BIATHLON: Russian-born Alexei Almoukov was a teenager when he represented Australia in Biathlon at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in 2010.
BIATHLON: Russian-born Alexei Almoukov was a teenager when he represented Australia in Biathlon at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in 2010.
Now 23 and hoping to be a part of the 2014 Australian Olympic Team, Almoukov’s second Olympic appearance would be on familiar territory.
Having moved to Australia when he was six years old, Almoukov refers to Russia, where the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will be held, as his “second home.”
"My first time back to Russia was when I was 14. But ever since then I've been going over and training there every year," Almoukov said.
Being born in Russia has its advantages this Olympiad as Almoukov boasts the ability to speak near-fluent Russian.
Although he has only made one visit to the Olympic host town of Sochi, Almoukov made the most of it, finishing a strong 33rd in the 2013 World Cup event, earning his first ever World Cup points in the sport. Understandably, when asked about Sochi, Australia’s leading biathlete said he "really liked it."
Almoukov will also have the benefit of Olympic experience in 2014, which gives him another level of confidence.
"The atmosphere is so big. You have to be on the ball and in peak form. It's such a big event, everyone has to be at their best," Almoukov said.
"There are so many people there and the crowds are pretty wild.I know what it's all about, I know the atmosphere and I won’t be nervous.
"My shooting has been getting better each year, and I've been getting fitter and stronger."
Biathlon combines skiing and shooting, and there are a number of different biathlon events, with Almoukov targeting the 10km sprint and 20km individual races. Both races involve shooting in either the standing or prone position on the ground in between skiing loops of the course.
Naturally, Almoukov's training during winter includes both of these sports whereby he cross country skis and practices his target shooting.
In summer, Almoukov and his teammates need a shooting range with a track around it, however these facilities are not available in Australia, hence the annual trips to Russia and abroad.
According to Almoukov, he dreads interval training, where you sprint as fast as you can for a minute and then repeat it 10 times, "sprinting is really hard, it hurts the lungs," he said.
Almoukov celebrated finishing his university degree in sport science and coaching this year, which allowed him to concentrate further on his sport.
With the peak age of a biathlete being about 27, Almoukov has hope that he may be able to attend a third Olympics after hopefully reaching the top 30 in Sochi.
The Sochi Olympic Winter Games begin on 7 February 2014.
Follow all of the action at sochi2014.olympics.com.au or with @AUSOlympicTeam on social media.
