Russia Blog: Victoria Francis on final training and shopping in Russia before leaving for Spain
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by USA Women's National Team
Note: The U.S. Women's World Team will be sending updates from their training camp in Russia in early July
Coach Terry Steiner works out with World silver medalist Alli Ragan and Becka Leathers watches technique during training session in Russia. Photo courtesy of Becka Leathers.
July 11 - Last day in Russia
by Victoria Francis, 75 kg U.S. World Team member
Heavyweight here to rap up the daily blogs from Kislovodsk, Russia! Today has been a relaxed training day for the team. I personally was off the mat today and got in a short weightlifting session and did some cardio. But those on the mat had a low-intensity practice late this morning. Some warmed up with spikeball and then had time to work on technique in their individual focus-areas.
This afternoon was free time for us athletes. A large group of the ladies took a cab into town. While in town, they got their eyebrows and eyelashes done and went to the mall to explore and shop. The costs of products and services are very cheap here, so the team wanted to take advantage of the salon prices before we left. And I'd say it was money well spent, the girls came back looking stunning!
A few of the athletes, the coaches, and I hung back at the training center and took advantage of the sauna facilities here one last time. I also got use my new sauna hat that I bought while in town Sunday! This hat insulates my head and helps protect my hair from the heat (gotta keep these locks looking luscious!) It was only worth about $2.50 USD and I will definitely get my money's worth out of it.
Tonight we will leave the training center around 11pm to start making our way to Madrid. This has been a great training camp for the team. I haven't been to many international training camps yet, but I'd bet the team as a whole would say this was the best trip they've been on. Training quality and volume, food, rooms, weather and hospitality of the Russian team and coaches, it all exceeded our expectations. I hope to have the opportunity to return here to train.
We owe a huge thank you to the Russian team and training center for hosting us and I hope we can return the favor. Спасиба! (spasiba/thank you)
July 9th - No Training, Sightseeing Day
by Mallory Velte, 2017 World Team member
Training is slowing down as we taper and prepare for competition at the Grand Prix of Spain. The beautiful, friendly city Kislovodsk - and the awesome Russian team - has provided our team a new lens to see Russia through.
The off mat day began like any other, with a casual round robin tournament of spikeball; the victors (again) Ali Ragan (58kg) and Haley Augello (53kg). The afternoon included a planned excursion led by Yuri Shakhmuradov, the head coach of Russia wrestling. He and the entire support staff accompanied our team on a scenic yet scary gondola ride. The ride began high in the mountains, beside our training center, and ended in an expansive rose garden.
From the gondola we meandered 12kms through one of Europe’s largest parks, passing through immaculate gardens and trails leading to the main event- Narzan Mineral Water. This is Kislovodsk’s primary tourist attraction, as this eau naturale water spewing from the ground is believed to heal a variety of ailments and diseases. A variety of these waters were offered on tap; a range of warm, cool, carbonated, flat, and to our surprise some tasting and smelling of sulfur.
From here we we’re let loose upon the cute old town, where our world team members purchased souvenirs specific to the region. The most notable purchase, 75kg Victoria Francis, acquired a wool Russian sauna hat which keeps heat in to promote a faster sweat rate. Meanwhile, 69kg Tamyra Stock (Mensah) was the popular celebrity on sight!
We thought we were meeting up for a quiet dinner, but, as is the theme of this trip, expectations were exceeded! 53kg Haley Augello and 55kg Becka Leathers consider the evening to be “the best night of [their] lives.” A delicious five-course meal, which consisted of horse salami, sheep’s tongue, and, at our request, ice cream, was followed by live music, dancing, and an impromptu singing debut by Tamyra Stock. To our delight, our coaching staff partook in dancing festivities including the surprisingly talented Terry (Terrance) Steiner and Yuri Shakhmuradov (75 year old Russian Coach). They’ll hopefully have a dance-off in Paris!
One if the trip’s highlights came during dinner when coach Terry Steiner gave a toast in Russian to the team, celebrating their friendship and hospitality. Yuri then toasted the American group and our new coaching staff member, Clarissa Chun. Personally, I was apprehensive when I first heard I’d be traveling to Russia for training camp, but this experience has proven to be unforgettable. Our entire delegation agrees this is the best international training camp we’ve experienced, and the Russian hospitality is next level. The two teams have bonded over the past week, and next year should be our turn to play host to the beautiful Russian team!
To the entire city of Kislovodsk (google don’t let me down) Спасибо!
July 8 - World Team member Alli Ragan sent a cool video, but we have had some technical issues posting it. Once we can figure it out on our end, we will add it to the blog. Check it out on the social media of the team members, who have posted the video.
July 7 – by Becka Leathers, 2017 World Team member at 55 kg
Greetings again from Kislovodsk, Russia!
Day 4 and this place already feels like home.
When Coach Steiner told me we were taking a trip to Russia for a training camp to prepare for the World Championships I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Russia wasn’t exactly on my bucket list of places that I wanted to go and see, and certainly not a place called “Kislovodsk”. My preconceived thoughts about Russia led me to believe that I was traveling to a depressed area that was snowy and grey. But upon landing at the Mineralnyevody Airport, I stepped off of the plane into a warm, lush, green landscape to excited people greeting their loved ones and thought, “this may not be so bad.”
Although we are here to train and get a feel for our foreign competitors, a struggle I feel we face as wrestlers most times in our lives and on trips is trying to find a balance between work and play. But, so far the mantra for this trip has been, “Work Hard, Play Hard.”
We are on top of a mountain with no access to the nearby city and nowhere to roam except the grounds of the South Sport Training Center, but this has been one of the most fun trips I’ve ever been on. Our schedule has included a lot of wrestling but between battles, we’ve continuously made time to play games and enjoy the company of our teammates and the extremely friendly Russian team. Whether it be ping pong, spike ball, or a weird combination of hand ball and basketball that the Russia girls showed me, this trip has done a superb job at keeping this competitive environment positive and light.
Today was our last full volume day before we begin our taper for the Grand Prix of Spain tournament coming up next week. We fought through two practices jam packed with situations, live par terre goes, and three full matches. I’m looking forward to tomorrow with a mountain run through this stunning landscape.
Some interesting takeaways thus far:
-I have never drank more instant coffee or eaten more crepes before in my life.
-I still cannot say even the most simple of Russian words.
-The words “Drilling” and “Live” seem to be synonymous.
-Being beaten by Burch Tree leaves is a good thing here.
A big thanks to the Russian coaches for having us here and to USA Wrestling for such an amazing trip. To all reading, thank you for your support and if you get a chance to make your way to Kislovodsk, go! It’s beautiful!
Keep a watch out for the next update tomorrow from current World Team Member and 2016 World Silver Medalist, Alli Ragan!
Over and out!
Thursday, July 6 - Haley Augello on dealing with training challenges and team bonding on tours
By Haley Augello, 2017 World Team member, 2016 Olympian
Hello all the way from Russia!
Today is day 3 of camp. The jet lag has finally started to subside and we are acclimating, not only to the different time zone and weather, but to the different style of training. Vicki gave us some insight on Day 1 and 2 of camp so if you missed it, I highly recommend taking a second to read her blog!
The communication barrier has been interesting to say the least. The first day, we were under the impression that it was a light drill so we could get the long flight out of our systems, but instead, we ended up having 2 intense, almost completely live, practices. In many cases, while training with foreigners, a drill turns into full on live wrestling and maybe even a little cat fighting. Part of training overseas is being able to adapt and have a positive attitude towards things that we may not be accustomed to in the states. Team USA adjusted their mindset from a light drill session to intense sparring and live in the matter of seconds, which not only improves our wrestling, but strengthens our mental toughness as well. It also shows our competition that we're here for business.
Today, we got to bring a little America to Russia. Coach Terry Steiner had the opportunity to run practice this morning. One thing the Russian coach said he wanted to get out of this camp was the fire, perseverance, and spirit that USA brings to the mat. We definitely gave them a taste of that this morning through fast pace execution drills, situational live, and par terre goes. The Russians took this grueling practices like champs! It's always nice to see different cultures be accepting to something that's different than the routines they are used to. Tonight, we'll take our athleticism to the basketball court for a USA vs Russia game. It's a good thing we all practices our basketball skills in our free time.
OK, OK, that was a lie. We don't have free time. All right, fine, basketball isn't most of our strengths either. We'll see how it goes and hopefully Becka will update you on the outcome tomorrow!
Aside from the wrestling aspect, trips like this are always super beneficial to the team dynamic. When you're in a different country with minimal wifi and phone service, it forces us young adults, who are dependent on our phones and social media, to depend more on face to face interaction and bonding. I'm always a big supporter of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. I always thought this applied to training but it also applies to socializing. It forms an open communication and trust between your teammates and you, which can sometimes be uncomfortable. When we learn about each others' likes and dislikes, fears, past and presents, and goals, the connection usually crosses over to the mat and allows for a stronger team on and off the mat. Whether it's talking to your roommate before bed or asking another teammate how their practice went, you can learn something you never knew about that person. For example, I just found out I've been calling Tamyra "Mensah" all week when she recently changed her last name to "Stock" after getting married. Who knows how long I would've been calling her by the wrong name if we hadn't had the time or put in the effort to catch up with each other.
Another important part of trips overseas is the staff they send with us. Two practices a day, lifting, cardio, and weight management would be near impossible without access to an athletic trainer. Courtney is here with us in Russia to keep us ready for battle. Sometimes the people behind the scenes don't get enough credit but this would not be possible without them, especially our coaches, Iowa Alumni and National Champion, Terry Steiner, and, Olympic Bronze Medalist, Clarissa Chun. On top of the administrative part of coaching and the confusion that every overseas trip brings, they find time to engage with us all individually. I've never met a more selfless, caring, and involved coaching staff. What we forget to realize as athletes is that they shield us from the stress that traveling to a new country can present. Whether it's difficulties translating languages, transportation, or sometimes something as drastic as finding enough clean water, they always make sure that we are happy, healthy, and getting the most out of these camps as we possibly can. So a huge thank you and shout out to these amazing people who support us, challenge us, and motivate us to be the best representatives of America that we can be.
I'm sure you all know this but I'll be the one to say it, wrestling is hard- mentally, physically and emotionally. The wins can cause the highest of highs and the losses can cause the lowest of lows. Having opportunities to train with some of the best wrestlers in the world, be coached by some of the greatest coaches in the world, and learn from the ones who have accomplished what we strive to accomplish, makes it all worth it!
Thank you to the Russian wrestlers and coaches who've taken us in to their own training center! It's been a truly amazing experience and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Thank you to everyone in America who make this possible! Stay tuned to hear more from our 55kg World Team Member, Becka Leathers!
July 5 - by Victoria Anthony, 2017 U.S. World Team member, 48 kg
U.S. Women wrestlers and Russian women wrestlers after first day of joint training camp in Kislovodsk, Russia. Photo courtesy of Victoria Anthony's Twitter.
Dobroye utro (good morning) from Kislovodsk! Jet lag is still taking its toll, as I was supposed to write this last night but accidentally fell asleep. The real tragedy with that was missing dinner, though. Light weights gotta eat! And often.
We had a blast at the training center in Kislovodsk yesterday. As is custom for many of the trips to Russia I've been on, we got up as a team in the earlier morning (8 am) and went for a walk to shake off the sleep. We generally do some cardio and stretching, and the Russians get some band work in. Our 63 kilo World Team Member Mallory Velte is a real one and brought Spike Ball all the way from home, so that was our cardio yesterday. We had a bracketed tournament, with Alli Ragan (60 kg World Team Member) and Tamyra Mensah (69 kg WTM) displaying a dominant performance over the duo Victoria Francis (75 kg WTM) and Amy Fearnside. On the other side of the bracket was a grueling battle between myself (48 kg WTM) and Mallory Velte (63 kg WTM) vs. Haley Augello (53 kgs) and Becka Leathers (55 kgs). Mal and I stole this one. In the Championship Finals of what I would like to call a Herculean back and forth war (but in actuality we got dominated), Team TamAlli prevailed. The stench of loss is still pungent this morning, but no worries - every new day marks a fresh start to claim victory.
Breakfast is easily my favorite part of the day, because everything is sooooo goooooood. They have EVERYTHING - from over easy eggs to fresh vegetables to crepes. So we enjoyed that and then all got our weight programs in at 11:30 am. The training center here is probably the most well equipped I've ever seen on an overseas trip, in all aspects - this included their multiple weight rooms. They had everything we needed to complete our programs (which is a huge treat, as some trips you can't even find two matching weights). Consequently we are all that much more jacked and ready to dominate in practice this morning!
Our last segment of the day was the glorious Russian Sauna. Their sauna facility is too beautiful! With at least 5 different saunas, all a little different, we really enjoyed this. Each sauna had its own flavor, some with color changing lights, one with scented air release. In the U.S. saunas often get mistaken as a tool just for cutting weight - but overseas they're used weekly for recovery and relaxation. You take your time in each room and relax, and sip team while wrapped up in a big white sheet during your breaks in reclining spa chairs (I think so your body temperature doesn't drop too low between the sauna goes). It's also a custom to either hit yourself, or be hit by someone else, with the leaves and branches of a birch tree. Thought of as a type of massage (possible mistranslation here, because I didn't feel like I was being massaged 🤔), the leaves create a ton of heat and are used to improve circulation. When I say a ton of heat, I mean A TON. But I felt great after! The next step is to jump into a cold shower for the contrast effect, which had me feeling even better. Overall a great sauna experience, and a great day!
In the evening we met as a team to get geared up for today's practice. We met with Terry and went over the practice structure, and discussed the technical and competitive areas we need to zone in on to get the most out of our morning mat work out. I think these types of meetings really help us to make sure we're focused and on track with our process goals. We are all excited and ready to improve! Haley will let you know how this practice turned out next, so stay tuned :) Thanks for reading, dasvidaniya!
July 2-4 - July 4 greetings from USA women in Russia
by Terry Steiner, National Women's Coach
Happy 4th of July to all of you back home. Some of the members of Women's National Team have traveled to Kislovodsk, Russia for a training camp with the Russian National Team.
First of all Congratulations to Adeline Gray and Damaris Sanders! They were married on July 1 in Denver, Colorado.
July 2 was our departure day out of Denver Colorado. So it was an early morning, or short night as many members of the national team enjoyed being a part of Adeline and Damaris's special day. The entire trip stretched over 34 hours of flights, layovers, and a bus ride. Most of us had 4 flights before we arrive the airport closest to Kislovodsk (Mineralyne Vody). We arrived in the evening of July 3.
We are in the north caucus region in southern mountain region of Russia, near Chechnya and the country of Georgia between the Black and Caspian Seas. The topography here is mountains and rolling hills. The weather is humid and mid 90's but they must also get a lot of rain because everything is very green. Kislovodsk, is also called the Spa City, I believe they have many hot springs in the area.
We are at the Olympic Sports Center in Kislovodsk, on Maloe Sedlo Mountain. It is a beautiful facility, it is tucked up in the mountain overlooking the city of Kislovodsk.
During the next eight days, the girls will take part in a joint training camp with the Russian National Team. There are currently about 40 Russian Athletes here along with the 11 American Athletes.
A lot of people ask why we train with our competitors, I believe it is important for us to be able to feel different styles of wrestling. The European style of wrestling is very clingy compared to our style. It helps us get a better feel for what we are up against. We have had a very close working relationship with the Russian Federation and Coach Yuri Shakhmuradov, we both feel that having our athletes working together will only make us better and more prepared for future success.
We have the youngest national team that we have had in awhile, it is hard to stay at home and get the experience we need. Coming to Russia will help us grow in ways we cannot staying at home. We need to expose ourselves a bit to continue to grow. Also, when we are away at training camp, we are away from home and distractions, we can truly focus on our individual needs and also unite together as a team.
Today is July 4, our schedule today is as follows:
7:30 am - Wake-up
8:00 am - light walk / jog / stretch
9:00 am - Breakfast
11:30 am - Mat Practice
1:30 pm - Lunch
5:30 pm - Mat Practice
7:30 pm - Dinner
It is a lighter day, the practices are short and not so taxing. We had a long tough day of travel and our bodies are still adjusting to the 9 hour time change.
Tomorrow we will have cross training / Sauna off of the mat and by Thursday we will get into tougher more taxing practices with our foreign friends.
Again, Happy 4th of July to all of you back home!
Coach Terry Steiner works out with World silver medalist Alli Ragan and Becka Leathers watches technique during training session in Russia. Photo courtesy of Becka Leathers.
July 11 - Last day in Russia
by Victoria Francis, 75 kg U.S. World Team member
Heavyweight here to rap up the daily blogs from Kislovodsk, Russia! Today has been a relaxed training day for the team. I personally was off the mat today and got in a short weightlifting session and did some cardio. But those on the mat had a low-intensity practice late this morning. Some warmed up with spikeball and then had time to work on technique in their individual focus-areas.
This afternoon was free time for us athletes. A large group of the ladies took a cab into town. While in town, they got their eyebrows and eyelashes done and went to the mall to explore and shop. The costs of products and services are very cheap here, so the team wanted to take advantage of the salon prices before we left. And I'd say it was money well spent, the girls came back looking stunning!
A few of the athletes, the coaches, and I hung back at the training center and took advantage of the sauna facilities here one last time. I also got use my new sauna hat that I bought while in town Sunday! This hat insulates my head and helps protect my hair from the heat (gotta keep these locks looking luscious!) It was only worth about $2.50 USD and I will definitely get my money's worth out of it.
Tonight we will leave the training center around 11pm to start making our way to Madrid. This has been a great training camp for the team. I haven't been to many international training camps yet, but I'd bet the team as a whole would say this was the best trip they've been on. Training quality and volume, food, rooms, weather and hospitality of the Russian team and coaches, it all exceeded our expectations. I hope to have the opportunity to return here to train.
We owe a huge thank you to the Russian team and training center for hosting us and I hope we can return the favor. Спасиба! (spasiba/thank you)
July 9th - No Training, Sightseeing Day
by Mallory Velte, 2017 World Team member
Training is slowing down as we taper and prepare for competition at the Grand Prix of Spain. The beautiful, friendly city Kislovodsk - and the awesome Russian team - has provided our team a new lens to see Russia through.
The off mat day began like any other, with a casual round robin tournament of spikeball; the victors (again) Ali Ragan (58kg) and Haley Augello (53kg). The afternoon included a planned excursion led by Yuri Shakhmuradov, the head coach of Russia wrestling. He and the entire support staff accompanied our team on a scenic yet scary gondola ride. The ride began high in the mountains, beside our training center, and ended in an expansive rose garden.
From the gondola we meandered 12kms through one of Europe’s largest parks, passing through immaculate gardens and trails leading to the main event- Narzan Mineral Water. This is Kislovodsk’s primary tourist attraction, as this eau naturale water spewing from the ground is believed to heal a variety of ailments and diseases. A variety of these waters were offered on tap; a range of warm, cool, carbonated, flat, and to our surprise some tasting and smelling of sulfur.
From here we we’re let loose upon the cute old town, where our world team members purchased souvenirs specific to the region. The most notable purchase, 75kg Victoria Francis, acquired a wool Russian sauna hat which keeps heat in to promote a faster sweat rate. Meanwhile, 69kg Tamyra Stock (Mensah) was the popular celebrity on sight!
We thought we were meeting up for a quiet dinner, but, as is the theme of this trip, expectations were exceeded! 53kg Haley Augello and 55kg Becka Leathers consider the evening to be “the best night of [their] lives.” A delicious five-course meal, which consisted of horse salami, sheep’s tongue, and, at our request, ice cream, was followed by live music, dancing, and an impromptu singing debut by Tamyra Stock. To our delight, our coaching staff partook in dancing festivities including the surprisingly talented Terry (Terrance) Steiner and Yuri Shakhmuradov (75 year old Russian Coach). They’ll hopefully have a dance-off in Paris!
One if the trip’s highlights came during dinner when coach Terry Steiner gave a toast in Russian to the team, celebrating their friendship and hospitality. Yuri then toasted the American group and our new coaching staff member, Clarissa Chun. Personally, I was apprehensive when I first heard I’d be traveling to Russia for training camp, but this experience has proven to be unforgettable. Our entire delegation agrees this is the best international training camp we’ve experienced, and the Russian hospitality is next level. The two teams have bonded over the past week, and next year should be our turn to play host to the beautiful Russian team!
To the entire city of Kislovodsk (google don’t let me down) Спасибо!
July 8 - World Team member Alli Ragan sent a cool video, but we have had some technical issues posting it. Once we can figure it out on our end, we will add it to the blog. Check it out on the social media of the team members, who have posted the video.
July 7 – by Becka Leathers, 2017 World Team member at 55 kg
Greetings again from Kislovodsk, Russia!
Day 4 and this place already feels like home.
When Coach Steiner told me we were taking a trip to Russia for a training camp to prepare for the World Championships I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Russia wasn’t exactly on my bucket list of places that I wanted to go and see, and certainly not a place called “Kislovodsk”. My preconceived thoughts about Russia led me to believe that I was traveling to a depressed area that was snowy and grey. But upon landing at the Mineralnyevody Airport, I stepped off of the plane into a warm, lush, green landscape to excited people greeting their loved ones and thought, “this may not be so bad.”
Although we are here to train and get a feel for our foreign competitors, a struggle I feel we face as wrestlers most times in our lives and on trips is trying to find a balance between work and play. But, so far the mantra for this trip has been, “Work Hard, Play Hard.”
We are on top of a mountain with no access to the nearby city and nowhere to roam except the grounds of the South Sport Training Center, but this has been one of the most fun trips I’ve ever been on. Our schedule has included a lot of wrestling but between battles, we’ve continuously made time to play games and enjoy the company of our teammates and the extremely friendly Russian team. Whether it be ping pong, spike ball, or a weird combination of hand ball and basketball that the Russia girls showed me, this trip has done a superb job at keeping this competitive environment positive and light.
Today was our last full volume day before we begin our taper for the Grand Prix of Spain tournament coming up next week. We fought through two practices jam packed with situations, live par terre goes, and three full matches. I’m looking forward to tomorrow with a mountain run through this stunning landscape.
Some interesting takeaways thus far:
-I have never drank more instant coffee or eaten more crepes before in my life.
-I still cannot say even the most simple of Russian words.
-The words “Drilling” and “Live” seem to be synonymous.
-Being beaten by Burch Tree leaves is a good thing here.
A big thanks to the Russian coaches for having us here and to USA Wrestling for such an amazing trip. To all reading, thank you for your support and if you get a chance to make your way to Kislovodsk, go! It’s beautiful!
Keep a watch out for the next update tomorrow from current World Team Member and 2016 World Silver Medalist, Alli Ragan!
Over and out!
Thursday, July 6 - Haley Augello on dealing with training challenges and team bonding on tours
By Haley Augello, 2017 World Team member, 2016 Olympian
Hello all the way from Russia!
Today is day 3 of camp. The jet lag has finally started to subside and we are acclimating, not only to the different time zone and weather, but to the different style of training. Vicki gave us some insight on Day 1 and 2 of camp so if you missed it, I highly recommend taking a second to read her blog!
The communication barrier has been interesting to say the least. The first day, we were under the impression that it was a light drill so we could get the long flight out of our systems, but instead, we ended up having 2 intense, almost completely live, practices. In many cases, while training with foreigners, a drill turns into full on live wrestling and maybe even a little cat fighting. Part of training overseas is being able to adapt and have a positive attitude towards things that we may not be accustomed to in the states. Team USA adjusted their mindset from a light drill session to intense sparring and live in the matter of seconds, which not only improves our wrestling, but strengthens our mental toughness as well. It also shows our competition that we're here for business.
Today, we got to bring a little America to Russia. Coach Terry Steiner had the opportunity to run practice this morning. One thing the Russian coach said he wanted to get out of this camp was the fire, perseverance, and spirit that USA brings to the mat. We definitely gave them a taste of that this morning through fast pace execution drills, situational live, and par terre goes. The Russians took this grueling practices like champs! It's always nice to see different cultures be accepting to something that's different than the routines they are used to. Tonight, we'll take our athleticism to the basketball court for a USA vs Russia game. It's a good thing we all practices our basketball skills in our free time.
OK, OK, that was a lie. We don't have free time. All right, fine, basketball isn't most of our strengths either. We'll see how it goes and hopefully Becka will update you on the outcome tomorrow!
Aside from the wrestling aspect, trips like this are always super beneficial to the team dynamic. When you're in a different country with minimal wifi and phone service, it forces us young adults, who are dependent on our phones and social media, to depend more on face to face interaction and bonding. I'm always a big supporter of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. I always thought this applied to training but it also applies to socializing. It forms an open communication and trust between your teammates and you, which can sometimes be uncomfortable. When we learn about each others' likes and dislikes, fears, past and presents, and goals, the connection usually crosses over to the mat and allows for a stronger team on and off the mat. Whether it's talking to your roommate before bed or asking another teammate how their practice went, you can learn something you never knew about that person. For example, I just found out I've been calling Tamyra "Mensah" all week when she recently changed her last name to "Stock" after getting married. Who knows how long I would've been calling her by the wrong name if we hadn't had the time or put in the effort to catch up with each other.
Another important part of trips overseas is the staff they send with us. Two practices a day, lifting, cardio, and weight management would be near impossible without access to an athletic trainer. Courtney is here with us in Russia to keep us ready for battle. Sometimes the people behind the scenes don't get enough credit but this would not be possible without them, especially our coaches, Iowa Alumni and National Champion, Terry Steiner, and, Olympic Bronze Medalist, Clarissa Chun. On top of the administrative part of coaching and the confusion that every overseas trip brings, they find time to engage with us all individually. I've never met a more selfless, caring, and involved coaching staff. What we forget to realize as athletes is that they shield us from the stress that traveling to a new country can present. Whether it's difficulties translating languages, transportation, or sometimes something as drastic as finding enough clean water, they always make sure that we are happy, healthy, and getting the most out of these camps as we possibly can. So a huge thank you and shout out to these amazing people who support us, challenge us, and motivate us to be the best representatives of America that we can be.
I'm sure you all know this but I'll be the one to say it, wrestling is hard- mentally, physically and emotionally. The wins can cause the highest of highs and the losses can cause the lowest of lows. Having opportunities to train with some of the best wrestlers in the world, be coached by some of the greatest coaches in the world, and learn from the ones who have accomplished what we strive to accomplish, makes it all worth it!
Thank you to the Russian wrestlers and coaches who've taken us in to their own training center! It's been a truly amazing experience and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Thank you to everyone in America who make this possible! Stay tuned to hear more from our 55kg World Team Member, Becka Leathers!
July 5 - by Victoria Anthony, 2017 U.S. World Team member, 48 kg
U.S. Women wrestlers and Russian women wrestlers after first day of joint training camp in Kislovodsk, Russia. Photo courtesy of Victoria Anthony's Twitter.
Dobroye utro (good morning) from Kislovodsk! Jet lag is still taking its toll, as I was supposed to write this last night but accidentally fell asleep. The real tragedy with that was missing dinner, though. Light weights gotta eat! And often.
We had a blast at the training center in Kislovodsk yesterday. As is custom for many of the trips to Russia I've been on, we got up as a team in the earlier morning (8 am) and went for a walk to shake off the sleep. We generally do some cardio and stretching, and the Russians get some band work in. Our 63 kilo World Team Member Mallory Velte is a real one and brought Spike Ball all the way from home, so that was our cardio yesterday. We had a bracketed tournament, with Alli Ragan (60 kg World Team Member) and Tamyra Mensah (69 kg WTM) displaying a dominant performance over the duo Victoria Francis (75 kg WTM) and Amy Fearnside. On the other side of the bracket was a grueling battle between myself (48 kg WTM) and Mallory Velte (63 kg WTM) vs. Haley Augello (53 kgs) and Becka Leathers (55 kgs). Mal and I stole this one. In the Championship Finals of what I would like to call a Herculean back and forth war (but in actuality we got dominated), Team TamAlli prevailed. The stench of loss is still pungent this morning, but no worries - every new day marks a fresh start to claim victory.
Breakfast is easily my favorite part of the day, because everything is sooooo goooooood. They have EVERYTHING - from over easy eggs to fresh vegetables to crepes. So we enjoyed that and then all got our weight programs in at 11:30 am. The training center here is probably the most well equipped I've ever seen on an overseas trip, in all aspects - this included their multiple weight rooms. They had everything we needed to complete our programs (which is a huge treat, as some trips you can't even find two matching weights). Consequently we are all that much more jacked and ready to dominate in practice this morning!
Our last segment of the day was the glorious Russian Sauna. Their sauna facility is too beautiful! With at least 5 different saunas, all a little different, we really enjoyed this. Each sauna had its own flavor, some with color changing lights, one with scented air release. In the U.S. saunas often get mistaken as a tool just for cutting weight - but overseas they're used weekly for recovery and relaxation. You take your time in each room and relax, and sip team while wrapped up in a big white sheet during your breaks in reclining spa chairs (I think so your body temperature doesn't drop too low between the sauna goes). It's also a custom to either hit yourself, or be hit by someone else, with the leaves and branches of a birch tree. Thought of as a type of massage (possible mistranslation here, because I didn't feel like I was being massaged 🤔), the leaves create a ton of heat and are used to improve circulation. When I say a ton of heat, I mean A TON. But I felt great after! The next step is to jump into a cold shower for the contrast effect, which had me feeling even better. Overall a great sauna experience, and a great day!
In the evening we met as a team to get geared up for today's practice. We met with Terry and went over the practice structure, and discussed the technical and competitive areas we need to zone in on to get the most out of our morning mat work out. I think these types of meetings really help us to make sure we're focused and on track with our process goals. We are all excited and ready to improve! Haley will let you know how this practice turned out next, so stay tuned :) Thanks for reading, dasvidaniya!
July 2-4 - July 4 greetings from USA women in Russia
by Terry Steiner, National Women's Coach
Happy 4th of July to all of you back home. Some of the members of Women's National Team have traveled to Kislovodsk, Russia for a training camp with the Russian National Team.
First of all Congratulations to Adeline Gray and Damaris Sanders! They were married on July 1 in Denver, Colorado.
July 2 was our departure day out of Denver Colorado. So it was an early morning, or short night as many members of the national team enjoyed being a part of Adeline and Damaris's special day. The entire trip stretched over 34 hours of flights, layovers, and a bus ride. Most of us had 4 flights before we arrive the airport closest to Kislovodsk (Mineralyne Vody). We arrived in the evening of July 3.
We are in the north caucus region in southern mountain region of Russia, near Chechnya and the country of Georgia between the Black and Caspian Seas. The topography here is mountains and rolling hills. The weather is humid and mid 90's but they must also get a lot of rain because everything is very green. Kislovodsk, is also called the Spa City, I believe they have many hot springs in the area.
We are at the Olympic Sports Center in Kislovodsk, on Maloe Sedlo Mountain. It is a beautiful facility, it is tucked up in the mountain overlooking the city of Kislovodsk.
During the next eight days, the girls will take part in a joint training camp with the Russian National Team. There are currently about 40 Russian Athletes here along with the 11 American Athletes.
A lot of people ask why we train with our competitors, I believe it is important for us to be able to feel different styles of wrestling. The European style of wrestling is very clingy compared to our style. It helps us get a better feel for what we are up against. We have had a very close working relationship with the Russian Federation and Coach Yuri Shakhmuradov, we both feel that having our athletes working together will only make us better and more prepared for future success.
We have the youngest national team that we have had in awhile, it is hard to stay at home and get the experience we need. Coming to Russia will help us grow in ways we cannot staying at home. We need to expose ourselves a bit to continue to grow. Also, when we are away at training camp, we are away from home and distractions, we can truly focus on our individual needs and also unite together as a team.
Today is July 4, our schedule today is as follows:
7:30 am - Wake-up
8:00 am - light walk / jog / stretch
9:00 am - Breakfast
11:30 am - Mat Practice
1:30 pm - Lunch
5:30 pm - Mat Practice
7:30 pm - Dinner
It is a lighter day, the practices are short and not so taxing. We had a long tough day of travel and our bodies are still adjusting to the 9 hour time change.
Tomorrow we will have cross training / Sauna off of the mat and by Thursday we will get into tougher more taxing practices with our foreign friends.
Again, Happy 4th of July to all of you back home!
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