Helmut Balderis: sport achievements and biography

Helmut Gunarovich Balderis is a legend of Soviet sport. By right is considered the best of hockey players in the history of Latvia. Multiple world champion, as well as an honorary holder of state awards.

early years

He was born in the summer of 1952 in the capital of the Latvian SSR. Like many Soviet children, he loved to play sports. As a child, he played in the street in hockey, football and basketball. No matter how surprising this may sound, I decided at an early age that I wanted to devote myself to hockey. Parents fully supported his son and gave him to the section. Initially, he absolutely did not stand out against the background of his peers, but after a while it became clear that Helmut Balderis could grow into a very strong athlete. Coaches began to give him a little more attention and, as it turned out, not in vain. The young man worked hard at training sessions and dreamed one day to go out on the ice as a professional hockey player.

Already at the age of sixteen, he began regularly to speak for "Wagon Constructor" from Riga. He showed himself great in games, and very soon for him a really adult career begins.

The main stage of the career

Season 1969-1970 He begins as a player of the club "Dynamo" (Riga). Who would have thought that the young striker would instantly fit into the team scheme and from the first matches begin to show the phenomenal level of the game? For eight years he will shine on the ice, and from an unknown boy he will turn into one of the strongest extreme forwards of the world.

At that time, it was announced that all the strongest athletes moved to Moscow. Naturally, such a fate could not pass him. In 1977 Helmut moved to CSKA, where he became the main player for three years. Here he acted in a link with such legendary personalities as Zhlutkov and Kapustin. Over the years, he still scored a lot of goals, but everything just did not justify the expectations. The leadership of the "army" decides that Helmut Balderis should return to his native "Dynamo".

Season 1980-1981 He starts in Riga, where he again becomes a key player. At that time he was only twenty-eight years old, and up to thirty-three he showed an incredible level of play. And in his last season for his native team became the champion of the Soviet Union.

In 1989, decided to resume the sporting career of Balderis. The hockey player at that time was already middle-aged, but spent one year behind the ocean. His team was "Minnesota North Stars". Despite his impressive age, he will participate in twenty-six fights, will score three goals and give six assists.

Performances for the USSR national team

Balderis is one of the most titled players of the national team. In 1976, the hockey player became the silver medalist of the world championship. A year later the team won only bronze medals.

In 1978 Helmut For the first time in his career he will become the world champion. This tournament was held in Czechoslovakia. In 1979, the competition was held directly in Moscow. Naturally, the Soviet team had no right to lose here. As a result, the first place. Four years later, the Union team will again be the best team of the world, and the Latvian hockey player will become a three-time winner of gold.

As for the Olympic Games, the athlete participated in them only once. This happened in the United States of America in 1980. The USSR team then stopped for a step to gold, losing only in the final to the hosts of the tournament.

On the account of Balderis also fifty-four duel and thirty-three thrown washers for the national team. He spent several games for the national team of Latvia.

Coaching activities

After the athlete became the winner of the championship of the Union 1984-1985. In the "Dynamo" (Riga), he decided to try himself as a coach. For four years he was in Japan and worked as an assistant to the chief teacher in "Ozzy Seisi". For four seasons here, Balderis Added three awards to his collection of awards.

After the season in America, he returned to Latvia and worked for a short time in the Pardaugava system. In the mid-nineties for a while he became the head coach of the Latvian national team, but failed to achieve anything. On this coaching career of the legendary hockey player has ended and has not been renewed.

Awards and achievements

Among the state awards, it is necessary to highlight the presence of the Order of Friendship of Peoples, which he received after winning the world championship in 1978. Also Helmut Balderis is a well-deserved master of sports of the Soviet Union.

After Latvia became an independent state, the government could not help but notice the hockey player. He was awarded the Order of the Three Stars. It should be noted that this is the highest award of the native country of Helmut.

Life outside sports

Balderis is an exemplary family man. He has a wife and two adult daughters. Right after he left the sport, he was for a while the head of the Sports Palace, which is located in Riga. In 1996, he became vice-president of the federation of hockey, and in 1998 his name was entered in the IIHF Hall of Fame.

In the 2000s, Balderis moved away a little from the sport and started business. In 2009, the former hockey player became the head of the pharmaceutical company.

Helmut Balderis will go down in the history of world sports as a man who has managed to achieve everything on his own. His name is forever inscribed in the history of Soviet and Latvian hockey. He is still an idol and role model for many young athletes.