The sports successes of Natalia Spiridonova are followed not only by the inhabitants of the Pskov region, but also by many Russian citizens. In major domestic competitions, the girl began to participate in 2017. In 2018, she became the master of sports of Russia. And in 2019 and 2021 she won bronze and silver at the European Junior High Jump Championships. Moreover. In 2021, Natalya managed to win the Junior World Championships, and in August 2022 she won another silver medal at the Russian Championships.
Natalya Spiridonova studies at the Velikoluksky Academy of Physical Education and Sports, lives in Pskov. Here, under the guidance of Ekaterina Stanislavovna Alekseeva, she trains and hones her skills, guided, probably, by the Olympic motto: “Faster, higher and stronger.”
One of the first competitions for the girl of the coming year 2023 was the “Battle of the sexes” – the All-Russian high jump competition between men and women. It was held in the last days of January in Moscow for the sixth time. Light and incendiary melodies, applause from the public, emotions from the participants… The atmosphere, according to the athletes and those who came to support them, was impressive.
SPECIFICALLY
Natalya Spiridonova from Pskov did not win the battle of talents in 2023. The laurels of the women’s championship went to Olympic champion Maria Lasitskene (she jumped 1.93 high). However, Natalia finished second in women (1.90) and her best result of the season.
In general, the victory was attributed to the men’s team. The best jumper in the battle of the sexes was Danil Lysenko, who cleared the bar at around 2.38.
Athlete, champion and a beauty
MK correspondent in Pskov asked sportswoman Natalya Spiridonova about what impressions the upcoming “battle of the sexes” left and about the path to professional sports.
- Natalia, please tell us why you decided to do high jumps? How did you discover sport in general?Thanks to athletics, Natalia began to feel better. Photo: personal archive of Natalia Spiridonova
- I came to athletics because my older brother (the age difference between us is 6.5 years) was in sports. I also wanted to win medals. As a child, I directly envied him, I thought it was cool… Medals, diplomas, cups. And so my parents and I started to know what sport I should do, consulted a doctor (he observed me, I had asthma). He advised me to do athletics because there is a lot of variety – both jumping and running … And all of this will be very good for your health. That’s how I got into the sport. As a kid, I ran sprints, jumped, shot put. Then, with age, already with the coach, they began to understand that jumps began to be the best for me – first in length, then in height.
- It turns out that sport helped you overcome asthma?
- Yes, I started doing sports and went into remission. And then another, when they were 14, they started going to training camp. The sea, the mountains… All this has helped improve my health, and now I feel good.
- You probably train every day now… How long does it take?
“Now is the competition season. So the training sessions are light but more intense. They take two hours a day. And I train five times a week.
Natalia plans to receive the title “Master of Sports of International Class”. Photo: personal archive of Natalia Spiridonova
- Don’t you sometimes want to lie on the couch instead of working out?
- No, such a thought never visits. At most, when there’s an early workout (at 9 a.m.), you just want to turn off the alarm clock and keep sleeping. But this condition just has to be overcome. Then you leave with good thoughts and with joy in training. I train mostly at 11 a.m. which is a good time for me.
- And how do you deal with this desire? What are you inspired by?
- Perhaps, it inspires a desire to improve your results, to set personal records.
– You have won prizes in national and international competitions. It must be that this is not the first time that you participate in the “Battle of the Sexes”?
Height 1.90 Pskov took the first attempt. Screenshot of the RUSAF TV channel, broadcast of the All-Russian competition “Battle of the Sexes”
– Yes, in 2023 for the fourth time. It’s not every year that I have managed to improve my results in the battle of the sexes. The first time, in 2020, I jumped 1.85, the following year, since I was injured, I only took 1.80. Last year I managed to win in women, because there was no Maria Lasitskene, my main rival. I won with a score of 1.85. And this year it turned out, of course, to show a good result.
- With what general mood did you go to the “Battle of the Sexes” in Moscow this time?
- My task was to show the best result this season. The goal I drew in my head was to jump 1.90. And then how will it be.
- At the World Junior Championships in Nairobi, you jumped 1.91 high. And at the “Battle of the Sexes” 1.85 was taken on the third attempt. Commenters who described what was happening on the channel suggested that something was interfering with you. what was that?
– This beginning was very nervous for me. Usually, I am calm and focused during competitions. And I don’t know what it was. I was shaking very badly and because of that the warm-up before the competition itself failed. And it wasn’t until 1.90 that I was able to calm down, concentrate and get a good jump. Most likely, it came, as they say, from the head, something was happening inside.
– And yet, you took 1.90 on the first try. But it’s not your personal record…
- My personal best is 1.91 in winter and 1.92 at the stadium in summer. In winter, we jump in the arena, in an indoor stadium, and in summer, we perform outdoors.
- An interesting observation: each of the participants of the “Battle of the sexes” included their own song before the start. Did the jumpers themselves choose these compositions? Why did you get the song “My hooligan”?
- Screenshot of the RUSAF TV channel, broadcast of the All-Russian competition “Battle of the Sexes”
- Yes, each of the participants chose the tracks for themselves. My choice fell on this song because in training, when I was doing technical work and listening to the music from the playlist, this track would light up and excite me. So I decided that I should also include it in the competitions.
- What impressions did the “Battle of the sexes” leave?
- A very interesting start. Emotions from him are only positive, although I did not show a very high result. The fact is that the public is seated very close and there are a lot of them. You’re applauded, shouted, the music plays – you get such feedback… And the fact that we’re competing as teams, male versus female, is very inspiring. The girls clapped. For example, when I entered the third attempt to jump 1.85, Masha Lasitskene said to me: “Natasha, come on, take it.”
- And what competitions are you preparing for now?
- In winter, there are three departures. The next will be “Russian Winter” (February 10) – All-Russian competitions in Moscow among adults. There will be Maria Lasitskene and all my competitors. And then there will be the Russian Championship and the Russian Championship.
- Well, we only wish you good luck! Another interesting thing to ask yourself is this: At the start of the year, many people set goals for the next 12 months. Have you thought about what you would like to achieve in 2023?
- My goal is probably one year – I want to get the title of master of sports of international class. My coach and I thought we could do it this summer because I was ready. But then we decided it was worth more work. In general, I set goals gradually. That, they say, I want to jump 2 meters, no. I look today, what I’m ready for, and with an eye on that, I set goals.
- The high jump world champion from the Pskov region trains 5 times a week
- And the question, as they say, “for dessert”: what three qualities do you think a professional athlete should have?
- Probably, it is diligence, self-confidence and … Probably, it is not quality that comes to mind, but the main condition in which an athlete could develop. And that condition is trust between coach and athlete.
How many more starts in a sports career for Natalya Spiridonova from Pskov? We believe hundreds of them. Therefore, the inhabitants of the region will have more than one reason to be proud of their compatriot. Keep it up, Natalie!
