Hi, I’m Ira, and I’m from Norwash-Shigali. What do you mean you don’t know where that is? - Just head to Moscow and then continue east to Tscheboksary, that’s the capital of the Tscheboksary Republic. Are you still with me? Okay, once there you have 150km still to travel. It doesn’t appear on the mountain bike maps, and I doubt there are files to download of the local singletrack for your GPS. It isn’t really a mountain biking town. All the same, I found this sport, and you can find out right here how.

1977 – My birth

I was born on the 10th November 1977 in a small village called Norwash-Shigali. I am one of four, with two older sisters, and a younger brother. I spent my childhood on a small farm with a few cows, pigs, sheep, geese, and ducks - very normal where I come from. I have always had a problem with staying still though. I simply have lots of energy, and as a kid I would ride to school rather than waiting for the bus (which was always late). If you have been to Norwash-Shigali, you’ll know that the roads make for pretty good cross country mountain biking!

1991 – Discovered

It was happy chance that brought me to mountain biking. One day, a sports professor Vladimir Krasnov from the local university in Tscheboksary, came to my school. He was looking for talented cyclists and offered a grant. I applied, and won it! It meant that at the age of 14, I had to leave my family and move to Tscheboksary, 150km away. It wasn’t easy, but finally I was able to concentrate on riding.

1994 – My first year as a junior

At our school, there was an opportunity for the most talented rider to ride internationally. I was given that chance, and was an amazing experience. At the Junior European Championships in Turkey, I took eighth place. A year later, I rode my first World Championship. It was in Germany in Kirchzarten, and I placed fourth. I won a bike – the first time ever I had owned my own! It was my technical riding that had given me an advantage. Riding the descents I had been so sure footed.

2000 – An important mile-stone

At the World Cup Race in St. Wendel, I got to know Thomas Klotzbücher. He made sure that I was riding the best possible bike and equipment, something that hadn’t really applied to anything I had previously ridden, and formed a team around me. This meant that I would line up at lots of European races, and spent a fair amount of time in Germany training. The new training environment paid off and that year I took bronze at the European Championships – back at St.Wendel!

2003 – Germany, here I come

It was time to move to Germany, and I decided to make Aalen my home. Weather-wise it made it possible for me to train all year round. In Russia, through the heavy winter, only limited roads are kept passable. Ever since I have split my time between two Worlds. Germany and Russia. I feel completely at home where I am, but part of my heart is always back at home in Russia. I return regularly to Tscheboksary as a result, where I am studying sports and can visit my family.

2004 – Success!

The previous year, I had taken silver at the European Championship and Bronze at the World Champs. In 2004 though, I won my first World Cup in Schladming, Germany. It felt great. I also tried something different, and rode the World Marathon Championships, finishing second. It was fun, but my heart was more focused on cross country. At the Olympics in Athens though it wasn’t to be. I had an infection and it left me weak, and nothing fell into place. For me, all this type of thing does is serve to make me more determined for the next time. I wrote the Beijing Olympics in bold in my diary!

2006 – Team Topeak Ergon

It was time for a new team, and in 2006 having used Ergon grips, I got in contact with Team Topeak Ergon. The company behind the team, RTI Sports, is German and based not a huge distance from where I live. My first season with them was also my most successful to date. I was regularly on the podium at World Cups and finished the season 4th in the series. In New Zealand at the World Championships I took the silver medal.

2007 – World Champion

The second year with Team Topeak Ergon was even better than the first. In Scotland at the World Championships in Fort William, I took my first World Championship. It was the crowning jewel to a great season. I had won three World Cups and consequently the World Cup Overall Classification. I was also placed 1st in the World Rankings. For the seventh time in eight years I had also won the Russian National Champion’s jersey. It was a perfect year. The only thing I still lusted after was an Olympic Medal. Next year would be my chance.

2008

Olympics – it is what kids dream about. So many athletes from all over the world. It is a unique environment of top athletes, and many like-minded people. Everyone has their stories, their strengths and their weaknesses. There are highs and lows and a lot of emotion. I really enjoy it, and this time was determined leave with a medal. My preparation was good, but this was the Olympics – everyone wants it! I held in there, and used my chances. I went home overjoyed with a bronze medal.

2009 – World Champion

It was the maddest race of my career, and it ended with a World Championship title. In 2009 the World Championship was in Canberra, Australia. I felt good, and quickly moved into the lead. But then something happened and my chain jammed. It took me over a minute to free it up before I could ride away. It was the ride of my life, and I managed to make it back up to the front and win. I couldn’t believe it – not only that, but World Champion again.

2010 – Season start

The preparation for the season was in Majorca, and once that was behind me, things started off the hard way, with a World Cup. Britain, and Dalby Forest. Time to find out really how your training had gone. It was a tense one on one with Willow Koerber (USA), but I managed in the end to take it. It was the perfect start to the season. You can follow how it continued for me on my blog…. Wish me luck….