Ilya Ilyin gave an interview to Men’s Health Kazakhstan.
They touch on his recent travels, his (still ongoing) doping case, plans for future competitions, as well as more private issues such as his divorce and depression.
Overall it’s a worthwhile read.
Click here to read the Google Translation
Key Points:
- wants to learn many languages, considers english important to
- still waits for final decisions in his doping case
- had a skype interview they talked about potential sanctions
- received good support from Kazakh federation (offered lawyers, paid for the process)
- broke up with his wife during the that time and fell into a depression
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“Is there at least one percent probability that the Iranian [Saeid Mohammadpour who jumped from 5th to 1st] was absolutely clean? Ilya: No comment (smiles).”
Excerpt about his Future in Weightlifting
What is more important for you now: to keep the medals of the world championships or get the opportunity to compete in 2019 and 2020?
Ilya: I can’t say unequivocally. These medals are dear to me, I have worked for them all my life. In addition, I am not confident in my abilities. Before Tokyo at 99.9 percent. Now only 90 (laughs).
What is the probability of obtaining the right to compete in Tokyo?
Ilya: Lawyers say – 90 percent.
And if they do, will you go to Tokyo?
Ilya: I’ll try. Of course, I’ll try. I do not want to regret in the future that I did not do it. I’m 29 years old – the height of my sports career. If I leave now, it will be as if a small child was offended.
What do you mean, I’ll try?
I’ll go to the team. I’ll choose the optimal weight category, I’ll start gaining momentum.
If the body is ready, I will try to perform at some championship. If I win, I’ll go further. And there is already Asian Games – a serious competition. And, of course, the world championship. But let’s not run ahead.
On Sports vs Family
What made you worse off: divorce or scrapping in a sports career?
Of course, divorce. Medals, sports – it’s all nonsense compared to the family. In a career, everything can be done, restored, earned, and the loss of a loved one can not be made up. It’s tough, from this I’m still sore inside.
In the coming years, I hope, will be relations only with a twenty-kilogram iron girlfriend.
It was an interesting article, albeit with the usual Google translate issues. Not everything was easy to understand well. But it was a really personal and seemingly open interview that shed some light on Ilyin as a person, interesting stuff.
my post below was meant to be as a reply to you 🙂
I can help with better-than-google translation if there is a part in the interview that was harder to understand
The main points seemed clear. It’s mostly grammatical stuff that irritates me. I don’t need a translation, but thank you very much for the offer. 🙂
Ilya won’t stop until hit 250 C&J.
which part you found confusing or hard to understand? I might be able to help. I found interesting and a bit disappointing to be honest the part where he explains how he got divorced, and how they did not really have many common things with his wife. In the end he called love just emotions…
Still, Ilya is a good fellow, but this shows even the greatest athletes are just humans.