the Trophy is named after the founder of the movement Fair Play Jean Borotra for the nobility throughout his sports career was put forward eight candidates. And most serious of them – the champion of Europe and world football the Spaniard Carles Puyol. But the winner of 18 Olympic medals, nine of them gold, Larisa Latynina and beat with a clear advantage. She had 12 first places, the Puyol – just three. However, as an exception, the Trophy will be awarded to him.
As said, summarizing the President of the Committee of Hungarian fencer and surgeon Jeno Kamuti Latynina will remain in world sport, not only due to its victories. She remembered not coming off the lips a smile, friendly, very respectful attitude to all competitors. When was the head coach of the national team, the athletes on her team could envy: what they have a mentor. In mothering your girls, she helped with advice and to competitors.
a long time since we did not get such prizes. The last time the Trophy in his career has won in 1992 skier Raisa Smetanina. And the Trophy for the gesture of Fair Play and gymnast Alexei Nemov. When the Olympic games-2004 it is clearly condemned, the crowd loudly whistling and stamping their feet, not allowed to continue the competition, and handsome Alex, pressing a finger to her lips, asked her to calm down. What a beautiful was the gesture.
incidentally, it is in this category of the national team of Russia on basketball 3×3 yesterday got the diploma of the second degree of significance of the award in the sports hierarchy of nobility. We played at the World beach games with Uganda, one of the basketball players where injured. To replace it was no one, and then the Russian team also removed the player and play 2v2. And the Trophy for the gesture of Fair Play the Filipino Roger Kasuga. Important – and commercial – a tournament he was leading the competition. But when his Indonesian rival fell into the water, began to sink, then Roger threw his surfing, jumped straight into the ninth wave of the waves and saved already swallowed the water of the opponent. What is the first place in comparison with human life.
I’ll have two winners of the Trophy. In the category promotion of Fair Play is an Olympic Committee of Turkey, was the first to organize an international photo exhibition extols fair play. Among athletes under 18 years of age aroused the admiration rower Giovanni Borgonovo. The Italian was the first to cross the finish line, but soon came to the judges with the recognition and request for suspension: accidentally made no one noticed the error, which, perhaps, gave him the advantage of a meter and a half over rivals. 17 years – young, but not green.
Immediately after the meeting of the Committee was contacted by Larisa Semyonovna. Congratulated, wished good health to: our best gymnast – 85. She didn’t know about the nomination. I was afraid to tell her in advance. L��tinina thanked for a pleasant surprise.
the Most valuable medal?
Larisa Latynina Won in three Olympic games. Became the head coach of our team, and another three Games, our gymnasts won, winning nine medals. Nine and nine is eighteen. So they gave me and the road.
How many Olympiads. What was the most memorable?
Larisa Latynina Worked in the organizing Committee of the Moscow Olympics-80. Answered, of course, for competition gymnasts. Was happy and difficult. For the sports part of the competition was relaxed. And for the technical… had to learn to read the details. For example, in the Olympic village have built excellent facilities for training gymnasts. Forgetting to make a foam pit to put the trampoline. We have insisted: it is necessary to alter. And builders, perhaps, gritting his teeth, agreed, you did. In those years we didn’t have a huge electronic Board, which was supposed to receive the results. And I have traveled around the countries and watched, ordered, sometimes argue and always argued, but also gained experience.
Before the opening ceremony of the Moscow Olympics excited. On the eve of the end of the dress rehearsal poured torrential rain. Ruined all hairstyles thousand participants, and what to do with wet suits? And suddenly, at the opening – all the girls with perfectly coiffed hair, suits pressed. This opening ceremony is the best. I marveled when the basketball player Sergei Belov lit the torch, ran up on the top bunk of the stadium like magic emerged the path of the raised shields.
And I tried our radio journalism. Together with Vladimir Maslachenko was covering from the opening ceremony is an honour and a daunting job.
Then, in 1980, the sport has intervened in politics. Many countries before us because of the boycott did not get. I feel sorry for them. In 1984 we responded to the same Los Angeles. And how I wish our. Any boycott is a mistake. Then a whole generation of gymnasts lost his Olympic chance. And we have Mostepanova Olga, and Yuri Korolev was obvious contenders to win the all-around.
Larisa Semyonovna, you are the luckiest sports career. And there were moments of sadness?
Larisa Latynina What is this career? On my third Olympics as the head coach the women’s team won in Montreal in 1976 in the all-around, but in the individual championship was won by the Romanian Nadia Comaneci. And my house began to pull in different meetings and sessions. Accused one: why are you not prepared a gymnast is able to beat this Nadia? I’m tired, I wrote a statement and left. Then another ten years he worked as the chief coach of the national team of Moscow.
what now?
Larisa Latynina Now the life that continues. Recently invited to a tea party Champions in mi��othersto sports in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Moscow Olympics. Let’s see, we involuntarily the conversation returned to her and returned. My close friend Lida Ivanova we communicate constantly. And over a Cup of tea met with many who created the Olympics, it was won. Often have such tea. In Obninsk running gymnastic school in my name. Promise to upgrade it, what you believe in. In General it is necessary to believe.
once again congratulations. And where will be awarded a Trophy, nobody knows – pandemic. You believe, and I also hand in early December at a Gala evening in Budapest. Go?
Larisa Latynina Try.
