Anton Shipulin: I respect Neuner for sports accomplishments, but I have different taste in women

Russian biathlete Anton Shipulin has answered the questions of the users of Sports.ru during an online conference.

Just to heat the conversation up, the users have asked a thorny question: would you marry Magdalena Neuner?

Oh... I respect Lena very much for the results she has achieved in biathlon. But as a woman… I can’t say I’m fond of her appearance. I have a different ideal of beauty in women. The sportwomen’s body build doesn’t appeal to me so much as the the one of models (laughs).

You already have the Olympic Games medals, a World Championship medal, what do you wish for yourself next season?

As the last season has shown, it’s better when you don’t try to predict it. I would be happy with some victories at the World Cup stages and a podium finish at the World Championship in an individual race.

The people in our team look so serious. Meanwhile, the Norwegians laugh a lot, crack jokes, and just look relaxed.

I think we will start changing since this season. In the spring during time of Champions Race [in Moscow – Sports.ru] and the tournament in Kamchatka we communicated with the Norwegians and the Germans very closely – and have come to a conclusion that we will be friends from now on, will be smiling and joking more than were before (laughs).

Who is better – Bjoerndalen, Svendsen, or Boe?

In my opinion it’s Bjoerndalen. He has won so many titles that it would suffice for five men. He always finds a motivation, though he is already close to his fourties.

Have you ever talked to him in some informal setting?

In Antholtz, when I won a World Cup stage, he came up to he, asked how were my skis going. We also tried to talk to me in Kamchatka – the language barrier is the only thing that divides us.

What does he have that the others don’t?

He has got a great goal – to be the best. Ole doesn’t sleep, doesn’t eat – he keeps thinking of biathlon. He is a fanatic kind of man. Many biathletes should learn from him.

Svendsen or Boe – which of them has more chances next season in your opinion?

I think, Boe is still better – he is more venturesome.