The European Champion starred for Playboy Ukraine. Photo | Other

In May, the legendary magazine of Playboy Ukraine published a photo shoot of Alexandra Sholokhova’s 24-year-old karatist. Media success coincided with great sports achievement: May 10 in Yerevan Alexander became a European champion – Sixth in the history of Ukrainian karate.

The newly minted champion and model shared impressions with Champion.

– Was the offer to star for the playboy for you a surprise?

– Yes, it was unexpected – because this was not the case before, I did not receive media attention of this kind. But before you agree to shoot, I first thought of how it could affect my work. After all, I train children, so I have to follow certain limits of decency. Thus, Karate’s Media Media Educator discussed in advance with the editorial of the magazine all the nuances regarding the frankness of the shooting.

– What was interesting about the shooting process? Where did they pass and how much time did they take?

– The shooting took place in Kiev in mid -April. There were two sessions – at the Karate Club « Syong » and in the elite boxing club ”All Stars ”. The work has taken all day. Of course, I was interested, because this happened for the first time, and the whole team worked – photographer, stylist, videographer and others. I was satisfied, though it was quite difficult. But we are athletes: karateists have endurance not only on Tatama.

– What are the expectations of publication in the journal? Something should change in your life?

– I have no expectations for myself personally. However, I would very much like as many people to find out about Karate and be interested in this publication – both in Ukraine and abroad.

Alexander Sholokhov

– But this publication puts you in a row with Ukrainian beauties-stars of sports, like Daria Bilodid, Olga Harlan, Yulia Levchenko, Angelika Terluga …

– One row with beauties is, of course, good and nice. However, you need to have a limit when you want media movements from you, and clearly understand that all this makes sense only when the result is supported. So when I do sports directly – training and competition, I forget about all the external moments, no matter how bright they may be.

– Is there any cause and effect relationship between a photo shoot in playboy and the fact that you have won the stage of the League Prime Minister in Cairo and the European Championship in Yerevan?

– No, then does not mean as a result. However, in a certain psychological sense, I perceived the fact of a photo shoot as an emphasizing that I am special, I am strong. And it added general confidence.

Alexander Sholokhov

– To become a European champion for you sensation or a predicted result?

– I was ready for that. In fact, for the sake of such victories, I have difficult to train and have success in such competitions as the stages of the Prime Minister of the League and the series A. and the title of European Champion – not an end in itself, not finish, not a top, but an next step on a sports journey.

The triumph in Yerevan is a story that is already behind. And now I’m adjusting and getting ready for further start. The closest of them is the League Prime Minister in Morocco (late May), and the main competition of the season is the World Cup, which will be held in November in Cairo. Having become the champion of the continent, I qualified to participate in the world championship and gained a relevant license.

Alexander Sholokhov

– How can you become a European champion when you live and train in frontline Zaporozhye?

– And here: you take and do – despite the constant chess and explosions. I will say that it is not as difficult to fight on Tatama as living in those conditions of war. When a calm meeting somewhere on the base is happiness.

However, Zaporozhye is always in the heart, as well as the native club ”Concordia ”my great support. After all, we, the collection, I and Elina Selyeev (bronze medalist Euro -2025 in weight -68 kg), and our coach Anatoliy Mikhailenko-we spend a lot of time at the exits, and at this time the club is drawn to my colleagues-athletes Lily Yushin, Ilya Bespalko, Danilo Kolodyazny. For which we are extremely grateful to them.

– You perform in the category of legendary Anita Seryogina, the first Ukrainian champion of Europe. Do you feel her successor?

– Anita achieved the highest results. I am proud to belong to the next generation that is replaced by our great stars. And I want to become even better.

Alexander Sholokhov

– Did you have patterns, idols in karate?

– No, I started to do karate quite late – at the age of 14. Then I started picking up the street, but I reached for the gym. At first I just wanted to play sports for myself, but after 9 months the coach put me in the first competitions where I won, and he saw in me a promising athlete.

I note that coach Anatoly Mikhailenko is the best person I could meet in my life after my family. And always next to the girlfriend El Selyeev, with whom we inspire and motivate each other, as well as show an example for our young athletes.