Artyom Izyurov, a fourth-year student of the Faculty of Energy, was named the best athlete of St. Petersburg Mining University by the results of the year 2021. At the age of 21, he has already become a three-time champion of St. Petersburg universities in kickboxing, vice-champion of Russia in taekwondo, the owner of silver and bronze medals of major international competitions, as well as a master of sports of international class in taekwondo and kickboxing. Forpost asked the young man whether he manages to successfully combine studies and training.
Artyom, the first question comes from the top of the head. Why did you decide to enter a technical school having had such serious success in sports?
It’s about setting priorities. For me, it is still more important to get a profession that seems promising and interesting and in which I will be able to work later. The energy complex was, is, and will be the foundation of any economy in the world, it’s an axiom. That is why I chose the speciality of Electrification and Automation of Mining Engineering.
I will be engaged in the improvement of power efficiency of enterprises, operatively to trace, sitting at the control panel and the computer, various emergencies, because of which interruptions in electric power supply occur, and operatively eliminate them, if to put it short, without going into technical details.
And as for a sports career, I’m considering it as a backup option. After graduation, it would be possible, after spending very little time, to study to become a trainer.
Why did you choose martial arts, and not, say, soccer or hockey?
I began practising martial arts yet a child, at the age of seven. We lived in a small village Kortkeros, forty kilometres from Syktyvkar, where my father’s friend took his son to taekwondo classes. One day he suggested that we go there too, he said the coach was good. That’s how my training began. Nine years I was going forty kilometres one way and forty the other. Only last two years, before admission, in 10 and 11 classes, I lived in the city and it was not necessary to cover such distance.
When you entered Mining University, did you expect that sports would occupy a significant part of your student life?
Yes, I expected. I came here after two of my sports teammates, who were a year older than me. When I graduated from high school, they were already in their first year. They said: “Come to join us, it’s interesting to study here and there’s a good team, everything will work out.” So I did.
Championships usually take place once or twice a semester. Usually once in the fall semester and twice in the spring semester. Our coach Evgeny Korostylev put together a friendly and efficient team. The fans are always greatly supportive. In general, everything is perfect.
You need not only the desire and persistence to play sports, but also the necessary infrastructure. How are things at Mining University?
I think Mining University is one of the best universities in St. Petersburg, if not in the whole country, in terms of supporting student sports. The management of the university puts as much effort and resources into this as possible. We have all the simulators we need for training, sports equipment, a swimming pool, excellent taekwondo, boxing, volleyball, and basketball halls. Modern locker rooms. I am in touch with the guys from other higher education institutions, including at competitions. They say that no one else has athletic facilities like ours. And student sports in many universities are often not developed in any way.
- And how does the position of the leadership, which invests a lot of money into the sports infrastructure and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, affect young people? Are a lot of students involved in physical education?
Of course, this is a steady trend that can be observed for many years. Everyone wants to be beautiful and fit, and everyone understands that to do so, you have to do sports and lead a healthy lifestyle. Almost every classmate and acquaintance of mine does something to keep in shape. Some of them go in for cardio, some go on weight machines. Some play tennis.
I think that our university groups in social networks also help to popularize sports among students. We talk about the successes of the athletes of our university and we have a relatively large number of subscribers. This also motivates the kids to go to the gym. At Mining University, we promote sports at a high level, which certainly brings results.
The trophy, established by the Committee for Physical Culture and Sports of the City Government eight years ago, returned to its first owner.
Do you manage to successfully combine sports and studies?
And there is no other way around. After competitions, especially international ones, it can be hard, of course, but no one makes any allowances in the subjects, you have to master all the study material and pass all the exams. I have to cope with it. My grades are all right, I have no debts and I get a scholarship.
A hard drill makes an easy battle – it’s a famous phrase of Suvorov. Where is it harder for you: in the drill or battle?
And there is no other way around. After competitions, especially international ones, it can be hard, of course, but no one makes any allowances in the subjects, you have to master all the study material and pass all the exams. I have to cope with it. My grades are all right, I have no debts and I get a scholarship.
What are your plans for the future?
- To study well and win competitions. And in two years, when I graduate, I want to get a job in my speciality. But, of course, sports will remain in my life.
