On April 25th in Budapest starts the judo European championship - the first serious official start after Olympic Games in London. One of the most skilled athletes in our team is Vladimir Soroka who in the status of the leader will move Ukrainians to a continental pedestal.

In conversation with "Champion" the inhabitant of Kiev told about a microclimate in collective, about own plans and prospects.

- Vladimir, with what mood you approach to the European championship?

- Everything is good, preparation is in the home stretch, and personally I can't wait to come to a tatami. Any innovations aren't present - we work approximately according to the same plan, as in the previous Olympic cycle.

- Earlier you didn't have enough strong sparring partners and the internal competition in weight to 73 kg. Whether the situation to the best changed?

- Strong children are, and were earlier. The matter is that they can't while themselves to show on the international starts. To fight at home is one. It is possible to study all the rivals, and not to allow them to realize strengths.

- In the European championship together with you in weight to 73 kg Sergey Drebot who acted recently in category of 66 kg will fight. How you consider, on forces it is successful to it to act in new weight?

-  And why isn't present?  Sergey well fought on the last tournaments, imposed to rivals the conditions.  I think, to it in 73 kg it will be easier, than to drive weight in 66 kg.  Personally the same transition one category higher was given me without problems, and to 73 kg I found the fight in weight.

- After the Olympic Games in London leaders of the national team of Ukraine on judo, and you including, took a certain break in performances, and even thought of completion of career. Roman Gontyuk hung up a kimono on a nail, and you decided to continue

- Yes, made the decision to remain in sports, at least, for some seasons. And there life will show... Let's look, whether forces on one more Olympic Games will suffice. Everything will depend on my physical condition, and, of course, financings.

- In the national team you skilled, and partners even for fun call you "grandfather".

- Yes to me already 30 therefore call so (laughs).

- And how about the status of the captain?

- The matter is that at us don't elect the captain. There are leaders - I, George Zantaraya, in a women's team - Marina Prishchep. And so trainers predominate over athletes, they are responsible for all.

- Let's return to the European championship. So it happened that superiority of the Old World for you - sign start! For the last four years you became the champion of Europe and took silver.

- Yes, but a special spirit as on any mega-important start, on the European championship at me isn't present. In Budapest the first serious official competitions of a new Olympic cycle will take place, and all want to prove as it is possible is better and there is the main motivation.

- Some time the team prepared for the European championship energized, connected with elections of the new head coach.

-  There was such, but now a microclimate in collective very good.  It is good that with us there was a trainer under the leadership of whom we worked the last four years, won a set of tournaments and medals of various advantage.  However, Sergey and Vitaly Dubrova accused that we didn't bring from the Olympic Games of awards.  But for some reason don't remember that we won team the European championship, we have world champions and the continent!

David Dubrovin for Champion.com.ua

http://www.ukrainejudo.com/