From Russia With Love ... In Search Of Golden Soil, Wealth For Toil
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday July 27, 2002
While she hasn't yet posed nude even artistically for a magazine, Commonwealth Games diving gold medallist Irina Lashko joins Tatiana Grigorieva in the annals of Russian-Australian sporting glory.
The high diver from Melbourne, via Ekaterinburg in the foothills of the Ural mountains, is the latest in a long line of Russians to grab the headlines, after proudly and successfully competing as Australians.
At times it seems that everywhere you look there's a former Russian.
Think of Australian boxing (the real stuff, not the bash-an-oldie variety) and there's Kostya Tszyu, southern Sydney's undisputed champion of the world.
Try pole vaulting silver medallist Grigorieva, of course, and her husband Viktor Chistiakov, both happy Adelaide residents, not to mention former comrade now Australian pole vaulting compatriot Dmitri Markov.
Why is Australia home to so many fit, fast, and feisty Russians?
There is something uniquely appealing about Australia's blend of a love of sport and a comfortable way of life, said Ron Pengelly, who works with Tszyu as the Australian Institute of Sport's high performance manager for boxing.
``The facilities are good at the AIS, but it's the Australian attitude, too. As a country, we take a great pride in our sporting achievements. That's something Australians and Russians share.
``Russians do well here. They set themselves an amazing workload; they are very dedicated and committed. They are very analytical in their approach."
While the Russian-born athletes have blossomed in their adoptive homeland, native Australians are also benefiting from the cultural exchange.
``The kids here see how hard Kostya trains, how focused he is, and they're inspired. He is very supportive of them, too; very motivating. He speaks to them whenever he's here, and goes to see them before they take off for championships overseas," Pengelly said.
The AIS's boxers might soon have Russian comrades, said Dazes, who recently returned to Russia with the Australian national team.
``Some young Russian boxers I was talking to would like to move here," Tszyu said.
``They heard the story that Australia is beautiful and [a country] where people can live the way they're supposed to.
``They know that I was one of these people to come over to Australia, and they heard from me that Australia is the best place in the world. I feel safe here for me and my family."
Not all Russians take to Australia, though, said Tszyu, who moved here in 1992. ``If people like easy-going life, Australia is very good, and that's why they come here," he said.
``But some people like Moscow, and in Moscow life is crazy very wild. They are not happy in Australia, they find life too slow. But I prefer life like this."
One Muscovite who may have fallen to a yearning for his former crazy life is Gennadi Touretski, the colourful swimming coach, who was behind the rise of Michael Klim and various others.
Proving not all Russian migrations have a happy landing, a few bouts of alcohol-inspired air rage over the years saw Touretski disciplined, suspended and finally yesterday sacked from the AIS.
The 52-year-old was suspended from the AIS with full pay last April after drugs were allegedly found in a safe stolen from his home. He returned to work in September when prosecutors dropped the charges.
The future of his star Russian pupil, Canberra resident Alex Popov, is uncertain. The four-time Olympic champion, along with wife and child, are well established here and Popov has a passion for the V8 Holden.
``In Europe, you would be looking for a BMW 850 with the same acceleration standards," he told the Good Weekend in a discussion of life Down Under.
Holdens aside, our easy-going lifestyle can get in the way of the champion mindset, said Tszyu.
``We do spoil the kids. It's the attitude of parents: `Why should we push our kids so hard when life is so good?'," Tszyu said.
While many Russian athletes came to Australia through the 1990s, Australia has long been an El Dorado for Russians, said Alex Ivacheffi, SBS's head of Russian programming.
``Russians have always known Australia is a fantastic place, but they couldn't come until the collapse of the Soviet Union made the opportunity," said Ivacheffi, who worked as a translator for the Russian team during the Sydney Olympics.
``Athletes are welcome here because Australia welcomes exceptional talent. Be they computer professionals or athletes, there is always a demand for exceptional talent in Australia."
One Russian athlete who did appear nude, but who failed the test of the track was Talgar, a Soviet horse imported for the 1991 racing season. Caulfield trainer Brian Ralph had high hopes for the towering (17 hands) Soviet, but Talgar performed poorly, a victim, perhaps, of the relaxed lifestyle.
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald
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