Alexander Medved - freestyle wrestler: biography, family, sports achievements

Aleksandr Medved - Soviet professional wrestler in freestyle, the three-time Olympic champion, multiple winner of the World Cup, Europe and the USSR. In 1962 he received the title of Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.

Alexander Medvedev - the author of two books of their own to fight freestyle. His career is remarkable that he won one and the same opponent (Osman Duralieva) eight times, all in finals of major competitions. After the collapse of the Soviet Union he took the post of vice-president of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus, and also became the head coach of the Olympic team of Belarus in freestyle wrestling.

Alexander Medved - freestyle wrestler: biography, family, sports achievements

Alexander Medved: biography of the Soviet athlete

Born on September 16, 1937 in White Church (Ukraine, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union). He raised in his hometown in the ordinary Soviet family. Father Basil Z. worked a forester, and his mother watched the household. Basil Z. was a strict and judicious person. On these principles, and Alexander was brought up. Apparently, so he has a strong will, thanks to which became known to the Soviet champion.

Alexander was born sporting interest even with small child. Stalwart and energetic boy tried all kinds of sports - from football to the sport of gymnastics. Soon, the young Sasha became interested in the fight, and he was taken to the local section. There he had good results and praise from the coach, but the real training it was always waiting at home.

As mentioned above, his father, Basil Z. was the most demanding man who brought his son for an adult male rules. condition was put before Sasha that he would be able to attend the training only when cope with all domestic and personal issues. Basically, he always had to chop wood, which at that time were necessary for comfortable living conditions in their home. Before each workout, Alexander went out into the yard and cut a cube, or even two oak wood, in order to provide the family with warmth and perform rigorous instruction of his father. This "warm woodcutter" future champion went only benefit. Through this work, he strongly pumped up arms and became strong wrists. Alexander Medvedev, whose family believed in his success over the years has become an eminent athlete. But he always asked about why he has such a huge and elastic arms.

have overcome all the army

In 1956, Alexander called for military service. During the distribution, he got into the armored forces of the Byelorussian Military District. It was here that he became acquainted with the struggle in the pure sense of the word. But even here, Alexander Medved first tried himself in athletics and handball. Estimate the parameters of the young soldier, an officer of the educational work took Bear to the fighters. Who knew that in the Army will be predetermined his fate for the rest of life.

From the first days of training, Alexander demonstrated his skills a bit left from childhood. Across the platoon began to spread rumors about a guy who shows good results in the fight. Alexander grasped everything on the fly - all techniques that show the coach, soldiers bear repeated exactly. He at any moment the battle could apply the extraordinary reception that distinguished some creativity and blazing speed. In any sparring Alexander Medved came out the winner.

It was in the army he was born a new character trait - absolute fearlessness. And it's not just words, it really was just the same with someone to go on the carpet, whether it be a local champion or just a healthy physical development of soldiers.

Alexander Medved - freestyle wrestler: biography, family, sports achievements

KBVO Championship

The first major sporting triumph occurred also in the army. A few months after the start of the training took place Krasnoznamensk Belarusian Military District tournament. The honor of his company, of course, went to defend the ordinary bear. First, he won the championship in wrestling and Sambo, and a few days later participated in the tournament in Greco-Roman wrestling, which took third place. As a sign of gratitude, honor and victory, Alexander presented the award - a tape recorder. It was his first wrestling achievement by which he believed in himself and continued to train hard. Here he met his first mentor - Pavel Vasilyevich Grigoriev (honored coach of the Belarusian SSR and USSR), who taught Alexander the new professional techniques and perfect technique of warfare.

Alexander Medved - freestyle wrestler: biography, family, sports achievements

Life after the Army

In 1959, a demobilized soldier Alexander Medved decides to stay in Belarus. In the same year he makes an informed decision and to enter higher coaching school of the Belarusian State Institute of Physical Culture. With studies at the future Olympic champion had no problems - all educational stages of his life before the fact and pointed.

In 1961 he graduated from the High School coaches and takes the next step in his career - going to college. Here he meets with leaders such as AP Grigoriev and BM Rybalko (senior lecturer in combat, the honored trainer of the USSR). These mentors will remain for years to come with Alexander Medvedev, will take with him the hard way to perfection, not knowing failure and defeat.

During training Bear determined struggle with discipline and begins to train hard, not sparing himself and his body. The choice fell on freestyle wrestling.

Alexander Medved - freestyle wrestler: biography, family, sports achievements

Debut in professional sports, first title

In April 1961, Alexander participated in the USSR championship fight and win it. Bear contenders were no longer any military fighters, but real professionals (such as Dzarasov, Kiknadze, Kandelaki, Ivanitskii - all Olympic medalists and champions), in a career that has a lot of victories and achievements. However, Alexander without feeling fear and apprehension, has managed to overcome all the big-name athletes and win the championship. Now Alexander Medved - a fighter with a capital letter, it is the champion of its great and vast country. In the course of the next coaches Council decided that a new champion is riding on the upcoming World Cup, which will be held in Japan.

Alexander Medved - freestyle wrestler: biography, family, sports achievements

Speech at the World Cup - without gold, but with the status of "new star"

After the triumph in the national championship Soviet champion began to actively prepare for their World Cup debut. Coaches, like an athlete himself, well aware that it is now the most important event in his career. Unfortunately, panning for gold could not be at the World Cup - Bear lost in the final of the German fighter Dietrich. However, Soviet boxer acted very honorably, saying the whole world about his person and champion potential. Fortunately, he did it - world champions already knew very well that there is a new rising star in the world championship.

The First Olympic feat of

In 1964, Bear made his debut at the Olympic Games in Japan (Tokyo). The first fight was against Romanian titled athlete who overcame all bear something in two minutes. Without any difficulty, Alexander reached the final, and fought with the Bulgarian wrestler Vylko Kostol. This match will forever remain in the memory of the old appreciate wrestling - Alexander Medved, laid on the shoulder of his opponent in 39 seconds and became the Olympic champion.

Alexander Medved - freestyle wrestler: biography, family, sports achievements

The Olympics in Mexico City, the massacre of the German Dietrich

The second Olympic gold medal was won at the Olympics in 1968 in Mexico City. Exhausting heat wave did not give many athletes perform appropriately. Nevertheless, bear, he took himself into a fist, reach the final and met with the offender Dietrich. Everyone understands that it is necessary not just a newcomer, but a true champion, which is not so easy to handle before the German fighter. During the fight he knocked out Alexander Dietrich finger, so the fight was stopped for medical care. Less than a minute later, he stopped the fight when Alexander Medved reduce a single movement his finger on the eyes of the amazed public and sends a signal to the judges that the fight must continue. German stunned after such a gesture could not adequately confront and a few seconds later surrendered. So second Olympic gold was won.

Alexander Medved - freestyle wrestler: biography, family, sports achievements

Alexander Medved: height, weight, and confrontation against American Krissy Taylor (200 kg),

The following Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. Aleksandr Medved was already captain of his team. Here he again met with Dietrich, but effortlessly overcame him and got to the semi-finals, where he was waiting for an American Krissy Taylor. opponent weighed 200 kilograms, its specially fattened American to fight with the "Russian bear".

This fight was no less legendary, the stands were packed to the whole world wanted to see a huge confrontation Taylor (220 cm) against stokilogrammovye Alexander with the growth of 190 cm. This dramatic match ended with the victory of the Soviet athlete. Quirky and technically "Russian Bear" with a crash threw American heavyweight on the floor. After the course of this battle, Alexander injured his back, but that did not stop him to win the third gold in the final against Bulgarian Duralieva. It was the last Olympics for the Soviet fighter. Alexander Medved - three-time Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling. He was great and undefeated!