Biathlon is today one of the fascinating and spectacular sports. Both men and women are involved in biathlon. To succeed, athletes have to practice all year round. Anna Nikulina shows decent results.
Starting conditions
Long-term statistics show that people come to big sports for various reasons. Some become dedicated professionals. Others get into the mainstream by accident. In any case, it is important that natural abilities are combined with psychological stability. Anna Igorevna Nikulina was born on August 25, 1991 in an ordinary family. Parents at that time lived in the famous city of Novosibirsk. My father is a cook by profession, he worked in one of the restaurants. Mother taught drawing in college.
In childhood, Anya did not stand out from her peers. She was friends with the girls who lived in the neighborhood. When the age approached, she was enrolled in school. Studied Nikulin not bad. In all subjects I managed. She participated in public life. She attended physical education classes as part of the curriculum. I didn’t do sports sections. Dramatic changes in everyday life occurred when she was thirteen years old. Father drew attention to the fact that his daughter is growing thin and, in his opinion, weak. And he decided to rectify the situation.
Up to this point, the family knew about biathlon only from television programs. Parents wanted to send the girl to the rhythmic gymnastics section. However, the closest to the house was the specialized biathlon center for children and youth sports school. Since there were no ambitious goals when choosing, Anna was recorded “on biathlon”. At first, she plainly did not understand what was required of her. Yes, you need to ski and shoot. It is interesting to note that by that time Nikulin was barely able to stand skiing, which is not typical for Siberian conditions.
And another discovery, Anna made an amazing discovery for herself in the spring. It turns out that when the snow melts, then the training of biathletes does not stop. The first summer at the start of a sports career was decisive for Nikulina. She has mastered cross-country running techniques. Gradually got used to the tough daily routine. By the winter season, which begins in Novosibirsk in November, a novice biathlete already has a passion for sports. Training alternated with local competitions. Anna gradually gained experience. She had, so to speak, a taste for biathlon.
Efforts and results
The main specifics of biathlon is the integration of two actions - skiing and shooting with an air rifle. When a skier overcomes a certain distance, a certain rhythm of breathing is formed in him. When you stop at the turn for shooting, it is recommended to hold your breath. Otherwise, it will be difficult to hit the target - the muscles tremble at a high pulse and aiming is not so easy. Anna faced this phenomenon already at the first trainings. Together with the coach, they found the optimal pace of running, a way to concentrate when shooting.
Any skill is fixed by regular exercises. For the athlete who has set high goals, everything else except training is relegated to the background. From year to year, Nikulina improved her results. At first, she "did not get along" with the shooting. To smooth out the situation, I had to perform additional exercises. Engage in breathing exercises. Yes, Anna ran the race at an average pace, without accelerating her heartbeat. And this allowed her to increase the effectiveness of the shooting. At fifteen, she became a member of the youth team of Russia.
Recognitions and awards
Nikulin began to play for the national team in 2014. At this level, preparation for the competition is carried out with particular care. By the beginning of the season, each athlete selects his equipment individually. A rifle, skis and poles, overalls and gloves influence the final result. There are no trifles in biathlon, both athletes and coaches follow this rule. In the first season, Anna took second place in the relay team at the next stage of the IBU Cup. Each of the participants made her own contribution and, as they say, gave everything in full.
The following year, the World Cup competitions did not bring the desired results to the Russian biathletes. At that time, a doping scandal erupted, and the girls were not in the best emotional state. By the 2016 season, athletes were able to cope with negative emotions and performed with maximum return. Nikulina became the owner of a small IBU Cup in the sprint racing program. And at the end of the season, Russian biathletes won the main continental cup. In addition, in March 2017, Anna won the gold medal of the Russian Championship in pursuit.
