In an interview with Qazathletics.kz, senior throwing coach Viktor Evsyukov spoke about the progress of preparations for the competition season, and shared his plans and hopes for the upcoming performances of his athletes.
Viktor Evsyukov is a former star javelin thrower from Kazakhstan. A bronze medalist at the European Championships and silver medalist at the 1987 World Championships, he was a four-time USSR champion in 1984 and from 1987 to 1989. He finished fifth at the 1988 Olympic Games. Since 2017, he has served as Kazakhstan’s national team senior coach for throwing events. He is currently at a training camp in Turkey, working with shot putter Ivan Ivanov and javelin thrower Artur Gafner.
– What are you focusing on during the training camp in Turkey?
– Everything (laughs). How could it be any other way? Speed, strength, speed-strength, technique, rhythm — for both Ivan Ivanov in shot put and Artur Gafner in javelin.
– How would you describe your athletes’ attitude?
– I’ve got no complaints about the guys. They’re very disciplined and hardworking. They’re never late for training — they actually show up earlier than I do. I arrive and they’re already waiting, ready to go! I really appreciate that they’re highly disciplined athletes. That’s especially important at training camps! They stay focused and follow through on all the work we plan.
– What goals have you set for Ivanov and Gafner this season?
– The goal is to deliver good results. I’ve done everything I can as a coach, and the guys have put in the work. They’re in great shape. Ideally, they’d have a few competitions to get into the rhythm before the Asian Championships at the end of May in Korea. But either way, the task is to come out and perform at their best right now.
– What kind of placements can they realistically fight for at the Asian Championships?
– That’s a good question (smiles). Based on their current form, Gafner in javelin could contend for places 5–8, while Ivanov could fight for spots 3–5 in shot put.
– Hard to avoid talking about the “usual sore spot,” isn’t it?
– That’s true (smiles). It’s not just us — all throwers face the same issue: a lack of competition opportunities during the year. If we had 10–15 competitions, that would already be great. To get into shape, you need to compete, compete, and compete again. When I was training, we had about 45 starts per season. In Finland, I could do seven (!) competitions in a single week — finish one, drive to another city, and compete again that same evening… I needed at least 4–5 competitions to hit form. I’ll say it again — the guys need to compete.
– What can you say at this point about your competition plans for the summer season?
– We’ll take part in all the events currently on the calendar — the Asian Championships in Korea, the Kazakhstan Cup, the Kosanov Memorial, the national championships, and so on. Of course, we’d love to qualify for the World Championships. But the entry standards are sky-high and keep rising every year. Our guys won’t make it by standard — we’ll have to qualify through rankings. And for that, you need to compete. But we’ll keep working at it!
Pictured: At the training camp in Belek, Viktor Evsyukov works with javelin thrower Artur Gafner and shot putter Ivan Ivanov.
