Semen Elistratov

Club / Team

Ufa Sports School of Olympic Reserve No.1: Russia

Hobbies

Reading, cars. (Athlete, 25 Sep 2018)

Name of coach	Andrey Maksimov [personal], RUS, from 2000
When and where did you begin this sport?	He began training in 2000 in Ufa, Russian Federation.

Injuries	At age 12 he missed two months of training after breaking his leg in a fall during competition. (rbinform.ru, 28 Feb 2013)
Awards and honours	He received the Order for Merit to the Fatherland [first class] in the Russian Federation in recognition of his performance at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. He had previously received the second class Order for Merit to the Fatherland after his performance at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (publication.pravo.gov.ru, 25 Feb 2022; kremlin.ru, 27 Feb 2018) He received the Order of Friendship in the Russian Federation in recognition of his performance at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (kremlin.ru, 24 Feb 2014) He holds the title of Honoured Master of Sport in the Russian Federation. (info.russkating.ru, 30 Oct 2022; minsport.gov.ru, 01 Jun 2022)

instagram.com/semi7pro

Reason for choosing this sport

He was given the chance to try short track during his physical education classes at school.

Sporting philosophy / motto	"Don't give up. Fight until the end." (sport-express.ru, 10 Feb 2018)
Other information	ELISTRATOV CENTRE In November 2020 a short track skating centre in his hometown of Ufa, Russian Federation, was named after him. "I began short track skating at age 10. If someone had told me [at the time] that an ice arena would be named after me, I would have laughed of course. I am an ordinary guy and would never say such words as 'great' or 'outstanding' of myself. In general, I have a very difficult attitude to my regalia and victories in the sports arena, when there are many more important areas. This is a huge responsibility for me." (Instagram profile, 30 Nov 2020; rsport.ria.ru, 24 Nov 2020) FATHERHOOD He said that ahead of the 2019/20 season his mentality in competition had changed, and that a reason for this may have been the birth of his son Lev in 2018. "I think the most important thing that has changed is my head. Hence the changes in tactics, and it seems to me I began to navigate [the race] faster. My head became stronger, maybe due to the fact that I became a father. I can't explain it, I just feel the race, I understand what will happen. It's a pity that it came at age 30, not at 22." (rsport.ria.ru, 21 Dec 2019)