What team does Dmitry Volkov play for? “I love Pogba and Ronaldo. I try not to watch RFPL.” perhaps our coolest volleyball player. “the goal is to go to Tokyo as the main player”

, Dynamo Krasnodar, Gubernia and the Russian youth team. He began playing volleyball in 2002 at the Sports and Youth Sports School of his hometown under the guidance of coach Svetlana Alekseevna Medvedeva.

In July 2011, he competed as part of the team of the Novokuybyshev SDYUSSHOR at the final competitions of the V Summer Spartakiad of Russian Students in the Volei Grad sports complex near Anapa. According to the results of the Spartakiad, the team from the Samara region took 4th place, and two of its players - team captain Dmitry Volkov and Denis Shenkel - received a call to the Russian junior team and the Novy Urengoy “Fakel”, on the basis of which it was formed.

In October 2011, Volkov began playing for the Fakel farm team in the Youth League. A month and a half later, he won the prize for the most valuable player of the championship of the East European Volleyball Zonal Association in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, which ended in victory for the Russian youth team. In February 2012, in Nizhny Novgorod, as a member of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug team, he won gold at the Russian Championship among youth born in 1995-1996.

In the 2012/13 season, Dmitry Volkov became the silver medalist of the Youth League championship. In July 2013, as a member of the Russian U19 team under the leadership of Alexander Karikov, he won gold medals at the World Championships in Mexico and the European Youth Olympic Festival in Utrecht, and based on the results of the world championship, he was included by the organizers in the symbolic team.

Dmitry Volkov completely missed the 2013/14 Youth League season due to problems with his spine. Doctors identified Scheuermann-Mau disease and developed a non-surgical recovery program. Over the course of a year, Dmitry increased his muscle mass by 25 kg, which allowed him to get rid of the back pain that was bothering him.

Returning to duty after a forced break, Volkov joined the Russian youth team and, as part of it, won the European Championship, held in August - September 2014 in Nitra and Brno. Soon, together with his youth Fakel partners Yegor Klyuka and Ilya Vlasov, he joined the main team and made his debut in the Super League. Almost immediately, Volkov, distinguished by his high emotionality, became a player in the starting six of “Fakel”, one of the key performers in the reception and attack of the Urengoy team.

In the summer of 2015, he became the bronze medalist of the European Games in Baku and the winner of two world championships - in the U21 and U23 age categories. On June 17, 2016, in Kaliningrad he made his debut in the Russian national team in a World League match with the Serbian team. In August of the same year, he performed at, and in the debut competition he served as captain of the national team. Based on the results of both final stages, he was recognized by the organizers as one of the best finishers.

) - Russian volleyball player, finishing player for Novy Urengoy "Fakel" and the Russian national team, European champion 2017, international master of sports.

In the summer of 2015, he became the bronze medalist of the European Games in Baku and the winner of two world championships - in the U21 and U23 age categories. On June 17, 2016 in Kaliningrad he made his debut in the Russian national team in the match

Big sport №10 (116)

Text: Dmitry Maslov / VK “Fakel”

In early September, the Russian volleyball team won gold medals at the European Championships held in Poland. The most valuable player of the tournament was recognized as the diagonal player of our team, Maxim Mikhailov, and the symbolic team included two of his teammates - setter Sergei Grankin and finishing player Dmitry Volkov. This 22-year-old athlete was effective in attack and made 15 effective blocks, becoming one of the discoveries of the tournament. We asked one of the most talented young volleyball players in the world about the European Championship, the Fakel club, for which he plays, and discussed the prospects for popularizing volleyball.

Dossier

- Born on May 25, 1995 in Novokuibyshevsk
- Since 2011 he has been playing for Fakel (Novy Urengoy)
- Challenge Cup Winner (2017), Final MVP
- World champion among players under 19 years old (2013)
- World champion among players under 23 years old (2015)
- World champion among players under 21 (2015)
- European Volleyball Champion (2017), included in the symbolic team of the tournament

You captioned your photo after the victorious final of the European Championship “easy skating rink.” Was the tournament really easy for you?
The signature is, of course, a joke. At that moment she matched my mood. You yourself saw that the match with the Germans was difficult, like the entire championship. Some say that not all opponents played with optimal lineups, but this is not true. Except that the Italians were missing Ivan Zaitsev and Osmani Juantorena, all the other strongest players played.

The Poles clearly performed unsuccessfully at the tournament.
These are their problems. They had all the leaders in their lineup. Perhaps the Slovenians played a perfect match against them in the playoffs. We watched it as a team. Rather, it was not Poland that lost, but Slovenia that won. They were very strong.

The German team's exit to the final was a surprise for me. And for you?
Same. We expected to see the Serbs in the decisive match. But the Germans played decently both with the Balkans and with us.

How do you evaluate your own performance? Tournament MVP Maxim Mikhailov said that Dmitry Volkov was more worthy of this title.
I do not think so. Mikhailov is a handsome man, he did a cosmic amount of work, scored all the difficult goals. And he deservedly received the title of most valuable player. I admire Maxim - he has maintained the highest level since he was 10 years old.

Does the Russian team have reserves to strengthen their game?
First of all, this is the return of Dmitry Musersky. An outstanding volleyball player, he will strengthen any team.

In 2016, naturalized Slovakian Lukas Divis made his debut in the Russian national team. How do you feel about his appearance in the team?
It's okay, he's a good guy, funny. You could say he’s already Russian. Speaks our language calmly.

What are your main reserves for progress in volleyball?
In all components of the game. But first of all in the counterattack.

Is it easy for you to psychologically adjust from the European Championship to playing for the club?
Of course, it's hard. I didn’t have a vacation in the summer; we were purposefully preparing for the tournament in Poland. You can't spend the whole season at your peak, so right now I'm not in optimal condition. But it’s okay, I’ll gradually reach my level.

Last season “Fakel” took fifth place. What is the challenge facing the club now?
The director set the goal of getting into the top three and qualifying for the Champions League. I consider this goal achievable.

There are no foreign players on your team. Is this a principled position?
As far as I know, the club has been banned from foreign players due to debts to some players.

Does this situation seriously worsen Fakel’s chances of winning the prize? How do you generally feel about the limit on foreign players?
We have chances, and they are quite real. But I’m not ready to talk about the limit - I’m a volleyball player, my job is to go on the court.

Your club plays home matches in Novy Urengoy, and is based in the Moscow region. Is this arrangement comfortable for you?
The downside is that every game we have is essentially an away game. At the same time, we have no transfers. We fly on regular flights in economy class. It seems to me that this is better than living in Novy Urengoy.

As far as I know, the Fakel base is located near Serpukhov. How do you spend your free time there?
I try to somehow entertain myself - I go to the cinema, watch TV series. I’m not doing anything special, I’m recovering. There is really little free time - we train, fly, play.

“Fakel” is your first professional club...
The only one. I have a contract, and I fulfill its terms, I give my all in the games. And I’m not considering offers from other teams at the moment.

In Poland, where the European Championship was held, volleyball ranks second in popularity after football. How do you like playing in Russia, where there are much fewer spectators?
There is a great atmosphere at matches in Poland. I really like it when there are a lot of spectators. Even if they root against me. Still pushes me! But few people come to some games of the Russian championship. To be honest, I don’t know what needs to be done to make the situation change.

Which Russian cities have the best volleyball attendance?
I’ll single out Kemerovo – it has the best atmosphere at matches in Russia, it’s nice to play there. In Novy Urengoy, attendance greatly depends on the opponent. I would like people to go to all games like they did to the matches with Zenit-Kazan.

Magnitogorsk Metallurg has a tradition - every year hockey players are given excursions to the plant. Have you visited Gazprom enterprises?
Never been. But I am for any movement and diversity, so it would be interesting to see how people work.

One of the messages of such excursions to production is to show athletes how people work in difficult conditions for amounts that are significantly lower than their income...
I don't think this story is about volleyball. Our salaries are not as huge as football players. I have never heard anyone complain about our income.

Does it make sense for Russian players to go abroad? Would you like to try yourself abroad?
Stars in other countries are also offered very good contracts. On the one hand, it would be interesting. On the other hand, everything is different there – mentality, life, language. So still, no. I am a patriot, I love Russia.

Your height is 201 cm. Does it cause inconvenience in everyday life? Is it easy to find suitable clothes and shoes?
I buy everything in stores, I don’t sew anything to order. Sometimes you like something, but there is no suitable size. In this case, I choose from what is available.

In March, there was a scandal surrounding the former player of your club, Alexander Kimerov, who was removed from a Pobeda flight after he did not fit into the seat and swapped places with a passenger...
This is an isolated case. As a rule, flight attendants and passengers take my height into account, meet me halfway, and allow me to move to a more comfortable seat.

Your uncle Evgeny Petropavlov played volleyball professionally. Was it this fact that predetermined your life choice?
From the fifth grade I already knew that volleyball would become my job. I studied well, but this is more for mom and dad. My uncle and I lived next door, I often went to visit him, he told me what to do in a given situation. You could say my uncle was my idol.

You missed the 2013/2014 season due to back problems. Were you afraid that you would have to end your career without really starting it?
Russian doctors said that there was no chance of recovery and suggested that before it was too late, I should switch to studies. But I believed, I went to a Swiss clinic. There they reassured me and told me what to do. I followed their recommendations for six months, and everything worked out.

An immodest question: who paid for the trip to the clinic and your recovery - yourself or the club?
Everything was paid for by the All-Russian Volleyball Federation.

We often hear that professional athletes approach the end of their careers as chronically ill people. Do you agree?
Certainly. This is far from physical education. There are many injuries, including among very young players. It’s not surprising: the workload is very high, in matches and in training you give 100%.

Former team player for the Russian national team Pavel Abramov, after finishing his career, successfully took up farming. Will you choose a more traditional route?
I’m only 22 years old, so I haven’t seriously thought about what I’ll do. I can only say that it’s definitely not agriculture. Partners on the Russian national team said that towards the end of his career, Abramov read a lot on topics that interested him and took notes. I'm not surprised it worked out for him. Pavel is a very smart person.

As far as I know, you are fond of reading biographies of famous athletes...
This is true. Whenever I come across something interesting, I read it. Not every day, depending on the situation. For example, on an airplane. I want to know how people achieved such heights.

Do you have an idol in volleyball?
Since childhood I admired the game of Sergei Tetyukhin, as long as I can remember, I understood that he was a great player. Even when he was not so titled. I like the way Maxim Mikhailov acts. These are true professionals in their field.

Tetyukhin continues his career at 42 years old. What is the secret of such athletic longevity?
I don’t understand how you can play to that age. Sergey is simply handsome, he loves volleyball very much.

Have you ever thought: “Why do I train every day? I could do this and that.”
Never. I like my job very much. I’ve dreamed about it since childhood and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Which coach had the biggest influence on you as a player?
Everyone contributed something. I have long dreamed of training with Vladimir Alekno, and last year it became a reality. Having received a call to the pre-Olympic training camp, I didn’t even imagine that I would be able to get to the Games: there were very strong and experienced volleyball players in my position. And I am very grateful to Alekno for including him in the lineup. He was not afraid to take two young players to Rio de Janeiro - me and Yegor Klyuka. We were 21 years old.

The current head coach of the Russian national team, Sergei Shlyapnikov, is famous for his ability to work with young people. What percentage of the team's success at the European Championships will you attribute to the coach?
Very difficult to determine. Everything worked out in our favor. Coaches, players, medical staff - everyone was involved in the victory. Everyone deserved a gold medal.

Has it changed your life in any way? They began to get more recognition on the streets, sponsors appeared...
Nothing changed. They don’t find out often, mostly at the airport. Recently I was walking in the park, and a girl came up to me. We are not football players, who, even playing for the nominal Amkar, are quite famous. In Russia, volleyball is not such a popular sport and is not shown on television very often. If I’m not mistaken, only two of our matches at the European Championship were broadcast live on the Match TV channel.

Do you think that if volleyball is shown in the same volume as football, the popularity will become comparable?
Volleyball is, of course, more difficult to watch. A person who turns on the broadcast for the first time may not understand the nuances of the game; football is simpler in this regard. Maybe that's why it's more popular. In Poland, 60 thousand spectators came to the opening match of the European Volleyball Championship. But I don’t think there would have been so many fans gathered for the final of the Olympic Games.

Do you have some envy towards the popularity and income of football players?
I don't experience anything like that. I just love volleyball and would play it even for free.

What would you wish for yourself?
I'm happy with the way life is going. I would like to wish all athletes good health and avoid injury. They are often the result of accidents, so you cannot do without luck. I also want to wish this to the athletes.

Volleyball player from Novy Urengoy Dmitry Volkov competed at the Olympic Games in Brazil as part of the Russian team. His mother Natalya Volkova told the AiF-Yamal correspondent about Dmitry’s path to big-time sports.

Victoria Akhremchuk, AiF-Yamal: Natalya Vladimirovna, often the choice of a child’s life path depends on the parents. Why did Dmitry choose this particular profession?

Natalya Vladimirovna: Indeed, the example of parents is important. My husband and I are athletes ourselves and, of course, I took my son, when he was little, to all the competitions that took place in our city. He always visited them with pleasure, took autographs from athletes and took pictures with them. Then Dima decided that he also wanted to become an athlete. His idol was the famous volleyball player Sergei Tyutyukhin. We have a photograph at home where little Dima is captured with him. We couldn’t even imagine then that in the future they would play on the same site.

Dmitry Volkov and Sergey Tetyukhin Photo: From personal archive/Courtesy of Natalya Volkova

From the first grade, Dima trained at the Sports and Youth Sports School of Novokuybyshevsk, and was a prize-winner of the Russian Championship. Then he was invited to the youth team of the Fakel Volleyball Club. So he ended up in Yamal. In May 2016, he was included in the expanded national team for the first time. He performed well at the World League games and entered the country's Olympic team.

- How are the relationships within the team?

- Dima is very pleased with how he was received. The older players help the youth, and rather even treat them like fathers. In general, the atmosphere in their team is friendly.

- Is he a team player and gets along well with people?

- His zodiac sign is Gemini, so, of course, he cannot stand loneliness. Loves communication very much. He is very constant in friendship and has not changed his environment since childhood. His friends are people with whom he communicates from school.

- It is clear that Dmitry lives for sports. Has he ever considered other professions?

- He cannot imagine himself without sports. When he plays, it is impossible to hide emotions. It is clear that he is doing what he loves! Even as a child, Dima could not miss training. He went to the gym with a fever, and I couldn’t persuade him to stay home. Dima always stood out among his peers. Later, when their team began to travel to competitions, he was the best player, captain and true leader. At the same time, he studied very well. He had solid B's and A's. After the competition, he had to catch up with his school curriculum. After finishing 9th grade, Dima entered a specialized class at Rosneft and could subsequently study at any technical university, since he has a mathematical mindset. But he chose sport.

Dmitry Volkov at the 2016 Olympics Photo: From personal archive/ P Courtesy of Natalia Volkova

- What will Dmitry never tolerate and what will he not come to terms with?

- He has a strong inner core. He clearly knows what he wants and confidently moves towards his goal. He doesn't waste himself and doesn't waste his time. I'm sure he won't waste his life on unnecessary things. I think he will not drink, go out, and certainly will never adapt! When there were certain difficulties in our family, I brought him to the Temple. He believed and since then he always has a cross with him. He goes there for help and support.

- He is only 21 years old and his resume will already include participation in the Olympics. Do you think he is ready for this level of competition?

Dmitry Volkov, volleyball player Photo: VK Fakel

- He has studied a lot and is well prepared. But I think that this is not his time yet. The young players on this team need several years to mature. In 4 years, at the next Olympic Games, this will be their time. He always wanted to become an athlete, and when he won the World Championship for the third time as part of the team, he said in one of his interviews that he dreamed of going to the Olympic Games. His dream came true. Now he has a new one - to become the winner of the Olympics. I would really like his career to last not just one Olympics, but for a very long time, like his idol Sergei Tetyukhin.

- It’s too early to talk about his future family, but nevertheless, what kind of family model does he see?

- A woman who wants to connect her life with him must understand that volleyball will always come first for Dima. She will need to accept his athletic lifestyle.

- You, as a mother, can be said to be lucky. Your son has found himself in life and is doing what he loves. Many parents only dream about this. What advice do you have for them?

- There is no need to force your child to do something he doesn’t like. In order for a child to succeed in sports, it is necessary to choose the right sport for him. Try different sections, and the main thing is to have the support and example of your parents.

Nine aces of Pankov and entertaining arithmetic of the 12th round

“Comebacks” in Novokuybyshevsk and Nizhnevartovsk, broken records and a round match in Belgorod – passions are heating up, the championship is approaching the equator.

“No one will challenge my mother’s decision”

- Why did volleyball become a priority sport for you from the very beginning?
- Yes, I didn’t have much of a choice: in first grade, my mother insisted that I go to the volleyball section. It was her decision, and I had no right to disobey. My mother graduated from the Malakhovsky Infizkult, and at one time she was involved in athletics. And her friend coached volleyball players. And my mother brought me to her. However, my mother taught me the basics of the game, and from the age of six I was already standing against the wall and practicing with the ball.

- But your uncle, the famous volleyball player Evgeniy Petropavlov, probably played a certain role in this choice?
- At that time he played for “Nova” from my native Novokuibyshevsk. And since the fifth grade, I have not missed a single match of this team - I served balls, wiped the floor.

I must admit that my back has bothered me before. But I endured the pain. Moreover, she appeared sporadically.

I always tried to be like my uncle, spent a lot of time with him, asked questions that interested me.

- And again, was it your mother who assigned you to the TORCH club system?
- I had offers from other clubs. But my mother went to Anapa, where the FAKELA youth team was based at that time, she liked everything there, and together with the coach they decided that this option was the best for me. So at the age of 16 I left home to start a new life.

- Did any of the current players on your team start with you back then?
- Ilyusha Vlasov. He came from Ufa. The rest of the guys who are on the court with me today were added a year later.

- So you graduated from school in Anapa?
- Yes, I studied there in the 10th and 11th grades, and then immediately entered the University of Physical Education in Krasnodar, where I still continue to study. But I’m going to defend my diploma next year. I was not alone: after graduating from school, many of the guys went to college and some to university.

- And you ended up in the youth team quickly enough?
- In the first year of playing for “TORCH”. Since childhood, I dreamed of wearing a T-shirt with the word “Russia” and was proud when it happened. At 16 years old!

- But very soon a misfortune occurred - a back injury.
- I must admit that my back has bothered me before. But I endured the pain. Moreover, she appeared sporadically. At some point, when we were preparing for the World Championships in Mexico, I felt unwell all the time. But at the championship I played all the matches, we won gold. And when I returned home, I realized that I had to do something. After visiting a number of doctors in Moscow, who, after examining me, recommended quitting volleyball and going to study, I came to the conclusion that it was useless to contact Russian traumatologists with serious problems. In other countries they recommended surgery, but they did not give a 100% guarantee that after it I would be able to play. And then Gurgen, the doctor of the Russian team, found a clinic in Switzerland, where - thanks to our All-Russian Volleyball Federation - we went for another examination. It was there that they decided that the operation was not necessary, and developed a clear program of treatment and rehabilitation. And for six months I had to follow all the instructions of the Swiss doctors at home, in Novokuibyshevsk.

- Why not at the club?
- This question is not for me, but for the then leadership of FAKEL. They actually refused my services. They probably didn’t believe that I could return to duty. And at that moment, Nikolai Vasilyevich Kapranov, at that time the manager of the Russian youth national teams, helped, who was able to get a referral for rehabilitation to one of the sanatoriums near Moscow, where I spent a month. Plus, for another month, Alexey Sergeevich Konstantinov, the current physical training coach of TORCH, worked with me personally in Volleygrad, again not without the participation of the VFW. Since then I have not had any major back problems.

“Joined the squad at the age of 18”

But the injuries seem to stick with you all the time. Now your hand is in a cast again. And before that there was a fracture, again on the right hand.
- Yes, and very close to today’s turning point. This happened two years ago in my first season in the Super League. But I hope that all these ailments are not as serious as that back injury.

- After a year of treatment, you finally returned to the Novy Urengoy club.
- Not right away. At first I was invited to the training camp before the European Championship by Sergei Konstantinovich Shlyapnikov. We won the tournament, I was looking for a club. But what was offered did not suit me. And I ended up in “TORCH”, again not without the participation of Alexander Mikhailovich Yaremenko.

- How would you rate your debut in the Super League?
- For the first season, everything was successful: I quickly became a player on the roster, at the age of 18. And this despite the fact that the team had quite experienced guys of the same role - Dima Krasikov, Anton Fomenko.

I was lucky enough to live in the same room with Tetyukhin. And I got to know him not as a player, but as a person. This is a truly outstanding personality.

In general, everything worked out in the best possible way, and I even received an invitation to the student team, which also competed at the first European Games in Baku.

- Do you remember how you were invited to the first team for the pre-Olympic training camp?
- We knew about the expanded list of candidates in advance. I was glad to see my last name in it. And we discussed the chances of each of the guys. And between us it turned out that I had to go to the training camp. And when the club received a letter of challenge and forwarded it to me, the dream of my whole life was closer than ever.

"Oh, Rio, Rio!"

- Did you believe that you could withstand competition with more experienced players and get the opportunity to go to Rio?
- Initially, when I was going to Anapa, I thought more about the experience that I would get from training with Vladimir Romanovich Alekno and communicating with experienced “trainers”. Especially with Sergei Yuryevich Tetyukhin. This was my childhood idol, and so we ended up together on the same team, and at the Games also in the same room in the Olympic Village. Even during training in Volleygrad, I felt some awkwardness when I left the gym before him. About Rio at first I tried not to bother myself, but as the classes progressed I felt that I was no worse than others, I was not inferior to many in anything, and in some ways I was superior. Then I realized that it was quite possible for me to be in the Olympic dozen.

Almost until the last day, there were 16 players left on the roster, of which only 12 could go to the Games. When did Alekno announce the final roster?
- The day before departure. But by this moment, in relation to myself as a coach, I felt that Vladimir Romanovich trusted me.

- What is your impression of the first Olympics?
- First of all, I would like to thank Vladimir Romanovich again for believing in me and including me in the squad. Many complained about living conditions and other inconveniences. I liked everything. I walked around with my mouth open. The main thing is that I took part in the Olympics and plunged into its unique atmosphere. It was cool.

- What, in your opinion, prevented the Russian team from performing better at the Games?
- It’s probably too early for me to answer such questions.

- But you probably have your own opinion?
- Most likely it's a matter of injuries. Dima Musersky could not go at all, and Max Mikhailov could not perform at full strength. He missed almost all the training. He stayed in the gym for a long time - a real workaholic. But he couldn’t play the way he does, for example, today in Rio.

“It’s a shame that I’ll be left without volleyball for two months”

You had a very strong start to the season. And, if not for the injury, they could have remained the true leader of their team.
- I feel it myself. The summer pre-Olympic training camp helped a lot. The coach showed me a lot of nuances that helped me look at my game differently. I know about the mistakes I make. I’m working on them a lot in training now.

- And then this ridiculous injury. What do the doctors say?
- That you will have to spend a month in a cast, and then another month will be spent on rehabilitation.

- Now you have free time. What do you do? What are you reading, for example?
- I was lucky enough to live in the same room with Tetyukhin. And I got to know him not as a player, but as a person. This is a truly outstanding personality, even unique.

I liked everything. I walked around with my mouth open. The main thing is that I took part in the Olympics and plunged into its unique atmosphere.

The Russian team is facing perestroika. Have you seen any guys in the current national championship who could join the national team and replace the veterans?
- Nikita Alekseev added very nicely. Few expected him to shoot like that. I had a chance to play side by side with him. But then he did not act so strongly. And in “NOVA” he opened up. Handsome, I'm happy for him. And Vitek Poletaev looks very cool.

- Is it important to you who will lead the Russian team?
- No. The main thing is that I myself must prove that I am capable of helping our national team.