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Lithuanian rowing – unexpected waves.
Federation chief Dainius Pavilionis was surprised to see a photo of the Russian rowing team on Facebook.
There, a group of Russian athletes work with the coaches, and far behind them is M. Masilionis, dressed in the green shirt of the Lithuanian team.
The website of the Russian Rowing Federation announced that their country’s team is starting a camp in Turkey, led by Giovanni Postiglione and M. Masilionio.
The 31-year-old Lithuanian’s role surprised the head of the Lithuanian Rowing Federation, Dainiai Pavilionis.
“It was an unpleasant blink of an eye for me,” he said. 15 minutes portal.
Photo by Irmantas Gelūnas / 15min / LIF President Dainius Pavilionis
I spent a vacation but i saw in turkey
M.Masilionis started working as a coach in 2012, when he decided to end his rowing career.
The young specialist worked together with G. Postiglione, an experienced consultant from Italy hired by the Lithuanian Rowing Federation.
In 2016, when the Lithuanian men’s doubles (Mindaugas Griškonis and Saulius Ritteris) won the silver medal at the Olympic Games and the women’s doubles (Milda Valčiukaitė and Donata Vištartaitė-Karalienė) won bronze, M. Masilionis was voted the best coach of the year Lithuanian sports car.
After the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the young coach’s year of success continued, as the men’s doubles in 2017 won it all: world and European championship gold.
Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Mykolas Masilionis and Dalia Grybauskaitė
“But last year the men were not satisfied with the results of the world championship, when they were still working at Postiglione and Mykolas Masilionis, and they wanted to change coaches. After long discussions, it was decided to appoint Kęstutis Keblis as coach of the men’s quadruple”, said D. Pavilionis.
M. Masilionis continued to work with the athletes of the Lithuanian youth and women’s teams.
According to D. Pavilionis, on November 5, after the meeting, M. Masilionis wrote a request for permission.
“We agreed, especially as her student Milda Valčiukaitė is healing after an injury, Ieva Adomavičiūtė trains less often and Mykolas herself is raising two children,” said D. Pavilionis. – That he found himself in Turkey and that he trains the Russian team together with G. Postiglione – I was surprised.
From what I called him, he did not answer the phone, did not confirm or deny the fact.
But I know the Russian coaches. The youth team coach explained to me that they actually work there. Mr. Postiglione’s work with the Russians was not news because the president of the Russian Rowing Federation told me at the European Championships that they have a contract with Mr. Postiglione.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Giovanni Postiglione
Our contract with Giovanni expired on June 30, he does not interfere with anyone. But M. Masilionis if he coaches the Russian team …
As far as I know, there are two masters of rowing there, none of their doubles or quad teams have entered the Olympics yet, so the Russian quadruple doubles are direct competitors of our quadruple.
You see, he’s not a gentleman. Know the pros, cons, go to train the competitors, it’s not nice. “
Olympic winner: “He has disagreements with the federation”
15 minutes M. Masilionis, with whom his wife, a member of the Lithuanian rowing team Lina Šaltytė-Masilionė, is also training in Turkey, has not yet been contacted.
But other rowers, including M. Valčiukaitė, communicate regularly with the coach.
The 2016 Olympic winner, who is recovering from spinal surgery, said he coordinates rehabilitation according to the coach’s advice.
“From what I understand, he has a trial period in Turkey. In December, he should say his final decision,” said M. Valčiukaitė.
Vidmantas Balkūnas / 15min photo / 15min studio – world rowing champions Milda Valčiukaitė and Ieva Adomavičiūtė.
She said she would like M. Masilionis, who replaced Kęstutis Keblis as women’s doubles coach after the Olympics in Brazil, to continue working together.
“I really want Michael to be my coach. But he has disagreements with the federation, his working conditions are unsatisfactory. He started looking for other conditions, “said M. Valčiukaitė.
Sport is like war, there are also secrets
However, the president of the Lithuanian Rowing Federation, D. Pavilionis, stated that, in any case, M. Masilionis had to report his maneuvers to the federation.
“It just came to our attention then. It is common for coaches to open the four-year Olympic cycles. You win, shake hands and keep working or go your own way – coaches are free to choose, they are not slaves, – said D Pavilionis – But for us it would be a great loss.
That man was taken off the boat, he wasn’t even a coach. In 2012-2013 we trusted him a lot, we hired a consultant G.Postiglione, M.Masilionis was his assistant. I consider him a coach raised in the federation.
We can’t make decisions now because we don’t have much knowledge, he doesn’t contact us. So it is still difficult to judge. Your responses should wait. Maybe he went to Turkey with his wife and accidentally met a Russian team that spread rumors that he was training her?
Clearly, it is a matter of conscience in this situation. You have a contract, you work for us, we raise you, there are twists and turns in life, but then come and say: it is not suitable, I will not work anymore, I have better conditions. And now you’re going on vacation to train the competitors?
It would be chivalrous if a person confessed what he was doing. “
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / President of LIF Dainius Pavilionis
Previously, G. Postiglione coordinated the consultancy work in the Lithuanian national team with the official duties of her coach in the Greek rowing team. But, according to D. Pavilionis, now the situations are different.
“Postiglione was a freelancer who was a consultant and we received some invoices from him. Another thing when he has other responsibilities was that of president of the Lithuanian Rowing Federation. – You cannot be a general of the Lithuanian Army and the Russian Army at the same time.
It is not a war, but there is competition in sport, as there are certain secrets in other sports. Going to work elsewhere reveals secrets. That is not right. “
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