“What matters is being able to recover after defeats, injuries, or any other obstacles that arise”
IRGS student Vsevolod Martynov tells us about his experience of studying at HSE and representing the national team of Russia at the same time.
Studying at the “International Relations and Global Studies” can hardly be called simple, but our students successfully find ways to escape from their studies, relax and redirect their attention. Some people use their free time to practice music, others, as we have already covered in a recent article, play for the university hockey team. Today, the IRGS press center spoke with 4th year student Vsevolod Martynov, a master of sports in snowboarding, for whom this activity is more than a hobby.
You successfully combine two impressive fields—professional sports and studying at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs. Let’s start with your sports career. How did you get into snowboarding, and what inspires you in this sport?
– Well, to begin with, I come from a sports family. My grandfather and my father are both Masters of Sport in boxing. That's why I had no choice but to pursue sports. When I was three years old, my dad enrolled me in alpine skiing, and then at six, my coach suggested I try snowboarding. I was immediately hooked because I saw the beauty of snowboarding, especially in the racing disciplines. I compete in parallel slalom and giant slalom – there are no jumps or acrobatics, just two sportsmens competing for speed on parallel courses. I loved the way riders carved through turns, leaned into the snow, popped out aggressively, switched edges, and dove into the next turn. It was precisely this beauty of snowboarding that inspired me, and at six years old, I knew this was the sport for me.
Any passion, especially an extreme one like this, has its downsides. What difficulties have you faced on your path to professional sports? Were there pivotal moments when you wanted to quit? How did you overcome them?
– Everyone faces difficulties in life—whether in sports, academics, or a career. What matters is being able to recover after defeats, injuries, or any other obstacles that arise. I've dealt with all kinds of challenges: conflicts with coaches, misunderstandings within the team, numerous injuries, failures, and losses. But I overcame them all step by step.
Despite the obstacles, you’ve achieved remarkable success. What stand out as your most significant career milestones? Which competitions left a lasting impression?
– The most meaningful for me are my medals at the Youth World Championships, especially the gold in 2021. That was the last season Russian athletes were allowed in international competitions. But every achievement matters to me — from childhood races to Russian Championship medals. I treat all of them with great respect, fond memories, and a special emotional connection.
Now, let’s talk about another important aspect of your life — your studies. The "International Relations and Global Studies" program is a serious choice. Why have you decided to pursue this field?
– I genuinely care about the future of our country and its people. I believe the international agenda significantly impacts domestic stability, development, and opportunities for every nation, including Russia. On a more personal level, I’m particularly troubled by how international organizations politicize sports: for nearly a decade, Russian athletes have faced discrimination, hypocrisy, and disrespect. This shows exactly how international relations work in practice and why they need to be studied professionally.
At the beginning of my studies, it was important for me to understand the mechanisms of global politics: how are decisions made? How can we influence global processes? My goal is to use the knowledge and skills I gain to make the world better, defend my country's interests, and promote fairer international dialogue.
Continuing this topic, how do you manage to combine professional sports with your studies?
– It’s incredibly tough, but I make it work—largely thanks to the support of my family, friends, and groupmates. They believe in me, offer understanding, encourage me during tough moments, and help me keep going. This faith has supported me all four years – now only my thesis defense remains, and I'm deeply grateful to them.
You mentioned support from peers. That leads me to my next question: how do your professors view your sports commitments? Does the program help manage the organizational challenges of combining sports and studies?
– It’s a tricky question because at a big university like HSE University, there’s a lot of bureaucracy — everything has to be done according to the strict rules. Sometimes my competition schedules clash with exams. What really matters, though, is the human factor—professors and administration see how much effort I put into both sports and studies, and they do their best to help me.
Do you have any special time-management techniques?
– During orientation in my first year, our academic advisor said something that stuck with me: "HSE students are highly valued by employers for their ability to meet deadlines." Since then, I’ve made deadlines my priority. If you really want something, you’ll make it happen! Of course, there are moments of procrastination or burnout, but I push myself to finish everything on time, dedicating my free hours to sports and studies. This constant balancing requires discipline, planning, and motivation but it keeps me moving forward in both areas.
Let’s talk about the future. What are your plans after graduation? Will you continue your sports career or focus on diplomacy/international relations?
– Honestly, even though I’m almost done with my bachelor’s, I don’t have a clear answer yet. One thing is certain: I’ll pursue a master’s degree. I want to keep studying to become a truly qualified expert in international relations and global economics. From my point of view, a complete education includes graduate studies.
As for sports, I’m not saying goodbye anytime soon. I plan to keep competing professionally—it’s not just physical activity but a huge part of my life, a source of joy, smiles and genuine emotion. For the next 2–3 years, I’ll keep balancing both. After my master’s, I might have a clearer direction. For now, I’m committed to growing in both fields. It’s challenging, but I know it’s worth it.
And the final question: what advice would you give young athletes who want to combine professional sports and serious academics?
– First, a professional athlete must be a thinking one. Only a thinking athlete can reach the top – so, education is a must. Second, ask yourself: Why are you studying? Will you use this knowledge, or will you just get a diploma? Yes, you’ll be an educated specialist, but will you work in that field? Manage your time wisely—university takes 4–6 years of your life. Define early on who you want to become, then choose your program accordingly. Most importantly, It will be hard. But these challenges make you stronger than peers who only study. My advice is to believe in yourself, define your goals, and get that degree—just pick the right university and major that suits you.
The press center of the “International Relations and Global Studies” thanks Vsevolod for the meaningful conversation and wishes him success in professional sports and defending his final thesis!
The material was prepared within the framework of the project “Press Center of International Relations and Global Studies”. Interview: Polina Trusova (2nd year), editor: Timofei Petrov (2nd year, press center coordinator)