, say “native land.” It should be treated with care, take care of it, cultivate it, and then get off.Only then will people take a strong liking to her soul. ” These words have become for me the truth, and therefore, whatever good I subsequently promised to leave the country, I did not want to. “Where he was born there and came in handy,” – I always say.
Grandfather could lift with one hand “Zaporozhets”
– Read somewhere that heroic abilities – it is also hereditary …
– In the sports section led me father when I was six years old. He is a master of sports in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, is interested in martial arts. Obviously, I had a direct route to the gym!I can not say that I liked everything at once, but then became involved. I was engaged in gymnastics, taekwondo, and wrestling, and many other sports. For a while I was visiting the Center for Children’s extracurricular work, where he tried all sections, and clubs, “Young sailor”, “young pilot.”
If we talk about heredity, then surely the physical data inherited from grandparents. One grandfather was very high – growth of almost 2 meters (from Ed .: growth Alexei 194 cm), the second – very strong. In old age, he could lift with one hand “Cossack”, the fingers to bend or twist the copper penny nail-weave into a spiral. At the same time he was very cultured, fun and even blushed when he heard such harmless to us the word “fool.” During the war, my grandfather was wounded in the leg. But despite this, he was able to healthy leg galloped across the field to his. He was a scout, and being taken prisoner was unacceptable.
“Life – it is an obstacle course, and never give up” – a rule that he followed all his life, and which is laid into me since childhood. I am sure that their victories and I am obliged to him, and the qualities that he was able to instill in me. And yet, what is important … If the nature of the parents were awarded some human abilities, force, it is impossible to make it in vain. We need to develop and use them for good. The main thing – to see them as they are in all of us.
Our cities have turned into one big shop
– Alex, for many years said that patriotism is lost. But Sochi Olympics has proved that it is not. Hoarse fans supporting our team. Such pride in our country people have not experienced for a long time. How to keep this feeling?
– In recent years, we have shifted priorities. We have ceased to live their lives. We are interested in everything: how people live in Pakistan, said that Barack Obama, a scandal occurred with the President of France, etc. We spend too much time studying the news in the media, communicating on social networks. Living this virtual life, detached from themselves. Today’s children do not know how to grow vegetables and fruits. Clothing and equipment we buy for a long time abroad. Our towns and villages have turned into one big shop. And to be a patriot, truly love their country, it is necessary to participate in the process and see the results of their labor.
Olympic facilities in a relatively short period we have built on our land. That is why all the people experienced such pride in Russia! Naturally, the houses and walls help, and the atmosphere is completely different, and the athletes had a unique opportunity to train on its tracks. It is important to note also that the Olympics reminded us that the Russians are able to break through.
We have a huge potential. No matter how evolved the foreign policy and economic situation, if we roll up our sleeves and get to work, no sanctions will not harm us. We have all the necessary resources. Most importantly – in the first place to win yourself and your laziness!
