Paulina Batovska-Fialkova Retires; “Enjoy the Last Moments, Last Races”
On a day of many retirements, Paulina Batovska-Fialkova joined the rocking chair set on Sunday, closing out her 16-year international biathlon career with a champagne shower and a healthy dose of tears.
“Enjoy the last moments”
The Slovak veteran of 309 World Cup starts and four Olympic Winter Games nevertheless walked away with a broad smile. “I am in a good mood. I know it’s my last weekend in biathlon and I really wanted to enjoy the last moments, last races…last pain.”
Final Podium in Kontiolahti
As her career’s end neared, Batovska-Fialkova climbed the podium one final time with a one-penalty third place in the Kontiolahti 12.5 km Short Individual. “I was really disappointed after the Olympic Games, because my ambitions were higher. But that’s biathlon; that’s life. I really believed I could finish my career on the podium or close and I did it.”
Retirement came four years after considering the move but deciding to go on. Reflecting on whether it was the right decision, “Sometimes yes, sometimes no, because now I have family and I don’t see how my daughter is growing like if I was at home. It’s hard to be on the road so much, during the whole year and I think it does not work. But when I have a good result like Kontiolahti, my family is happy and then I am too.”
“A peaceful life…with no travel, no packing”
Leaving professional sport behind, she looks forward, “to a peaceful life. (With a big laugh), I am thinking it will be peaceful, but it might be more stressful than my biathlon life. I want to stay at home with no travel, no packing, and no stress over logistics with my daughter. And of course, spending some time at our home with my husband at Banska Bystrica and just living my life.”
As a new mother, she admitted combining biathlon and motherhood, “is a really hard life. I had to set priorities, to be first a mother and second a biathlete. That’s why I think I did not give the sport 100% in the last years, maybe only 90%. That is not enough for biathlon. You have to be 100% or more. Still, I am satisfied with my decision to be a mother first.”
“11 podiums…not everyone gets that chance”
Yet, Batovska-Fialkova walks away with many reasons to be proud. “All of the 11 podiums in the World Cup. I was also 5th in the 2018 Olympic 15 km Individual which is nice, but it was not a medal. I never won a World Cup race, but I was really close and not everyone gets that chance.”
Having sister Ivona competing alongside for much of her career, “was really nice. Having someone from your family to share positive moments, but opinions and criticisms like, ‘you are not doing this right.’ Other people are not so straight, so sometimes I changed my mind because of her. Our relationship became much better in the years we spent together.”
Next Generation Advice: “Have fun, enjoy training”
Thinking about the next generation, the 33-year-old advised, “Don’t be so professional at a young age, because you have a lot of time ahead. It is easy to become very mentally tired too soon. Have fun, enjoy training and also do some stupid things! Don’t be so focused only on biathlon! If you go too fast too soon, your career can also end very soon.”
As for what life beyond biathlon holds, “There are not many big plans. We’ve been building our house for over three years now and my husband needs my help. I will stay around the sport if they need me. We will see what comes next.”
“So much training…I won’t miss that”
Regarding the normal May 1 start to the new training season, “That will be weird! It will be warm and we will have some family fun. I won’t miss the start of the new training season. If biathlon was only about competing, I would have continued for sure. But there is so much training and I won’t miss that!”
Photos: IBU/Nordnes, Yevenko, Stancik, Nordic Focus
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