After the Sochi Olympics, I was overly increasing with myself / day

Already in 2013, at the age of 20, Gudlevsky was named one of the three best Latvian national team players at the World Cup. This contributed to becoming our second goalkeeper behind Arthur Irbe, who was drafted in the National Hockey League (NHL). However, the real hour of Gudlevsky came next winter – in the quarter -finals of the Sochi Olympics, he fouled out 55 of 57 shots in a duel against the Canadian team, which was made of the world’s best hockey players, failing Latvia with a 1: 2 failure.

« The problem was that my own expectations of how to play, grew terribly. I had a new bar I was guided by determining how well I was playing. I would say to Christopher at that time: Piggy, I am proud of you because good playing, « Why was it a problem? I catch all the shots, and everyone is excited. However, when I scored five goals in the American Hockey League (AHL), I shoot myself. How could it be?

Gudlevsky emphasizes that every game and every opponent is different and often the goalkeeper does not need to do miracle things, just catch his own pucks. « If you get three and the team throws four, you win the game, you have to rejoice in it. The result is achieved, because the key is to win the team. However, I, a young and inexperienced person, had a feeling that every game had to be shown miracles to feel good about yourself. »

2013/2014 In the season, the Latvian became the first goalkeeper to play in the three leading North American leagues in the NHL, AHL and ECHL in one season and at the Olympics. In his NHL career, Gudlevsky played five games and two of them were in the Stanley Cup.

« Overcoming anxiety is such an interesting thing. At the end of the day, you have no place to escape, you have to run anywhere. The only thing you can do is make the best way to prepare before, and this readiness will give you a sense of peace that you have done everything to get the best of the evening, » Gudlevsky says. « Go to the toilet, clean your stomach as you can, and realize that at least that will not bother you during the game. The good news is that you are no longer thinking about anything else. The moment you are worried, you know this thing is most important.

Gudlevsky says it was much easier for the NHL to play than in North American second strongest league in the AHL. « I always felt in the game, I control everything because the game in the NHL was more predictable, hockey players more professional. There are higher -level players. If they want to give up somewhere, then if they want to hit somewhere, they will do it. Such a game is easier to read. The hockey is more jerky there. It is not possible to train in training.

11 years have passed since then. After several low stages, Gudlevsky’s career is now in high flight and has been named the best goalkeeper of the strong German Championship for two consecutive seasons.

« I am richer that provides the safety of going through different situations and I have something to compare with. I speak with myself and then be sure: Okay, I have done it in advance, so I can do it today. Ice – nutrition, sleep, small nuances, habits that need to be developed to get a success factor in his advantage, ”says the goalkeeper. « Often you understand when you slow down. Thoughts are dominated by youth, the harder you will train, but now you realize that there has been a lot of games, hard workouts, so maybe a little more to regain energy.

Despite the long years abroad, Gudlevsky is inclined to spend his life in his homeland after his career. He says he prefers to live in a quieter environment. « I can’t tell you where I see my life after my career, probably outside Riga. For the time being, it will be Latvia. I always like to spend here in summer, the feeling of home in Latvia has not left me, » the athlete emphasizes, saying that the feeling of home is created by food, friends, family members and even the bumpy highway roads.

A full interview with Krister Gudlevsky Read the magazine Sports newspaper The May issue, which is still available this week at the best press outlets.