All athletes prepare for the Olympics as a “last fight”: an exclusive interview with Parviz Nasibov, two-time silver medalist of the Olympic Games

Parviz, first of all, congratulations on the “gold” at the Bill Farrell Memorial tournament in New York! What does this victory mean to you?

Parviz Nasibov: This is my first competition after the Olympics in Paris. I took a few months off, so now I’m happy to be back on the mat again.

You are currently training in the United States. How is everything organized there and what is the atmosphere like?

Parviz Nasibov: The atmosphere is cool! Very comfortable conditions have been created for American athletes, training here is a pleasure.

At the Olympic Games in Paris, despite a serious eye injury, you managed to win the second Olympic “silver”. The first was at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Which of these medals is more expensive for you?

⁠Parviz Nasibov: They are both valuable to me. There is a lot of work behind them. But at the same time, these medals are completely different: in Tokyo I was young and for me this medal was “white gold”; in Paris, the silver became very unfortunate and painful, because because of my mistake I did not become the champion. But everything is ahead. I believe that my most expensive medal is waiting for me in Los Angeles.

At the Olympics in Paris, the head coach of the Ukrainian national team, Volodymyr Shatskikh, said that the level of your opponents was extremely high. I quote: “Of course, there can’t be a technique, a cascade of techniques with athletes of this level. Parviz still proves that we have character, that we have a school, a desire to win.” What was the most memorable of those fights for you? And what was the biggest incentive to win?

⁠Parviz Nasibov: All the fights were hard. In each one, I snatched victory “with my teeth”, so to speak… This is the Olympics, and all athletes prepare for it as if for the “last battle”. In the end, the one who wants to win the most wins.

My new born son was my motivation. My wife traveled a long distance with him to be there and support me. There was also a strong desire to win a medal for Ukraine. These are not easy times, we wanted to raise our flag so that the world would remember us.

Do you already have plans for Los Angeles in 2028? Is there a goal to win the Olympic “gold”?

⁠Parviz Nasibov: Of course, for my complete peace and happiness, I don’t have enough “gold” in my collection. It was for him that I returned again, again ready to work and give myself completely to make everything work.

And do you remember how you were welcomed in Ukraine after returning from the Olympics in Paris? Which of the greetings was special for you?

⁠Parviz Nasibov: Of course, we were very well received. There were many people willing to congratulate us. I looked for the happy eyes of my parents in the crowd, I wanted to finally hug them.

In one of the interviews, you gratefully mentioned your first coach from Zaporizhzhia. And what are your most vivid memories from your sports childhood? Who helped you become such a strong-willed athlete?

Parviz Nasibov: In fact, my first coach is from Mykolaiv, Mykola Leontiyovych Saleev. Everything started from his hall. I came there as a 6-year-old boy, and at the age of 15 I fell into the hands of Yevgeny Oleksandrovych Chertkov right in the city of Zaporizhzhia. I continued my sports career there.

You know, the sports path is thorny and long. I can say that over the years, at one age or another, I have met people on my path who contributed and helped me become who I am now. I go through the main preparation for major competitions (European, world, Olympic championships) with the head coach of the Shatsky national team, Volodymyr Volodymyrovych.

When did you become confident that you could become an Olympic medalist? Have you had this feeling since childhood?

Parviz Nasibov: It was a childhood dream, but it seemed out of reach. However, as life shows, if you conscientiously do your job and do everything to make your dream come true, it will come true!

What qualities of an athlete in Greco-Roman wrestling are decisive in order to defeat an opponent?

Parviz Nasibov: Wrestling is a sport where everything is important. Some wrestlers are talented, some are very technical, some are flexible and uncomfortable, some are physically very strong. In the end, the one who deserves it the most wins. Probably, going to the end, not giving up until the last second – this is the main component of victory.

There are many examples in Ukrainian and world sports, when outstanding athletes who reached the highest peaks in their careers highly valued family values. And to what extent is the family a source of additional motivation for you?

Parviz Nasibov: Family is not just an extra, it is probably my main motivation. Mom and dad were always interested and did everything from my childhood so that I could gain recognition in sports.

Now my younger brother is growing up – he is also a wrestler (14 years old). I understand that he compares to me. I am an authority for him. And also – my little son is growing up, and I want him to be proud of me too. It turns out that the whole family is involved. Therefore, my main motivation is to please them and make them happy.

Would you like your son to also choose a sports path in Greco-Roman wrestling?

⁠Parviz Nasibov: I would like my son to be happy, for my wife and I to raise him decent and human. And what he will choose, what he will see himself in – let it be his choice. And we will only support.

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