Alexander Karelin: biography, sporting achievements. Greco-Roman wrestling

As you know, in Russia there have been very strong wrestlers since ancient times. The school of Greco-Roman wrestling began to develop especially dynamically during the Soviet period, which paid special attention to sports and physical education. One of such people, who can be safely considered to be the "golden" generation of Russian sports, is Alexander Karelin. The biography of this athlete will be considered in detail in this article.

Birth and beginning of sports

An outstanding world-class fighter was born on September 19, 1967 in the city of Novosibirsk. Alexander was carried away by the Greco-Roman wrestling at the age of fourteen. His first section was Burevestnik. After three years of training he was able to fulfill the standard of the master of sports of the USSR, and a year later he became a master of sports of international class.

Education and scientific work

In 1985, Alexander Karelin, whose biography is a worthy example for the younger generation, graduated from his native city trucking school and decided to become a cadet of the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School of Internal Troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. In the same year, the rookie was sent to serve in a sports company of the Siberian Military District. Also, the future Olympic champion graduated from the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Karelin made his contribution to the sport not only with medals, but also with a written candidate's thesis, the theme of which was: "The technique of holding counter-attacks from rolls by deflection." Her defense was held at the Lesgaft Academy. This scientific work to this day is an excellent practical tool for many Russian wrestlers.

In 2002, Karelin defended his doctoral thesis on "Systems of integral training of highly qualified wrestlers". This unique research is based on analytical work, which was extended with more than 400 athletes. In the course of her studies, tactics, psychology and the characteristics of wrestlers were studied. According to the results of this scientific work, Alexander concluded: the athlete, who is not able to control himself, demonstrating the lack of emotional stability, shows unsatisfactory results at the competitions. Some modern experts of the sports world believe that the thesis of Karelin can help to deduce the "formula" of the ideal fighter.

So our hero is a Russian strong not only physically, but also very smart. In a word, San Sanych is an intellectual who defends the colors of the flag of the homeland with dignity.

The first sporting success

Alexander Karelin (his biography arouses respect even among opponents) with his first sporting achievement can be called a victory at the World Youth Championship in 1985. This achievement was made possible by his persistence, diligence and dedication. In many ways, it is also the merit of his coach, Viktor Kuznetsov, who, by the way, remained his only mentor for the entire sporting life.

The following year, Karelin wins such competitions as:

• The championship of the Soviet Union among juniors.
• Summer Spartakiad of the peoples of the RSFSR.
• International tournament dedicated to the memory of Ivan Poddubny.
• Spartakiad of the USSR.
• Junior European Championship.
• The primacy of the RSFSR.

Successes in 1987

At the age of 20, Alexander was able to take the first place in the European Championship, to win the World Cup, to become the best in the championship of the RSFSR. At the championship of the USSR, he took the second place, losing to the leader of the country's fighters Igor Rostotsky (score 0: 1).

The best in the USSR

For the first time to become the champion of the Union Alexander Karelin (biography of the wrestler is now available for all comers) was able in 1988. And this despite the fact that at the time of the tournament the wrestler had a concussion of the brain, and he had a fever. It was then that he first won the recognized leader of the team Igor Rostotsky. However, the coaches of the team were not impressed with the result and in the summer they conducted another check - an extraordinary fee, which was won by Karelin. In the same year, the young sportsman won the Grand Prix in Germany and the amateur Grand Prix held in Budapest.

The first Olympiad

In 1988, Karelin Alexander Alexandrovich for the first time went to the Olympic tournament. At that time, his weight was 112 kilograms. In the final match, the Russian met with the representative of Bulgaria Rangel Gerański. In the first period, our hero lost with a score of 2: 3, but fifteen seconds before the end of the fight, he was able to hold his favorite "reverse belt" and win his first Olympic gold.

The Olympics in Barcelona

In 1992 Karelin Alexander Alexandrovich again went to the Olympic championship. And exactly the same fate of the gold medal was decided in just a few moments. True, this time it happened at the beginning of the main match. In the final, San Sanych met with the legendary Swedish athlete Thomas Johansson. Scandinavian wrestler could not last two minutes. Thus, Karelin became a two-time Olympic champion.

World Championship 1993

Looking ahead, we note that the tournament was won by Alexander Karelin. The battle with the first opponent is worth describing separately.

In the first round of the competition, the Russian met with US citizen Matt Gaffari. According to Karelin himself, after winning the first point, he tried to turn over his opponent and injured two ribs. And the bottom in the literal sense of a detached, and the second, located next to it, broke. These two small bones in the process of fighting pressed on the liver, and therefore Alexander all the time felt a sharp taste of bile. However, in the end he was able to win with a score of 3: 0. But the most difficult test was ahead ...

In 20 minutes after the meeting with the American, the Russian wrestler came out against the already known to us Thomas Johansson. Initially, the Swede was able to win one point because Karelin did not have time to straighten out during the opponent's attack. But after Alexander three times successfully fulfilled his beloved "reverse belt" and won with a score of 12: 1.

The next fights in the tournament, Alexander Karelin, champion of many competitions, held more calmly and confidently and in the finals was able to purely win the Moldovan Sergei Mureiko.

Trauma healed for a long time. Two and a half months Alexander could not help but fight. And breathing in a calm state was also given with difficulty.

Continuation of the career of the fighter

The following years were also successful for Karelin. He became the world champion of 1994 and 1995, helped to defeat the Russian team in the match against the world team. In the autumn of 1995, he won a tournament of his name, held in Novosibirsk. Confronted him in the final is already known to us Matt Gaffari. But it's especially worth mentioning about the European Championship of 1996.

In the course of this tournament, Karelin had a serious problem: he had a rupture of the large pectoral muscle, which led to the appearance of a hematoma weighing one and a half kilograms. This led to the fact that the athlete could not act with his right hand. In such a situation, in fact, the Russian already had nothing to hope for, but he did the impossible - he won the competition! After the finals, he was operated on, which lasted two hours.

Alexander himself later said that Hungarian doctors gave him disappointing forecasts about his recovery. But the doctor of the Russian national team, Valery S. Okhapkin, helped restore Karelin as quickly as possible. Already in 1996, he again became (for the third time) an Olympic champion, which was already amazing in itself, given the severity of this sport.

The last Olympiad

The dramatic finale of the Sydney Olympics has plagued many fight fans in shock. Alexander Karelin (his height is 191 cm) in the battle for the first place lost to Rollon Gardner. The first period of the fight ended with a score of 0: 0. According to the rules in force at the time, athletes were placed in the crusade. The referee considered that the Russian first unclenched his hands, and awarded one point to an American, who also gave him the opportunity to defeat the glorified Russian. As a result, Karelin for the first time in 13 years of his career lost and became the owner of a silver medal. His defeat became a disappointment for many fans, but the team eventually took the first team place.

According to Alexander himself, the defeat was due to emotional devastation. He did not feel like excusing himself, believing that such behavior would only humiliate him. In any case, three gold and one silver Olympic medals for a sporting career are a result that for the time being nobody of the current fighters of the world can reach.

Fighting with the Japanese

In 1999, the Russian was offered to fight according to the rules of the emerging mixed martial arts. Confrontation "Alexander Karelin - Maeda" saw millions of viewers around the world. By the way, the prize fund was equal to just a colossal sum for those times: one million US dollars. But since Karelin did not have the right to speak for money in accordance with the Olympic Charter, the fight went without remuneration.

February 20, 1999. Fight Alexander Karelin with the Japanese. According to previously agreed rules, the Russian wrestler had no right to strike and had to use only wrestling techniques. For some time the representative of the Land of the Rising Sun actively used his kicks and kept the Russians at a distance, but eventually Karelin still managed to hold his crown "back belt" and win the fight. After the fight, the Japanese were helped to escape from the ring, since he himself was not able to go. And this despite the fact that it was not dealt a single blow!

Life today

Nowadays, Alexander Karelin, whose family plays the leading role in life, continues to work actively for the benefit of society. He lives alternately in Moscow, then in Novosibirsk. In 1998 he was recognized as an honorary citizen of his native city. He has a wife, two sons and a daughter of Vasilisa.

The son of Alexander Karelin, Ivan, also engaged in wrestling and in 2014 took the fifth place in the championship of Russia. Vasilisa is actively engaged in artistic gymnastics.

Since 1995, San Sanych has the rank of colonel of the tax police. Four times elected to the State Duma of Russia. He was a member of the Committee for Health and Sport. He has the award of the Hero of Russia, the Order of Friendship of Peoples, Honor, "For Services to the Fatherland". In 2013 he was awarded with the certificate of honor of the President of the Russian Federation.

By the way, Karelin is among the twenty-five best athletes around the world in the twentieth century. He stands alongside such legendary figures as Pele, Muhammad Ali, Larissa Latynina.