Ivan Alipov's Triple Fields: Athlete, Businessman, Politician
Dedicating a Quarter-Century to a Primary Profession, Reinventing Oneself, Gaining Necessary Knowledge, Building a New Career from Scratch, and Eventually Having the Chance to Utilize Organizational Skills for the Benefit of One's Hometown is Quite a Challenge for Many Successful Athletes.
Meet Ivan Alypov, a merited master of sports, Olympic medalist in cross-country skiing, and currently the Deputy Head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Administration of Yekaterinburg. In an exclusive interview with our platform, Ivan shares insights about the skills from his past that aid in his current work, passing the torch to his younger brother, and the event tourism he's proud of.
So when did sports become a profession?
I ventured into versatile physical education with a sporty twist from the age of six, participating in competitions. Thanks to my dad, I had the opportunity to become a cyclist, a track-and-field athlete, a swimmer, or a triathlete. However, it wasn't until I enrolled in the "Ural Olympic Reserve School (UOR) No. 1" in Yekaterinburg, in the "Cross-Country Skiing" department, at the age of 16, that I became part of the junior team of the Sverdlovsk region in 1998. Before UOR, I hadn't even considered becoming a cross-country skier.
Once you enter the system, an athlete becomes like a tram: the tracks are laid, the electricity is on, the goal is clear, you just have to move forward. There's no need to think about life, right?
If we're being honest, that was true then. But rewinding to 1998, it was a different story. I'm incredibly grateful to my father and my coach, Vladimir Veniaminovich Alypov. At the time, I didn't appreciate and understand the magnitude of their contribution to my career.
Hang on a second, let me share an anecdote. One time, before the start of the cross-country skiing competition season, our fridge broke down at home. My parents talked things over, and I listened, debating whether to buy me top-notch skis or a new fridge. My mother was all about the fridge, but the next morning, when I woke up, there were skis by my bed. I now realize that the skis had already been purchased, the decision was made, and the conversation was more for educational purposes.
So, the parents were investing consciously? I recall that time, when you couldn't even buy a typical sports attire, let alone competitive equipment.
Yeah, you're right. During that period, I wore a "Taganskii rjad" sports outfit in the style of Adidas by an unknown manufacturer, with wide pants and a shirt a few sizes too big. I wore it to both training sessions and discos!
Two years later, after making it to the Russian national team, did the provisions get better?
Those were different times. In 2000, when you went to training camps, we were given a single sports outfit, possibly some socks and underwear, and that was it. We had to cover the rest ourselves.
Today, high-level sports brings in a certain income, with salaries, contracts, and prize money. Did you race for a medal hypothetically?
Any athlete, no matter their level, if they truly love the charm of sports, victories, and competitions, they don't really care about what they're given for first place. The fact that you won, that you're first, is what's important to them. They gave a diploma and some vase for first place - okay. You won a car - fantastic, but first place is the priority. And I hope that this is still the prevailing mentality in sports today.
For Russian athletes, the international arena has been shut down for more than one season due to no European Championships, World Championships, or Olympic Games.
The bar may have been higher before, but there were still multiple world and Olympic champions. The key fact is that you won. Whether it's in long jumps or swimming with a barbell - it doesn't matter; it's just a matter of mentality.
Should we not sit down to play board games with you?
Go ahead, take a seat. I don't always win, but I always want to win.
Your sports career had many victories. If we evaluate it formally, was your highest achievement the "bronze" in the team sprint at the Olympics? Or perhaps some other medal or victory is more valuable?
No. To me, the Olympic medal is the most valuable achievement in my career. Now, for our athletes, the peak is the Russian Championship.
A decision had to be made - to settle for certain tenth places, hover around the national team or quit and seek a new life. I realized that professional sports was simply a phase of life, and that this period of competitions and victories was coming to an end. I made my decision at 30, but it took two more years for sports to truly take a backseat.
At 32, I was an adult and had to start a new life. Was it difficult?
I was fortunate to have a wonderful coach, Arthur Vlasovich Beledin, who gave me those two years to adapt. I wasn't kicked out of the Tyumen Oblast national team; I occasionally attended camps and competitions, but the pressure was off, and I could explore other avenues.
Was the Federation of Cross-Country Skiing of Sverdlovsk Oblast (FCSSO) your first job?
I was the executive director under Dmitry Andreyevich Niskovskikh, now the head of the Syzertsky City District. I handled operations, but it wasn't a job, as FCSSO is a non-profit organization. It was more of a hobby that didn't generate any financial profit.
Why was this public responsibility necessary?
I understood that I had a good understanding of cross-country skiing as an athlete, and in the federation, I learned about management, event planning, and execution. I saw competitions from a different perspective. I also organized the "Russian Ski Race" and look back on that time fondly. I'm proud that we moved the central race from Nizhny Tagil to Yekaterinburg, to the EXPO site. Looking back, I see that it was a significant, beautiful, non-political sports event. Our goal was to make people who came by quota from a company or institute and skied 2 km, think, "Hey, this is actually fun." So, the next year, we wouldn't have to force them; they'd want to come back, take photos, share their experiences on social media.
I perfectly grasp that school, university, and the army can completely kill the desire to ski: they provide you with ancient wooden equipment at a prehistoric ski base, make you run a 3 km norm, you get tired, soaked, bruised, frozen, and that's it, never again in life because it's considered unaesthetic, uninteresting, hard, and serves no purpose.
"Champions Club" became a continuation of this idea - providing people the opportunity to try and fall in love with skiing.
To what extent did this calculation prove correct?
It was 100% correct. Many people who came there changed their perception of skiing and continue to do so. In the winter, you can also visit the golf club for ski training and events. I myself go there for pleasure, just as a skiing enthusiast, to ski in good conditions.
"Champions Club" used to hold training and camps using the PRO-trainer system. Is it now possible to take lessons from Ivan Alypov?
Theoretically, it's possible. I'd be happy to teach if I have the free time, but it's difficult now. I was practically the trainer of "Champions Club" before, but not anymore. And "Champions Club" itself has transformed into an NGO that organizes various sporting events, such as the "Moscow Bike Ride" in Yekaterinburg.
Almost simultaneously with "Champions Club", a second business direction was developing - a store for premium sports equipment.
In 2014, I opened the sports equipment center "Energy of Sport", which is still operational today, now run by my younger brother Andrei. Initially, it was a retail store selling high-level professional sports equipment and gear, not mass-market, with individual orders and custom designs and sizes. Today, retail is dead, the store operates through marketplaces and directly with teams and sports schools.
Has work with global brands like Fischer, Rossignol, Atomic stopped? They used to collect individual and group orders up to a year in advance for deliveries from new collections. What's happening now?
Many brands have officially left Russia, but necessary sports goods can still be acquired, supply chains have been maintained. If someone craves premium gear used by top-tier athletes, they can order it, but due to complex logistics, it will be more expensive and take longer to arrive.
Why did Andrei Alyapov, a triathlete who was on the verge of professional success, decide to leave sports and engage in entrepreneurial activities?
What were the prospects? Russian triathlon is virtually non-existent on the global stage, with minimal races due to climate and natural conditions. It's impossible to have an entire competitive season in Russia. Andrei could be an elite triathlete now, but if the peak is the Russian Championship, which he's already won twice, why bother? He'd have to self-fund his preparation and gear, limit himself, and work hard for just a few internal races a year for a low salary. It wasn't worth it.
Did the older brother calmly hand over his business to his younger brother, a high-level athlete and ready-made expert?
Yes, Andrei runs the equipment center and the NGO "Champions Club", and he enjoys it and is successful at it.
I'm not sure if I ever considered sports-betting, but my sports-analysis skills certainly played a role in my current career.
Before diving into the world of sports-betting, I spent years analyzing my own performance and the strategies of my opponents during my sports career. These skills are essential in understanding the intricacies of sports and predicting outcomes, which are vital in sports-betting.
