Kazan 2013 Ambassador holds Canoe Sprint Masterclass

Kazan 2013 Ambassador Sergey Ulegin holds canoe sprint masterclass

KAZAN – Sergey Ulegin, Merited Master of Sports, Beijing Olympic silver medallist, two-time world champion, five-time European champion and Ambassador for the 2013 Summer Universiade, conducted a masterclass for young rowers of Kazan’s Children and Youth Canoe Sprint School.

During the masterclass Sergey Ulegin demonstrated boys and girls the best way to warm up for a race, how to get a boat ready and even went out on the course accompanied by young canoe sprint enthusiasts. The renowned athlete also talked about the role the motivation plays in gearing up for competitions and mentioned that the main thing in any sport is hard work and any goal, even the most global one, will be achieved. “You just need to wait for the right moment”, he said. Sergey Ulegin also responded to numerous questions of would-be champions and promised to keep in touch with them via social networking sites. 

According to one of the young rowers, a 14-year-old Denis Zamaleev, who already boasts the All-Russian canoe sprint silver in his collection, Sergey Ulegin inspired them to future victories and instructed how to set goals and reach success regardless of any difficulties. As for Denis, he intends to get a call-up to the Russian national team and, like any other athlete, dreams to make it to the Olympic Games. 

Sergey Ulegin in action with his pupils

And his mentor, senior coach Igor Gerasimov, shares his hopes as well: he is confindent that if athletes have an appropriate attitude and perseverance, in due course they will manage to conquer the Olympic gold. 

Presently, Sergey Ulegin, who dedicated 23 years of his life to canoe sprint, serves as Director of the Hope of Province Saratov Children Sports School which trains over 4,500 boys and girls. The legendary rower arrived in Kazan to root for his compatriot Natalya Lobova, another Kazan 2013 Ambassador, who is taking part in the 5th World University Canoe Sprint Championship, one of the test events in the run-up to the 27th Summer Universiade.

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)