In a rare feat, Berwick mother and son duo Sergei Evglevski and Lalita Yauhleuskaya will both compete for Australia in the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Gazette reporter HAYLEY WILDES found the family link to shooting glory does not end there…
It’s rare that a mother and son both reach the pinnacle of their sport by representing their country on the world stage.
It’s even rarer for a mother and son duo to be competing at the same Commonwealth Games.
That is exactly what Sergei Evglevski and Lalita Yauhleuskaya will achieve over the coming days when they pull on the green and gold in shooting events at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Berwick residents, Sergei will be competing in the men’s 25m rapid fire and Lalita in the women’s 10m air pistol and 25m sport pistol.
The decision to move from Belarus to Australia in 1998 – when Lalita’s husband and Sergei’s father, accepted a position as gunsmith for the Australian Shooting Team – has seen the family call Australia home ever since.
Up until 2000, Lalita, 55, represented Belarus in competitions, before obtaining Australian citizenship in 2001 – since then she has proudly donned the green and gold.
Her achievements are simply incredible.
Having represented Belarus twice at Olympic level, including winning bronze in the 25m air pistol event at the 2000 Olympics, she has also represented Australia an unbelievable four times.
At Commonwealth Games level, Lalita has had nothing short of a legendary career. Three golds and a bronze at the 2002 Games, four gold at the 2006 Games in Melbourne, one silver in 2010 and a bronze in 2014.
Now in 2018, Lalita will compete at her fifth Commonwealth Games, this time with her son.
With both parents involved in shooting, Sergei, 20, was bound to find his way into the sport. Since taking up the sport in 2012, and first doing it competitively in 2014, he has not only found his way into the sport, he has truly found his place in it.
He acknowledges just how much influence his mother has had on his career.
“Mum’s influence was huge because she’s the one that showed me how interesting the sport is.” Sergei said.
“She has been there since day one of my shooting and has always been with me, she showed me and taught me the fundamentals and core ideas of pistol shooting.”
Sergei has been a fixture in Junior World Cups for some time, winning silver and bronze medals along the way. On the Gold Coast, Sergei will be competing in his first major senior competition and that is something that has him buzzing with excitement.
“I’m very excited. It only just hit me recently that I’ll be wearing the green and gold soon.” Sergei said.
The duo train together and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s definitely more enjoyable because we are able to train together. Training by yourself is hard because you lose motivation, however together it’s easy.” Sergei said.
Training with her son is extremely enjoyable for Lalita and she believes it has definitely helped her continue to be able to compete with the new breed of shooters coming through.
“He motivates me.” Lalita said.
“I am very proud of him. I always knew he would be able to perform well.”
With countless medals and achievements over her career, Lalita has seen it all and believes that experience will hold her in good stead at her fifth Commonwealth Games.
“I think the experience has given me an advantage in that I know what to expect. However anything can happen.” Lalita said.
“I’m very proud to have been representing Australia for so long. I never thought I could still be doing this professionally at this stage at a high level.”
With a wealth of experience and success to match, Lalita acknowledges the work of Australian coaches, Anatoly Babushka and Vladimir Galiabovitch, as having helped her tremendously since joining the Australian team, along with her husband.
There’s no doubt that this family is shooting royalty in Australia. Along with Lalita and Sergei competing for Australia, the story of Sergei’s father – also named Sergei – is just as prominent in Australian shooting history.
As gunsmith for the Australian team, Sergei has helped countless athletes in their pursuit of perfection.
Most notably, he assisted with final adjustments to Michael Diamond’s shotgun before he famously won gold in trap shooting for Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Sergei will undoubtedly be supporting his family as they chase their dreams on the Gold Coast.
With the Commonwealth Games kicking off this week, the duos focus is set firmly on the task at hand, but when asked what the future holds, Lalita hopes to tick off one last item before retirement.
“If I don’t need to retire, I hope to go to the Tokyo Olympics together.” Lalita said.
What an accomplishment that would be!
