 |
Irina SuhorukovaCoach of the Donetsk region national team in bullet shooting.
Date of Birth: 31.08.1967
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Biography of Irina Sukhorukova
- After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, have the emotions settled?
- - Yes, and no. I did not feel any discomfort.
- How and when did you become interested in shooting?
- How did fate bring you to the Donbass region?
- Do you go hunting as a family?
- Yuri has reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. What is your rank?
- What are your dreams in sports and in life?
Biography of Irina Sukhorukova
Irina Sukhorukova is the coach of the Donetsk regional team in shooting. She was born on August 31, 1967. Irina is a master of sports of international class and an Honored Coach of Ukraine. She is also the coach of the Donetsk regional team in shooting.
In the success of the athlete at competitions, a huge role is played by his coach. However, often, when recognition comes, all attention is focused on the athlete, and the coach remains in the shadows. But not in this case, when the coach of the silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in shooting, Yuri Sukhorukov, is also his wife. In their close-knit family, the ups and downs are experienced together. We decided to get to know Irina Sukhorukova, the Honored Coach of Ukraine, the coach of the Donetsk regional team in shooting, who gave this interview.
Irina, what competitions are you currently preparing your athletes for?
- We are preparing for the Ukrainian Championship among the Youth Sports Schools in the age categories of 1989 and younger, which will be held in Lviv from April 5 to 11. The sports schools from Donetsk (six athletes and a coach) and Artemovsk (three athletes) will travel to Western Ukraine. Mariupol and Gorlovka sports schools will not be represented in Lviv, as the readiness level of their shooters leaves much to be desired. The athletes from the Donetsk region will also compete at the Youth Games from April 26 to 30 in the 1992-1994 birth year category.
Let's talk about the Olympic Games. In the small-bore rifle shooting competition at a distance of 50 meters, Yuri scored 1272.4 points. The first place went to the Chinese athlete, who outperformed Sukhorukov by just 0.1 points. It must have been very disappointing. Or was the main goal for you just to win an Olympic medal?
- The fact that Yuri won a medal is a happiness! We have been working towards this for a long time. But on the other hand, it was disappointing to lose by one tenth of a point in the final. If this had happened in the prone position in MV-9, it wouldn't have been as frustrating as in the "standard" event.
After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, have the emotions settled?
- Of course.Being a coach and at the same time the spouse of Yuri Sukhorukov, is it difficult?
- Yes, and no. I did not feel any discomfort.
Were you a coach or Yuri Sukhorukov's wife first?- We competed together first, and then I switched to coaching in 2000. By that time, Yuri and I were already married.
Many athletes complain about the insufficient funding for their training. How do you manage to solve this problem?
- In preparation for the Olympic Games, the ISD sports club helped us a lot by providing Yuri with everything he needed, such as equipment, ammunition, and more. Without the support of the sports club, it would have been very difficult for us because the funding from our ministry is clearly insufficient.
In what ways do our shooters excel or fall behind their foreign competitors?
- I am confident that our athletes do not fall behind in anything. The only issue is that our provision is currently at such a level that even the national team does not have the necessary amount of ammunition and equipment. There is a lack of full funding for training camps. All camps are mainly held at an open shooting range in Lviv. This is the only facility that remains in Ukraine. But it would be desirable for Ukrainian shooters to adapt to other shooting ranges where competitions take place. However, it is not possible to hold camps there due to the country's crisis. Although, even before the crisis, the financial situation was difficult.
How and when did you become interested in shooting?
- In 1981, in Tashkent. My parents were shooters, so it was logical for them to enroll me in the corresponding sports section. I trained at the Dynamo sports club.
How did fate bring you to the Donbass region?
- While representing the USSR and the Dynamo Sports Club, I met Yuri during training camps. We traveled together to competitions. We got married, and I moved to Donetsk.
You have a son and a daughter. Do they regularly visit the shooting range?
- Yes, they follow in their parents' footsteps. My son, Anton, is already a master of sports of Ukraine, and my daughter, Victoria, is only 11 years old.
I heard that Yuri has a dream to build a shooting range and create a children's and youth shooting school. Did his dream come closer to realization after receiving the prize money for the Olympic silver?
- No, because all the money is deposited in the bank account, and it is not possible to withdraw it. However, Yuri plans to realize his dream in the future. But it is premature to talk about it now because we don't know if we will receive the money or not.
I know that Yuri enjoys fishing and playing football. What hobbies do you have?
- I don't really have any big hobbies. All my free time is consumed by family life and raising children.
Do you go hunting as a family?
- No, none of us enjoys shooting animals. But the children enjoy going fishing.
Yuri has reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. What is your rank?
- I am a Major.Do you plan to prepare for the 2012 Olympics in London?
- Of course. Age is not a factor for a shooter. It all depends on the desire and health. We are making great efforts, and the training process does not stop. If everything goes well, the 2012 Olympics will be the third in Yuri's career.
What are your dreams in sports and in life?
- In sports, our dream is to win gold at the Olympic Games and for our children to reach a high level in shooting. We are preparing for Yuri's succession and striving for our son and daughter to achieve worthy heights in sports. In life, we want all our loved ones to be healthy.
