During this hard time we are living far from water, we took the chance to talk with some of our top sailors to see how they are managing this lockdown experience.
How are they balancing their lives and training, mood, workout or nutrition during this rare long period at home?
After interviewing Mari Erdi in Hungary, we’re now pointing our questions to Croatia.
🔗 Quarantine Talks | Interviewing Mari Erdi HUN
Quarantine talks – Interviewing Elena Vorobeva CRO
Hello Elena, thanks for your time. We saw on your Instagram account @elena.vorobeva you’re are back on water in Split. How long have you been without sailing? What was your last competition?
We spent a wonderful time in winter in Australia. My last regatta was the World Championships in Melbourne, and upon returning to Croatia I had about two weeks for acclimatization and for rest. I did just two sailing session, when everything been collapsed our sailing club has been closed due the quarantine. In addition to these two exits to the sea, I did not sit in the boat for almost 2 months.
What was your training routine during this time?
Fortunately for me, I live outside the city in a village and I always had the opportunity to do bicycle training on the nature, I also used a hiking bench and working with weights.
So you’re dealing fine with this quarantine? How do you manage anxiety, mood, home tasks, feelings, nutrition, etc?
This is a tough time for everyone, I think. The first days there was a concern that this is the Olympic year and preparations for the games collapsed, the regattas started to cancel, the logistics been broken. But when the Olympics been postponed, I think many athletes exhaled and calmed down. I also reviewed my attitude to the situation and for the first couple of weeks I was even glad to be at home. I tried to do something for which there was not enough time before. Maintain discipline in training and nutrition and not waste energy on something that does not depend on me.
When the Olympics been postponed, I think many athletes exhaled and calmed down. I also reviewed my attitude to the situation and for the first couple of weeks I was even glad to be at home.
Do you live alone or with family? Do you have any hobbies / talent / work / study?
I live with my husband, he is my coach in physical preparation and massage therapist all rolled into one, so I could do good hard workouts.
My hobby is painting, and when I have the time and desire I paint in oil.
What’s your personal vision about this virus/ lockdown in the world?
It is difficult to give an unambiguous assessment of this situation first we need to separate truth from lies. But the situation what I see in our country the virus is not as dangerous as it is inflated in the media. I know the people positive to coronavirus and they fill themselves good, like nothing happens. There are people who fall into the risk group, that’s just who should be kept in self-isolation, and not to lock everyone at home, not to stop the economies of most developed countries and not lower the standard of living.
I think all kinds of sailing are among the first to feel the consequences of these decisions.
How’s your coach and/or federation helping or pushing you to keep positive, motivated, healthy, strong? Now you’re sailing again, do you have to follow any restrictions? Are there any other sailors allowed to sail in your area?
Thanks to the active coordinated work of the Croatian Olympic Committee and the Croatian Sailing Federation with Croatian government, high-level sailors in Croatia from 27/04/2020 got the permission to return for normal training on the water under the guidance of their coaches. Of course we are forced to adhere to the rules of social distance and we are not allowed to use the class room, gym, changing room, shower, the number of athletes in training is limited. In my sailing club “Split”, only me and one more sailor received permission to train. The rest are still in self-isolation mode. So at the moment I’m back to the normal routine of the day and training.
How do you feel about the Olympics postponement? Is it better/worst to you?
I think the postpone of the Olympic Games was the right decision, because all athletes should be able to train and prepare as they consider right. And in today’s situation, this is not possible. In some countries, athletes did not interrupt training at all, in others they are gradually returning after a month’s break, and third one still locked in their homes.
What’s your new Olympic path or training plan from now on?
At the moment, it is still difficult to plan something specifically, it is not clear how other countries will leave the quarantine.
I’m trying to get into the rhythm, to return the accuracy of work in the boat. We hope that the postponed European Championship in Greece will take place in October and this will be the goal of this year. And then we’ll see how the situation will develop.
I’m trying to get into the rhythm, to return the accuracy of work in the boat. We hope that the postponed European Championship in Greece will take place in October and this will be the goal of this year.
Do you feel things are improving and time for sailing back again is close?
I think yes. In Croatia, every day there are fewer new cases and more and more recovered.
Now you’re back on your boat again, how does it feels after all this time?
We already knew in advance that we would soon be allowed training on the water, and the last week was especially exciting. My coach sees that I have not been at sea for a long time and the next few weeks will be spent on building back my technique, but it is certainly an amazing feeling to be back at what you love and continue to go to your goal.
Any advices for others sailors to carry on this quarantine?
Keep thinking positive and as Theodore Roosevelt said: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.
Thanks Elena!
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