2024-07-31 02:42:06
Martin Marinov is a well-known coach in the Bulgarian Canoe Kayak Federation. Three months ago, he trained several pairs of men’s canoeists who participated in the European qualifiers in Szeged, Hungary. This was the last qualification to receive quotas for the Summer Olympics in Paris. After these qualifications, one boat – a pair of men and two single boats from Europe get the right to participate in Paris – explains the famous Bulgarian coach in our conversation about KMG. He himself participated as a coach of different teams in nine Olympiads, and as a commentator in one. He has been to China many times, has also trained Chinese athletes, and is adamant that the Chinese sports structure, Chinese standards and Chinese athletes are amazing! –
Q. As one of the most famous canoe-kayak coaches, you have been to many countries and continents. You have also been to China, where you trained Chinese athletes in the canoe-kayak discipline. Could you introduce us to some details related to your work there, your impressions of the Chinese boys, canoeists and the joint training you conducted with Bulgarian and Chinese athletes?
A. I have been a coach in China for many years, even last year I started training Chinese athletes by signing a contract with Guangzhou province, according to which I will train their pair to participate in the Paris Olympics qualifiers.. The boys I train are world champions from 2019. I worked with them in the same discipline in 2015-2016 and I know them very well. In fact, that’s where my return to coaching started. Last year I worked with the same pair of canoeists in China, and after the World Championship, which was in Duisburg – Germany, at the end of August, Bulgaria asked me if I could work with the Bulgarian pair of canoeists, as it is the same discipline. , for equal training and no conflict of interests – some are for Asia, others for Europe. The Bulgarian boys from October to the end of last year were with me in China, we spent three months together, we had intensive preparations, most of the time we were in Guangzhou and for about three weeks we were in Hangzhou, which hosted the Asian Games last year .
I trained the Chinese pair of canoe-kayak competitors from Guangzhou, who after the special selection were approved and went to the Chinese National Team
During the joint training, the Bulgarian athletes got to know their Chinese colleagues and both pairs – both the Bulgarian and the Chinese ones made a lot of progress in their training, and their individual qualities improved. Before the New Year, however, there were selections in the Chinese team, and it was this couple that got into the national team, and my contract was with Guangzhou Province, so I did not have the opportunity to go to their national team.
Since then, I have been working only for the preparation of the Bulgarian pair of canoe-kayak competitors. By the way, when they were together – both the Bulgarian and the Chinese couple, then it was better, in my opinion, because there were sparring partners, there was some competition, now it is a little more “casual”, but despite everything, the preparations are going full force.
Q. From the wealth of experience you have, tell us what you think about Chinese canoe kayakers?
A. I have always been fascinated by them and I enjoy working with Chinese people immensely. My first job in China was in 2005 for one season, then from 2013 to 2017, and again last year. I have worked as a coach for both Chinese men and women in various provinces and in the national team, and I always speak with the best feelings about the Chinese athletes, the Chinese structure of the sport and the Chinese standards in this regard. They are amazing – executive, punctual, disciplined, goal oriented and I always give them as an example to the other athletes I work with.
Q. You have participated in many Olympics. Do you remember the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008, were you there as a coach, and what were your impressions?
A. In 2008 I coached the Australian team and we won three medals in Beijing. The fact that I had worked in China before, in 2007, also helped me a lot, I knew my colleagues from the Chinese Canoe-Kayak Federation well, I knew well the suitable places for training, I already knew Chinese culture very well. And it helped me a lot too, because the difference between the cultural traditions of Australians and Chinese are quite different, and if there is someone to show the typical and characteristic of China to foreigners – this is the best option.
Q. Tell us what you think about the organization of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
A. I have been to nine Olympics, during the tenth I helped as a journalist-commentator, but I can confidently say that the 2008 Olympics was the best Olympics ever!
Even all the participants were unanimous that the Asian Games are much better than the Olympics, for example, in Rio or in Tokyo! For example, in Rio the level was much lower than the Asian Games! On the subject of organization, it’s really hard to get to the Chinese side!
Q. What are your expectations for the Bulgarian performance in Paris in the canoe-kayak discipline?
A. I am preparing only one pair of canoeists for Paris. We will be participating with a single seater kayak – women, as unfortunately we were unable to win other quotas. I can say that we have a chance, although it is not very big, and one of the reasons for this small chance is that competitors from Belarus and Russia will be allowed to participate, which are strong competition. They will most likely be preparing for gold medals. And for this reason, our chance decreases a bit. But we hope to win against them too!