Hasan Baroev Karelin's successor Date of Birth: 01.12.1981 Country: Tajikistan

1. Introducing Hasan Baroyev: The New Karelin
2. An interview with Hasan Baroyev

Introducing Hasan Baroyev: The New Karelin

Hasan Baroyev, the successor to Karelin, has recently secured his ticket to his first Olympics. This achievement occurred in Ulyanovsk, where Baroyev became the champion of Russia. The selection process for Athens is the toughest, with only gold medalists from the championship being chosen. Baroyev faced a serious competitor in the heavyweight division, Yuri Patrikeev, who was older and more experienced. However, Baroyev emerged flawlessly in the final showdown.

An interview with Hasan Baroyev

Following his victory, Baroyev was interviewed by Timur Zhuravel of "Izvestiya." When asked about the possibility of carrying the Russian flag at the Olympic opening ceremony, Baroyev mentioned that it is traditionally entrusted to heavyweight wrestlers. Initially, he tried not to think about the flag or the opening ceremony since his participation in the Olympics was uncertain. However, if given the honor, Baroyev expressed his pride in carrying the flag for his country.

Baroyev admitted that he did not entertain the thought of not going to the Olympics. He acknowledged Patrikeev as a formidable opponent, and their final bout was their first ever encounter. Despite this, Baroyev triumphed with a 3-0 victory. He shared that he was put in a difficult position several times during the match and had to struggle to escape. Ultimately, he managed to secure a crucial cross hold, which led to his victory. Throughout the championship, no opponent was able to score a single point against Baroyev, which he found gratifying.

Regarding his relationship with Patrikeev after the final, Baroyev mentioned that they are friends. He patted Patrikeev on the shoulder, and he responded with a smile. Patrikeev understands that it is a sport, and someone had to win. Baroyev believed that both of them are currently the strongest heavyweight wrestlers in the world. If they had gone to the Olympics together, they would have battled in the final. However, only one representative from each weight class is allowed to compete, which Baroyev considered unfortunate.

When asked about the level of the Olympics compared to the Russian championship, Baroyev acknowledged that Russia has the strongest wrestling school. However, he emphasized that winning gold in Athens is not guaranteed as there will be strong American wrestlers to contend with. Baroyev admitted that he was not keeping track of their Olympic qualifying process but affirmed that he is not afraid of strong opponents.

As for his plans leading up to the Olympics, Baroyev mentioned that they will have a short break until May 30th and then resume training. Over the next three months, they will undergo four training camps, including locations like Alushta and Podolsk. The training will be carefully planned, with three camps being intense and the last one being more relaxed, focusing on activities such as walking, games, and definitely a sauna. Baroyev noted that overloading oneself before a major tournament is not advisable. He expressed confidence in the training approach, stating that he has never made a mistake in his preparation and always approached important competitions in the best shape possible.