Born September 29, 1948, Moscow, Honored Master of Sports, saber fencing. Olympic champion 1976, 1980 in individual and team competitions. World champion 1974, 1975, 1979 in team competitions, world champion 1978 in personal competitions, USSR champion 1976 in individual and team competitions. In 1979 recognized by the International Fencing Federation as the best saber fencer in the world.
Once, at a press conference at the end of a personal saber tournament, one foreign journalist asked to explain the origin of his last name, whether it meant innate aggressiveness. Victor answered with humor that his surname was very ancient, truly Russian and testified to ancestors of the best intentions - healers. The traditional method of treatment - bleeding - is still alive.
He started fencing at the age of 13. His first coach immediately singled out Victor. He was allowed to compete at the Moscow championship among boys of his age, although he only learned to wield a saber for three months, and won 3rd place.
More than once Victor suffered failures at the Moscow schoolchildren's championships and the USSR championships, but by the age of 18 he fulfilled the standard of a master of sports. By that time, he met with D.A. Tyshler, who became his mentor. Once in CSKA, Victor defeated all the juniors in Moscow within six months, successfully performed at the all-Union tournament and won a ticket to the youth world championship. The debut turned out to be successful - Victor became the world champion. The first height has been taken. But for a long time he could not get into the national team: to get into its composition, you need to be at the level of the strongest on the planet.
In 1972, on the eve of the Games of the XX Olympiad, Krovopuskov made it to the finals of literally all tournaments, had victories over all the strongest foreign saber fencers, passed the “strength” test, making his way to the finals of the largest tournaments, but still did not go to the Games in Munich.
In 1973, Krovopuskov was included in the USSR national team for the first time, and at his first World Championship he made it to the final six. At his second world championship in 1974, Krovopuskov won a silver medal, and in 1975, together with his team, he became the world champion. Before Montreal, he already held the title of two-time world champion in team competitions.
At the Montreal Olympics in 1976, in the team competition, he became a leader among more famous fencers: in the finals of the saber competition, he did not lose more than one fight. He was then trained by the famous fencer Mark Rakita. Experts say that Viktor Krovopuskov has exceptional power, speed of movement along the track, a wide technical arsenal, tactical courage, and the ability to fight with the utmost emotional impact. He knew how to calculate the moment of attack with mathematical precision. His fencing is so technically infallible that even professionals, seeing him for the first time, do not immediately notice that he is left-handed.
In 1977, due to an injury (complete rupture of the Achilles tendon), he was forced to miss the World Championships, but a year later, speaking at the World Championships in Hamburg, Krovopuskov was able to win a gold medal. And a year later he was recognized as the best saber fencer of the year, again confirming the glory of an excellent fighter at the World Championships in Melbourne. And finally, in the summer of 1980, he managed to make his second Olympic double.
Three times Viktor Krovopuskov was recognized as the first saber fencer in the world, he has four Olympic gold medals in his collection, several times he became the world champion in both individual and team championships, and won major international tournaments more than twenty times.
(born 1948)Four-time Olympic champion in saber fencing in 1976 and 1980: won individual tournaments, was part of the USSR team that won the Olympic championship. Repeated world champion in individual and team competitions. Champion of the USSR. Krovopuskov, the only Soviet fencer, is twice the champion of the Olympic Games in individual competitions, and in total four times together with team competitions.
Viktor Alekseevich Krovopuskov born on September 29, 1948. After training for a year, Vitya gave up fencing. But a year later - he was already sixteen years old - he returned (the guys persuaded him) and immediately liked the new Lokomotiv coach Lev Koreshkov. I liked him for his rare ability to work - he did not have to be forced to train seriously, rather, on the contrary, he was almost forced out of the gym, and also because from the very first days he turned out to be very inclined to practice, he was soft, flexible, and the process of technical drill did not affect on his face, like on other newcomers, there is “deep melancholy.” Usually left-handed people are not very technical, simply put, they are clumsy and “wrong.” Viktor Krovopuskov is so correct that at first glance you cannot even tell that he is left-handed.
The coach also liked the fact that the new student was a sociable, cheerful guy, he studied at school without C grades, and therefore there were no problems with participation in competitions - he was always released unconditionally. What attracted the coach most to Krovopuskov was his character. Vitya was firm, proud and always wanted to win. From the very first days, he had an unshakable confidence that he was stronger than everyone else. And although until 1968 he essentially had no major results, no evidence of his priority, when losing, he invariably repeated: “I’m stronger anyway, I’ll still win the USSR championship.” And perhaps a true great champion is unthinkable without such self-confidence?
In some fights, he really demonstrated strength and extraordinary skill. True, the other side of this “coin” was that he reacted violently when he lost a fight, was not always able to immediately comprehend the reason for the loss, was quick-tempered and therefore sometimes incorrect with the judges. I had to stop the fights, explain to him how indisputable the referee is on the track and that by arguing with him, he only turns him against himself, misses the thread of the fight. The coach had to hammer these simple truths into the student’s hot head again and again. And gradually there were fewer disputes in the battles of Krovopuskov, and more victories.
His first major success in 1967 was the victory at the All-Union Youth Tournament in Voroshilovgrad, and the following year in London he already won the World Youth Championship. Just at this time, David Tyshler notices him, and after London, Vitya begins to take lessons from him.
“Do I regret that I parted with Krovopuskov? Of course not,” Koreshkov answers sincerely. “I was always sure that Vitya should become a top-class fencer. At that time I was still a young, inexperienced coach. Of course, with me he achieved serious success, but I then thought that it would be better for him if in future he began to take lessons from the famous “saber professor" David Abramovich Tyshler. So far I can’t compare anyone with Tyshler in saber fencing.
We can say that both of us - Vitya and I - then entered his apprenticeship. Vitya learned to fencing, and I taught fencing. Vitya took lessons with arms in hand, and I went to CSKA with a notebook, watched these lessons, caught every word of Tyshler and wrote down, wrote down..."
Soon Victor Krovopuskov was drafted into the army. Koreshkov remained at Lokomotiv and was rightfully considered one of the best saber coaches in. Krovopuskov entered Tyshler’s “classes” just at the time when the famous saber fencing aces Rakita and Sidyak were training there. Nazlymov also trained here, in the CSKA gym. All three had already become Olympic champions as a team in Mexico City ’68. So Viktor Krovopuskov not only ended up with the “saber professor”, but also in the “porch of champions”, so invaluable for a fencer. Now all these champions, together with the coach, pulled the rookie up, without thinking, of course, that perhaps the day would come when he would beat everyone, including them, and, in the end, achieve such success , which none of the Soviet fencers had yet. Naturally, this did not happen immediately.
“When in 1972, at the last pre-Olympic training camp in Kyariku, they decided not to take Krovopuskov into the team,” says Tyshler, “he was terribly upset (at that time he was already quite strong, had already made it to the finals of international tournaments, beat many foreign whales, but this is still traditionally losing to his eminent compatriots Rakita, Nazlymov, Sidyak). We are sitting after the coaching council, and I am painfully thinking about how to calm him down. And then he says: “Don’t worry so much, David Abramovich, I still want them all I’ll beat him at the next Olympics." Clutching a bag of sweets in his hand, with which he was going to sweeten the student’s inconsolable grief, Tyshler thought: “We’ll have to wait four whole years. Well, okay, let's wait."
From Tyshler’s point of view, Krovopuskov was brave and could think as quickly in battle as Rakita, held a saber in his left hand like Sidyak, but surpassed both in speed and power of movements. “Neither arrogance nor grief due to loss is unfamiliar to him,” Tyshler characterized Viktor, “he trains and unshakably believes in his star. Of course, he also has shortcomings, but I cannot reveal this secret, because he is still on the track. .."
Two years before the Olympics in Montreal, Tyshler, having headed the fencing department at the Central Institute of Physical Education, handed over all his students to Rakita. “I had never aspired to become a coach before,” said Rakita. “David Abramovich literally forced me to choose this profession, for which I am now, of course, very grateful to him and cannot imagine myself outside of coaching. Was it difficult for me to start? Giving lessons to Krovopuskov? Of course, there were and are difficulties. However, since Vitya (like the rest of Tyshler’s students) was my sparring partner, a junior comrade, for many years, I knew him well both as a person and as a fencer, and this, naturally, made it easier for me to work with him as with a student. In addition, Tyshler’s single line, direction continued. And, finally, it is always easy for me to work with people who believe in me, and Vitya believed very much."
In Rakita’s opinion, in terms of her interests, in terms of her breadth of views Victor Krovopuskov richer than many of his students. He was always faithful in everything - devoted to duty, idea, sport, coaches. And he is one of those who are called unmercenary. “At first glance, he may seem involuntary, unpurposeful. However,” Rakita said, “this is not so. He, like no one else, is capable of accumulating the volitional efforts of a coach and, transforming and correcting them in his “I,” clearly use them to benefit of the cause.In a word, as a student he is brilliantly managed.
In competitions he is absolutely independent and confident... up to a certain point, until the final. During the preliminary competitions he asks not to approach him, but before the final, before each final fight, he needs prompt “tuning” from the coach. As if he is exhausting his volitional resources and requires additional power injections. Being very sociable, cheerful, it is not easy to find true friends and opens up to people with difficulty...
Being a diligent student, Victor is able to perform any of the saber techniques, but at the same time skillfully selects the one that suits him best and uses it flawlessly. He has a number of difficult opponents, as well as those, and there are more of them, that are always “on hand” for him, no matter what condition, no matter what form he is in.
Particularly strong in moments of highest responsibility. And that’s why I still haven’t won a single tournament. But he has the most prestigious sports awards - gold medals of the Olympic Games." He won the first of them, as he promised Tyshler, in Montreal. This happened on July 22, 1976. Having reached the finals, he spent the initial and most painful battles with his own - Sidyak and Nazlymov. At training camps and competitions, these three have studied each other so well that none of their most ingenious traps will take their opponent by surprise, all phrases and feints have long been calculated. And therefore their fights with each other are, as a rule, ineffective and stingy. Outplay both Krovopuskov succeeded that day. He spoke briefly about those battles: “Maybe I was a little better prepared, or maybe I was a little more lucky.” Of course, it’s not customary to talk about victories over your comrades. But in Montreal it was all for him time was “a little more lucky.”
“When I won these difficult battles against my own people, I was inspired. I thought, now I can’t lose to foreigners.” And he won all the remaining meetings quite easily. Although his opponents turned out to be entirely saber celebrities - the Romanian John Popp, and the Italian Mikkele Maffei (he met the frantic Maffei in Montreal twice and in the semifinals almost tripped over him, winning with a minimal advantage - 1:0), as well as another no less the frantic Italian, twice world champion Mario Aldo Montano.
The Montano - Bloodletters duel was destined to become the most extravagant, most eccentric presentation of the personal saber final of those Games. Unable to find “his” fight, Montano angrily threw his saber and mask onto the platform and passionately appealed for the sympathy of the audience. Naturally, this did not impress the referees, just as the famous Italian’s fencing did not impress that day, because, running furiously, he got confused in the maze of his own combinations and fell into a simple and short attack by Krovopuskov. In a word, Victor was, as they say, on a roll and resolutely cut off all his opponent’s phrases mid-sentence, summing them up with a clear and biting touch. Nazlymov and Sidyak fenced equally successfully against foreigners. In short, essentially, our team then competed for personal medals among themselves (Nazlymov became second, Sidyak third), and then won the team tournament, that is, they won all the medals that could be won.
Thus, Victor Krovopuskov in Montreal he became the owner of two Olympic gold medals at once - personal and team, and it seemed that he had a smooth path of continuous triumphant victories ahead of him. However, the very next year he was not even able to compete at the World Championships - shortly before that, at a tournament of socialist countries, in one of the important direct elimination battles he received a serious injury - he tore his Achilles tendon. The result was surgery, crutches and complete inactivity for four months.
They began to say that Krovopuskov was finished as a saber fencer and that he would never recover. But he not only recovered, he demonstrated stability rare in fencing: in 1978 at the World Championships he again became first, and in 1979 - second. And the 80 Olympics came. The brilliant success that our saber fencers achieved in Montreal cannot be surpassed. You can only repeat it. And shortly before the XXII Games, Victor admitted that he hoped to repeat the Montreal success.
At that time, such hopes seemed somewhat bold to many. Moreover, our other two saber heroes of Montreal - Nazlymov and Sidyak - did not separate them.
Victor Krovopuskov began his performance at the Olympics quite modestly, as if gradually picking up the pace of his procession along the fencing tracks of the Moscow Games. In the lower level, he allowed himself to suffer two defeats, while winning only two victories - the minimum sufficient to advance to the next level. But then, without losing a single fight, he ensures himself a direct “hit” in the finals. As for our other two individuals - Burtsev and Nazlymov - they, having received a defeat in the direct elimination round, were forced to go on the difficult path of consolations, where Burtsev still managed to make it to the finals, but Nazlymov did not have the chance to “consolate”.
So, this time in the Olympic final there are only two of us, Italian Mikkele Maffei, Hungarian Imre Gedevari and two Bulgarians - twin brothers Vasil and Hristo Etropolski. They are so similar that they constantly bring additional “turmoil” to the ranks of fans already excited by the final intrigue - which of them scores more victories and can compete with ours? And will the judge confuse them? Because they are so similar that they could easily replace each other on the path. So, the first battles between our own: Krovopuskov - Burtsev.
On a narrow metal strip, two crossed their views, thoughts, wills and weapons. They - students of the same trainer - have done this hundreds of times and have learned each other by heart. Their techniques are so elusively subtle that it seems as if the blades are simply sparkling in their hands. This first fight is incredibly important for both, because to start victoriously in the finals means to psychologically rise above your opponents. Krovopuskov almost succeeds in this. He leads 3:0, fencing cleanly, elegantly, confidently, maintaining that same Olympic calm that is so valuable in intense saber matches. He, it seems, is even too calm and allows Burtsev, blow by blow, to level the score - 4:4. However, they are close friends with Burtsev, and their “saber dance” is emphasized by mutual and impeccable correctness. Someone, however, still has to win! And Burtsev wins 5:4.
“Having lost the fight, I was, of course, upset, but I didn’t despair,” said Victor Krovopuskov, - I remembered that our Olympic champions Belova and Sidyak also lost the first final fights of “their” Games, but then, having won all the remaining meetings, they nevertheless became champions. I believed that it was unlikely that any of the finalists would be able to avoid defeat - the composition of the final was quite strong - including Misha Burtsev... In short, the final had just begun, although not in the best way for me..."
Further, both Burtsev and Krovopuskov win fight after fight and, impressing the spectators and referees with the virtuosity of the dueling game, they are far ahead of their competitors. But at the same time, Burtsev always stays one victory closer to the gold medal. He is light, active, technical. Finally, in the final there is only one left who has not been defeated by him - the Hungarian Gedevari. Win Burtsev from him - and he is unattainable. If he loses, his and Krovopuskov’s chances for the championship title will be equal.
By the time of such an important fight, the champion of the Montreal Games had already completed his final fights and was now tensely waiting for whether Gedevari and Burtsev would present him with this amazing, very last chance?
As you can see, the proximity of the gold medal completely blinded Mikhail Burtsev, and his opponent was pretty strong. Having lost confidence, Burtsev suddenly makes one mistake after another and, in the deathly silence of the stands, loses - 3:5.
And a break is assigned for first place. Now Burtsev seemed to easily defeat Krovopuskov. He leads 3:1, playing out the stereotypes of saber combinations like clockwork. He has only two blows to victory - two moments, and Krovopuskov - an eternity - four. But it so happened that Krovopuskov’s path turned out to be shorter...
“This was my most difficult fight at the Moscow Olympics,” said Krovopuskov, “after all, Misha is well aware of my strengths and weaknesses. True, I know him too. Still, it was he who managed to win the first fight and “catch” me at the beginning of the interruption But when the score was 3:1, I completely changed my mind. Misha continued to play according to the same “notes.” And, in the end, I managed to quickly calculate the moves he had planned...
Misha launched a complex attack, knowing that in such cases I, as a rule, take defense. I casually outlined a false defense, but in fact I did something he didn’t expect - I counterattacked.”
The rules of fencing court require that opponents shake hands after a fight. They hugged and kissed deeply. And later, at a press conference, Krovopuskov will say: “What a pity that there is only one gold medal.”
Once again, as in Montreal, Victor was among the winners. “He has such a surname,” they joked on the sidelines of the Moscow Games, “fencing, striking.”
However, when at one of the Olympics press conferences Victor was asked about the origin of his “bloodthirsty” surname, he smiled and replied that the meaning here was not bloodthirstiness at all, but, on the contrary, kindness, since bloodletting had long been revered as an act of mercy.
As for the team competitions, our team again, just like in Montreal, confidently outplayed all our opponents. Perhaps the most stubborn was the semi-final (meeting with Hungary). But with the score 8:6 in our favor, the Hungarians abandoned further competition, because even if they managed to equalize the score in the remaining battles, it would not give them anything: they had already lost in blows anyway. Viktor Krovopuskov became the hero again, winning all four of his fights, that is, half of the team’s victories were on his account.
And in the final, where, as at the previous four Olympics, the teams of Italy and the USSR met, the Italians were unable to provide serious resistance to ours (the final score was 9:2). So Krovopuskov’s hopes of repeating the Montreal success were justified.
Unusually simple in life, Victor remained the same in fencing. He did not try to overwhelm the audience with the extravagance of his tricks and seems to have been devoid of any flashy fencing prowess. Krovopuskov gave everyone the opportunity to find almost any merit in him to choose from and absolutely did not succumb to the general formula. For example, the famous children's trainer Marina Dorokhova considered his main trait as a person to be respectfulness: “No matter where and no matter how in a hurry you are, if you turn to him, he immediately stops running and is ready to seriously listen, sympathize, help...”
However, the main thing that Krovopuskov the saber-player was endowed with more than others was quick reaction and intuition of battle. He could foresee the actions of his opponents, but he himself, as a rule, acted contrary to them, creating the impression that the enemy was doing everything at the wrong time. This, strictly speaking, is the highest meaning of fencing. And one more thing: even in the hottest fights, he knew how to control himself. Victor, entering the decisive matches of the Moscow Olympics, was outwardly completely calm, so much so that sometimes it even seemed that this calmness was turning into indifference. World champion Victor Krovopuskov became for the last time in 1986.
The most important thing in a saber is not to get hit. But, you see, it is very difficult to do this. The whole problem is that the target space is much larger than in other types of fencing. They can hit you on the head, the torso, or another part of the body. You understand that if, for example, they thrust with a sword, then they cut with a saber. And these are full blows. Try to defend yourself here. In epee, everything is generally a little simpler. The main thing there is to inject before your opponent. But in foil and saber the rules are slightly different. There is a rule of attack. That is, a fighter who went forward before his opponent has...
The famous former fencer Viktor Krovopuskov, in his Olympic blog on the website, refused to predict the performances of Russian musketeers at the Games in Beijing due to the futility of this activity and noted that it has become easier for modern saber fencers than it was before. The composition of the Russian fencing team is quite good. Perhaps someone is surprised by the absence of Olympic champion Pavel Kolobkov from the national team, but it happens. To be selected for the Games, an athlete must show certain results, but they were not achieved. I know that the federation asked that Pavel be given...
The last days before the Olympics are a very difficult period. Even those who are not going to such a tournament for the first time are no less nervous than newcomers. But, in principle, it is important to be able to control these emotions. And through training, through constant work, the excess fades into the background. And then no one’s head is pulsating: “Olympics, Olympics, Olympics.” Although it’s still not possible to completely forget about the starts. But I remember myself at such a time. I didn’t experience any serious jitters, I don’t remember feeling really shaky before the races. I think that the guys from our team are unlikely...
Viktor Alekseevich Krovopuskov (born in 1948) is a Russian athlete, four-time champion of the Olympic Games in 1976 and 1980: in individual tournaments and as a member of the USSR national team. He was a world champion several times in individual and team competitions. Champion of the USSR.
Viktor Krovopuskov was born on September 29, 1948 in Moscow. He first took up fencing at the age of fourteen, but quit training a year later. He returned to them only two years later and immediately caught the eye of coach Lev Koreshkov.
Victor's character was distinguished by firmness, pride and a desire to constantly win victories. There was no need to force him to train; rather, on the contrary, he almost had to be taken away from the gym by force. The young man was confident that he was the best and would definitely win the USSR championship.
Until 1968, there were no tangible results other than persistence. Krovopuskov did not know how to lose. Often, not understanding the reason for the loss, he argued with the judges and was often incorrect with them. The coach struggled with the student’s temper, explaining that with his rudeness he was turning the referee against himself. Gradually, such a simple truth firmly entered the head of the young athlete, and conflicts with judges became fewer and fewer. At the same time, the number of victories began to increase.
Krovopuskov won his first major victory at the All-Union Youth Tournament, which took place in Voroshilovgrad in 1967. Exactly a year later in London, Victor won the World Youth Championship. At the championship, he is noticed by coach David Tyshler, with whom Krovopuskov begins training immediately after returning from London.
Tyshler trained such strong fencers as Rakita, Sidyak and Nazlymov. All three were Olympic champions. Thus, Victor found himself in the fertile environment of the aces. The champions, together with the coach, pulled the newcomer up, not suspecting that one day he would beat them and achieve the greatest success that no Russian fencer had ever had.
Krovopuskov was very upset when they decided not to take him to the team for the 1972 Olympic Games. The coach did not know how to reassure his student, but he said that he was going to beat everyone at the next Olympics.
Two years before the start of the Montreal Olympic Games, Tyshler headed the fencing department at the Central Institute of Physical Education, transferring his students to Rakita. The fact that the new coach had known Krovopuskov for many years not only as a fencer, but also as a person, made it easier for him to work with his former sparring partner.
Victor won his first gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1976 in Montreal, as he promised his former coach. He held the final meetings with his comrades, Nazlymov and Sidyak. Their fights could not be called interesting, because over many years of joint training and competition, they had studied each other’s techniques so much that no trap, even the most ingenious one, could take the enemy by surprise. But Krovopuskov still won, believing that he was simply lucky.
Having won the battle against his own, Victor could no longer afford to lose to foreigners. His victories came to him quite easily, despite the fact that his opponents were famous fencers in the world. Only once, in a fight with the Italian Michele Maffei, he won with a minimal margin of 1:0.
The meetings between Sidyak and Nazlymov were no less successful. As a result, all the medals went to Russian athletes. Krovopuskov won two gold medals in Montreal, in the individual and team championships.
The following year, Victor was injured - he tore his Achilles tendon. Everyone thought that he would no longer be able to continue his sports career, but Krovopuskov again took to the stage and in 1978 won the world championship for the second time, and in 1979 he became second in similar competitions.
At the Olympic Games held in Moscow in 1980, there were two contenders for the gold medal: Russian saber fencers - Krovopuskov and his friend Burtsev. It was difficult to say who would win in the outage; they had one coach and one school. However, Victor managed to change tactics and, having confused the enemy, won the fight.
Viktor Krovopuskov won his last gold medal in 1986, once again becoming world champion.
Brief biographical dictionary
"Krovopuskov Victor" and other articles from the section
He was an idol of youth, he was known and respected as a great athlete and person, and now he is a living legend. Meet Viktor Alekseevich Krovopuskov, a four-time Olympic champion with, as it turns out, a very peace-loving surname.
“My birth certificate somehow caught my eye,” recalls Viktor Alekseevich. - It was written there that my parents are from the Lipetsk region, Donkovo district. That is, they are fellow countrymen, my roots are from there. Someone said that I was from a Cossack family. Yes, it seems not from the Cossacks, but the Don River flows there. Exactly, I remember we went swimming on the Don. As for my last name, researchers of athletes’ names have called me more than once and asked if there were any doctors in my family. It’s just that in the old days doctors were called bloodletters because they often treated their patients with bloodletting. Surnames were given according to profession. So my ancestors did not rob or slaughter people on the main roads. (Laughs.)
The telephone number of Viktor Alekseevich, the hero of two Olympics, was kindly given to me by the Russian Fencing Federation. Krovopuskov did not refuse to talk to me, so to speak, for his life. We agreed to meet near the Rechnoy Vokzal metro station.
The first carriage is from the center,” explained Viktor Alekseevich. - At one P.M.
I arrived at the meeting place in half an hour. I’m standing there, worried, and what if I don’t recognize it. I look at all men who are suitable in age and appearance. Exactly at one o'clock I saw a gray-haired man wearing clothes with... the symbols of the Russian national team moving with a cheerful gait towards the metro entrance. I smiled involuntarily: “Thank you for your help.” And she confidently walked towards him. The champion shook my hand and invited me to take a walk. So we ended up in a beautiful park where young people and mothers with children were relaxing. In general, the atmosphere was conducive to confidential conversation.
On the podium in Olympic Montreal I felt empty and tired, however, I wasn’t that tired,” recalls 67-year-old Viktor Alekseevich. - These were my first Games, but by that time I was already a highly experienced fighter, after all, I was 28 years old, I had world championships and other international tournaments behind me. But the Olympics leaves its mark, no matter how experienced an athlete you are. I lost my first fight at the Olympics. I got scared and thought: “Why did I even come here?” Therefore, during the remaining battles, I no longer made the same mistakes as in the first.
“I lost my first fight at the Olympics in Montreal. I got scared and thought: “Why did I even come here?”
I was second at the World Championships in the individual competition, a gold medalist in the team, and at the Olympics in Montreal I won the individual tournament for the first time. Of course, I was proud standing on the podium. I thought: “Well, it’s finally happened.” I have been striving for the national team and an Olympic medal for a long time. Probably, at that moment I still didn’t fully understand that I had become the first.
According to Viktor Alekseevich, he had a happy Soviet childhood. He was the most beloved child in the family.
“I was the only one in the family,” Krovopuskov recalls his childhood. - On my father’s side I was the youngest grandson, on my mother’s side I was the oldest, so I was very spoiled as the first-born and the youngest. The parents were from large families. The father is the eighth child, the mother had five children in the family, she is the eldest. Dad worked as a simple driver, who had the Finnish War and the Great Patriotic War behind him. Mom worked at the Red Rose weaving factory, which is now located in the center of Moscow. We lived on Zubovsky Boulevard in a five-square-meter room on the top floor. Later, in 1957, we got a sixteen-meter room near the Luzhniki stadium, and this move radically changed my destiny. There was nothing nearby except the stadium. I went to the stadium and played football, like all ordinary children. Usachevka was nearby, have you heard anything about Usachev’s punks?
- There is nothing! - I spread my hands. - Were you a bully?
On the contrary, I was an exemplary pioneer. I was even accepted as a pioneer at the Lenin Museum.
“In 1957, we got a room of sixteen meters near the Luzhniki stadium, and this move radically changed my destiny.”
When I came to Luzhniki to sign up for the section, they told me that I was at a critical age, 13 years old. And I came because I saw an advertisement near the school about recruitment to the fencing section. At that time, my friend Sasha and I were reading books about hussars and musketeers, so we thought: “Why are we worse?” The sports school had all types: foil, epee and saber. We were told that we would train with sabers. "Sabre? That's great!" - we thought. A saber sounds much cooler than the same rapier. A sword even more or less.
“At that time, my friend Sasha and I were reading books about hussars and musketeers, so we thought: “Why are we worse?”
After a year of training, something happened to my first coach, Igor Chernyshev, he left fencing. Other coaches came to our school. I, as the oldest athlete, was given to the young specialist Lev Koreshkov. My friend Sasha, with whom we are still friends, did not stay in fencing; after the eighth grade he went to art school.
- Why did you stay?
Thanks to Lev Koreshkov. He had a lot of faith in me, truly believed that I could succeed. Lev Serafimovich, as they say now, saw talent in me and instilled in me a love for this sport. It was thanks to him that I stayed in fencing. Of course, I had the option to continue playing football, since I attended a specialized section at Luzhniki. Previously, we trained not every day, but three times a week. So, three times a week I had football training and three times a week fencing. But then the training days changed, some classes overlapped each other, so I had to choose. I chose fencing.
“Lev Serafimovich, as they say now, saw talent in me and instilled in me a love for this sport.”
- Maybe Russian football has lost a high-class athlete?
Hardly!
At the age of 20 I won the junior world championship, at 25 I joined the national team and in my first competitions I was already fighting instead of sitting on the bench. In my entire sports career, which is about 13 years, I only missed one year. In 1977 I tore my Achilles. For the first time I went abroad to Cuba! Such competitions have taken place before. The tournament of socialist countries is exotic! But at that time I understood very little in the grand scheme of things. This was my first international tournament just before the youth championship in London. I had a problem for a long time. When I got to the finals, I thought that I had already won, that I had achieved what I wanted, that there was no need to fight for first place! The final is already prestigious.
“When I got to the final, I thought that I had already won, that I had achieved what I wanted, that there was no need to fight for first place! The final is already prestigious.”
I fought, of course, but I didn’t succeed. Everyone was surprised that I wasn't very upset. Like, he’s like water off a duck’s back, after a day he doesn’t worry anymore. And then, probably, the coaches made me believe in myself and that I could be the first.
In 1967, I went to CSKA to work with David Tyshler and trained with him until 1973, when the specialist took up scientific activities. At this time, Mark Rakita finished active participation in sports and wanted to do something else, not related to fencing. I was left without a coach, and David Abramovich somehow persuaded Mark (and for me he is Mark, not Mark Semyonovich) to take care of me. It was then that a deadly tandem for opponents was formed!
“David Abramovich somehow persuaded Mark Rakita to work with me. It was then that a tandem deadly for opponents was formed!”
- So, it’s Rakita’s fault that you finally started winning finals?
Remember, there were times when athletes traveled abroad, but coaches did not? So, I didn’t have an assistant at the competition: Rakita remained in Moscow. This is probably why my development took so long. Lev Fedorovich Kuznetsov, the head coach, had enough of his own guys to keep an eye on. I was abroad without a personal trainer, although competitions, of course, require his presence. Then Mark Semyonovich started driving. But I was already used to it by that time, I was preparing for specific fights and psyching myself up according to the advice he gave me in training. Fencing is a delicate science.
- Abroad was like a breath of freedom at that time. What special thing did you do there that was not possible in the USSR?
Well I do not know! Once in Gothenburg we went to the cinema to see the film "Emmanuelle". I was relatively young then, but there were older comrades who guided me.
“Once in Gothenburg we went to the cinema to see the film “Emmanuelle”. I was relatively young then...”
I remember a funny story happened with our tourists. The World Championships were held in Hamburg. So, everyone knows very well that this is a port city with a “red light district”. And when our tourists were advised before the trip, they were explained that under no circumstances should they go there. And they were taken and settled by mistake on this very street! In general, there was no need to go anywhere. They asked them: “What street do you live on?” The answer was: "On the Reeperbahn." In general, both laughter and sin!
We athletes lived in a completely different place. When competitions are going on, we have no time for that. Tourists have a lot of time! In general, all those people who practice fencing and then become coaches are practically fanatics. And competition always comes first. I once came as a tourist to the Olympics, and they gave me tickets to all the competitions. I say: “Yes, I don’t need to go to all the competitions. I, of course, love basketball, volleyball, my wife is an Honored Master of Sports in volleyball, I love game sports, but I’m interested in fencing, specifically saber. Give me tickets for saber.” All veteran athletes want tickets to the sport they played.
- So you always had only fencing on your mind?
Don't think, I'm not a fanatic! However, if my friends read this phrase, they will laugh at me. When I was young, my elders said that I was a super professional. They all laughed at me and teased me: “Well, you are! Super professional.” In my youth I was not very disciplined, of course. Gradually everything changed.
“When I was young, my elders said that I was a super professional. They all laughed at me and teased me: “Well, you!” Super professional"
In general, we had a friendly team. They teased and joked, but in a kind way. No hazing. After all, in those years we all trained together: those who practiced saber, those who practiced epee, and those who practiced rapier. Now each species has its own training base, but then everyone trained in the same gym. There were a lot of people, and the halls were not as large as they are now.
There were no great conditions for training then, but the USSR team was one of the strongest in the world. How did this happen?
Several factors played a role: talented coaches worked with us, all the athletes had a tremendous capacity for work, plus, of course, incredible fortitude. Plus, we were all very friendly. Grisha Kriss, for example, gave me my first fencing shoes, imported ones. Even now, when we come to visit Ukrainians, we see each other and communicate well. Back then, we were all together, all the republics. And each of them had an athlete. In Estonia, for example, there was a very strong school.
- After the events in Ukraine, did your relationship with your saber comrades change?
My attitude towards them has not changed. Some people sometimes slip through notes, but this is quite natural. They live in places where they should not advertise their political views.
There is another interesting fact in Krovopuskov’s biography. The Olympic champion studied at the Institute of Railway Transport Engineers, but never worked for a day in his specialty.
“I had no intention of becoming an engineer,” admitted Viktor Alekseevich. - Previously, they didn’t act as schools, but as societies. And they once told me: “You will play for Lokomotiv.” I didn’t care who I played for. I won my first prize medal as a Lokomotiv athlete, in 1972, although I was already at CSKA. then they were very strong: Nazlymov, Sidyak, Vinokurov. And Lokomotiv asked me to speak for them. CSKA agreed to meet them halfway. When I graduated from school, I was faced with the question of where to go. I didn’t want to go to the Institute of Physical Education. In general , went to MIIT. First, I passed the exams as an evening student and entered the faculty of “Wagons and Carriage Management.” Then they told me that I needed to transfer to a full-time course, to some very cool faculty. And there I studied until 1973.
- Did you actually study?
Yes, I didn’t study, of course! I didn't go to class at all. But they turned a blind eye to this, since I was a candidate for the USSR national team and gave results. It was prestigious that a student had such sporting success. I wasn’t kicked out, I left on my own without finishing my studies. My coach David Tyshler became the head of the department at the Institute of Physical Education, he needed people with names, and he asked me to transfer to him.
“I didn’t go to classes at all. But they turned a blind eye to this, since I was a candidate for the USSR national team, I gave results.”
I came to the management of the railway workers, took the documents and began to explain that I would never work in my specialty. They were offended and asked: “Were you treated badly?” “Yes, they treated me well,” I answered. “But you also understand me. Did I really decide this of my own free will?” We parted peacefully...
- Don’t you have a single note left?
I didn't even write them! More precisely, at first I wrote, I thought that I still needed to study. I studied well at school and was practically a medalist. I liked history and chemistry.
According to Krovopuskov, fencing only from the outside seems to be a relatively safe sport. As a man who has devoted his entire life to the saber, Viktor Alekseevich knows firsthand what a standard attack from an enemy can lead to.
Unfortunately, history knows tragic cases. In 1982, Olympic champion Vladimir Smirnov died at the World Championships in Rome. The man was pierced through. Only after this incident they began to make new weapons that do not break, but simply fly apart. The so-called maragene. They began to pay attention to protective jackets. How are we doing? Until the thunder strikes, the man will not cross himself. Vladimir Lapitsky was pierced at the Moscow Olympics, but, fortunately, he survived.
“In 1982, Moscow Olympic champion Vladimir Smirnov died at the World Championships in Rome. The man was pierced through. Only after this incident did they begin to make new weapons.”
In general, a sprain or even a rupture of a ligament is ugh. For example, I had an Achilles rupture in 1977. But then they didn’t go abroad, to Israel, for treatment. I was admitted to the first dispensary with Zoya Mironova’s students, who later became leading surgeons. I was quickly brought to my feet. In December I already fought at the USSR Cup.
Krovopuskov was supposed to go to the Olympics in 1972 in Munich, but it didn’t work out.
It's all a matter of conjuncture. Sidyak came up to me and said: “You won’t go to the Olympics.” But I was preparing hard for the Games. “If you go to train in Belarus and, accordingly, compete for Belarus, then you will go to the Games.” I am a Muscovite, where will I go? I refused! And the person who went, obviously, agreed, but in the end he still didn’t get to the Olympics, and later moved to another coach.
- You are a patriot...
The point is not even that I am a patriot of Moscow. I didn't want to leave my coach. I asked then: “Who will I train with?” They explained to me that during the training camp I would train with my mentors, and the rest of the time with another specialist. Yeah! I run and fall!
Now people are ready to perform under the white flag just to get to the Olympics, but you refused the opportunity to go to Munich.
It is a controversial issue whether athletes are doing a good thing by refusing to compete under the flag of their country or a bad thing. You see, some athletes often only have one chance to compete at the Games. It’s not their fault that someone was caught doping. They were preparing, working, and then this happened! The decision to punish the entire track and field team because of a few people seems wrong to me. They say that everyone is responsible for themselves, and at the same time they disqualify everyone. Contradiction... According to the Olympic Charter, sport is a competition between specific athletes, not countries.
"The decision to punish the entire team because of a few people seems wrong to me. They say that everyone is responsible for themselves, and at the same time they disqualify everyone. A contradiction..."
Fencers, according to the Olympic champion, do not need doping. But there were cases when athletes resorted to cunning to win. Thus, pentathlete Boris Onishchenko was caught cheating at a tournament in London. As experts say, he is a brilliant fencer and would have won anyway, but he decided to play it safe. A secret button was built into the handle of the athlete’s sword, by pressing which he could at any time close the circuit that records the injection on the scoreboard. One fine day the secret became clear. A terrible scandal broke out, and at the end of the second day of the tournament, Onishchenko was disqualified, and with him the entire USSR national team.
This was, of course, a specific scam,” recalls Krovopuskov. - There was a very big scandal. They began to say: “Look, your guy got caught cheating.” But excuse me, don’t confuse pentathlon and fencing. With the same success, a pentathlete can be called an athlete, since he runs cross-country, or a swimmer. In principle, such things also happened in fencing; there were craftsmen who connected some kind of wiring.
- Did you feel a special responsibility at the Olympics in Montreal? After all, the first Games in my career.
People do not change. All opponents are the same. You meet with them several times a year. Of course, the burden of responsibility is always pressing, but you just need to forget that this is the Olympics and prepare for a specific fight. This is what the coaches told me: work step by step, think not about victory, but about the next opponent.
“Of course, the burden of responsibility is always pressing, but you just have to forget that this is the Olympics and prepare for a specific fight.”
In the final, for example, I met Aldo Montano, the father of the Olympic champion. We are the same age, we fought in the junior finals, we knew each other very well. We met before the Olympic final not just once, but dozens of times. There are simply convenient opponents, and there are inconvenient ones.
- Was Aldo a convenient opponent?
The Italians have always been convenient opponents for me. Although, of course, I also lost to Montano. Fencing is a sport where the weakest can beat the strongest. In tennis, for example, there is time to understand and understand the situation. In fencing, a fight lasts on average two to three minutes. No time for analysis. Knowledge of the opponent, skill, and attention play a role. Even signature techniques do not always save. Today you used some kind of technique, and tomorrow all your opponents know about it and are ready to reflect it. I had two signature chips, but then I abandoned them: my opponents were already ready for them.
“The Italians have always been convenient opponents for me. Although, of course, I lost to Montano too. Fencing is a sport where the weakest can beat the strongest.”
- Did you approach that meeting with Aldo more prepared?
You see, in fencing there are initiators, and there are those who fence depending on the situation. I have always been an initiator. And there are people who sit in ambush and wait for the right moment. If an athlete started fencing with me according to my rules, I won - 5:0, 5:1. You should have fencing with me differently. However, I myself could sometimes sit in ambush. (Laughs.)
- In Montreal, you beat your teammates and became first. How did they take it?
You need to ask them this. It is unlikely that they were happy with their places. It's generally unpleasant to be second. I had a break in 1979: I lost in the final at the World Championships. I think I was sued. Then it was generally easy to do this. Now there are two people watching the fight, one on the track, the other behind the monitor. They then told me: “Vitek, what are you doing? Your teammate won.” This didn’t make it any easier for me... Well, okay, let’s get back to the Games in Montreal. This was my first Olympics. The village is like a village, I lived there for 24 days. We all trained together. Lev Fedorovich Kuznetsov, the head coach, usually did the formation, and there was no way to be late for it, but it happened... I must admit, I never laid anyone down. I myself was sometimes late, too, but in principle we were disciplined guys. I believe that children's coaches should instill discipline in their students from the very beginning. Athletes should know that they need to come to training on time, eat on time, and not be late for lights out.
- What were you able to buy with your bonus money after your success in Montreal? A car, maybe?
It wouldn't be enough for a car. For gold in the individual championship we were given about 2,500 rubles plus 80 percent of the amount for gold in the team. After the Games in Moscow, the bonuses were, of course, much higher - about 4,000 thousand for a gold medal. In this case, you could already think about buying a car. But then I was faced with another task: furnishing my home. They gave me a three-room apartment in the area of three train stations.
- What was your first car?
My father, as a participant in the Great Patriotic War, could buy himself a car. Naturally, I bought it. Where does father get the money? It was a Moskvich-412, then there was a Zhiguli, then another Zhiguli. After Montreal I bought a Volga... but I still don’t know how to drive. My second wife drove a car, my father, a professional driver, taught me to drive, but I never got behind the wheel myself. They gave me my license: some guys I knew in the police helped me.
The current Russian saber team is headed by a French specialist, and Krovopuskov agrees with his working methods.
The main coach of the saber team is Frenchman Christian Bauer, and his discipline is at the highest level. If a person is late, he won’t even talk to him: “Why have you come? You should have been in the hall a long time ago!” And that's right, it seems to me.
“In the saber team, the main coach is Frenchman Christian Bauer, and his discipline is at the highest level. If a person is late, he won’t even talk to him.”
- Do saber fencers have any chances in Rio?
I would really like for us to have a gold medal in the team. There are chances. I want them to turn into real gold.
“My second wife drove a car, my father, a professional driver, taught me to drive, but I never got behind the wheel myself. They got me a license: guys I knew in the police helped me.”
And then my license was taken away. More precisely, not from me, but from my friend, who loved to drive with my license and often introduced himself as Krovopuskov. We are similar to him. Once they stopped us, we were driving together, a friend showed me my license, and a police officer said: “Viktor Alekseevich, do you have a saber?” In general, there are no rights. I want to learn. Yes, it's probably too late. I have nowhere to go, but if necessary, students take me. I have excellent relationships with athletes.
-Are you training now?
I am considered a consultant coach for the Russian national team. I work where the federation orders me to. They tell me to come to the training camp, so I come. I can demonstrate anything. Of course, not at the same speed as before. When people come to me with questions, I will always give advice.
- Before the Olympics in Moscow, did the authorities put a lot of pressure on you? Like, only victory, look at us!
How can I tell you? I remember at the Games in Moscow we lost the first match to the Romanians. What started here! People who had nothing to do with fencing came up and threatened with their fingers: “Why did you lose? Did you want to go to the Far East?” I am an officer, an adult man, I was 32 years old, and they decided to teach me here. In general, our team was very solid then, all stars. Sidyak was already a three-time Olympic champion. Everyone, of course, wanted the USSR to be ahead, and so did we.
“I remember at the Games in Moscow we lost the first match to the Romanians. What happened here! People who had nothing to do with fencing came up and shook their fingers: “Why did you lose? Do you want to go to the Far East?"
We trained and lived not in the Olympic Village, but in Novogorsk. When the team lives separately, responsibility does not weigh so much. It’s like you’re at a regular training camp. The current saber coach also believes that nothing should distract the team from training.
Thus, completely concentrating on training and competitions, Viktor Krovopuskov won two gold medals at the Games in Moscow - in the individual and team championships.
After the competition we were offered to live in the Olympic Village. Moreover, we were all listed there. Kolya Alyokhin, my friend, took advantage of the offer, and I, a Muscovite, preferred to stay at home. He came to the village only to eat and gather food. The cooks were only too happy. When I got an apartment, by the way, they offered me an option in the Olympic Village, with furniture, but I refused: this is not my area. It was not very convenient for me in terms of transportation: I don’t drive a car, and there was no metro there. I trained at CSKA and planned to work there.
- Were you already married at that time?
Yes, I already had a child. We lived on Bolshaya Spasskaya Street. I remember there was a funny incident. When we were relaxing culturally with friends at home, our two-year-old son Alexey went out onto the balcony and fired from a gas pistol, which I had purchased for the occasion. After some time the doorbell rang. We open it, and the police are there. “They shot from your window,” the employees said. “It can’t be,” I began to deny. The son looked out at that moment and said: “Dad, I had a great time.” There was no point in denying it, then I said: “Guys, three gold medals and one silver are talking to you. Are you really going to take us to the department?” At that time, athletes were very respected, they are respected now, but then in general... The policemen left with the words “be careful.”
When the conversation turned to his son, Viktor Alekseevich became noticeably sad. It seemed like he was telling the story about the gun with a laugh, but then he suddenly sank.
“I don’t have a son anymore,” Krovopuskov whispered. - My boy is gone. Heart... I only have a granddaughter, Dasha, in Belarus. We don’t see each other very often, but when I go to visit a friend or generally on business, then, of course, we meet. Dasha is already seven years old. Her mother is a tennis player and coach. Auntie is also a tennis coach. Probably, my granddaughter will also take up tennis. Alexey was a good hockey player...
- Alexey - were you named after your father?
No, that's what my wife called it. I was incredibly happy when my son was born. I dreamed about this. I came to the maternity hospital to congratulate him, and my wife said: “Don’t come to me drunk.” And my friends and I celebrated at home.
Metallurg", "Vityaz", THC, "Crystal", "Titan", HC MVD, "Traktor", Belarusian clubs "Yunost" and "Gomel", as well as for "Donbass". But one day his heart stopped... He was only 35 years.
“When Alexey died, I found solace in alcohol. You see, when I started to remember him, everything connected with him, the pain arose wildly.”
When Alexey died, I found solace in alcohol. You see, when I started to remember him, everything connected with him, the pain arose wildly. Alcohol drowned out this pain for a while. But then I pulled myself together and don’t drink anymore.
- You didn’t go to the 1984 Games because of the boycott. Was it a shame?
Not that word! It was terrible stress. We were invited to the Olympic Committee and told that we were not going to the Games in the USA. The reason was found to be ridiculous: supposedly security would be at a low level. The most offensive thing is that they asked us: “Who is in favor?” No one raised their hand, but they said: “Unanimously.” The decision was made by the Central Committee, so nothing could be done. I thought that I would call it a day in Los Angeles and end my sports career, but after the boycott I decided to stay for another year and became a world champion.
Now Viktor Alekseevich is married for the third time. The first wife had nothing to do with sports, the second was a fencer, champion of the USSR.
But she quickly decided to leave the sport,” the champion explained. - Why take up fencing if your husband is like that? In general, she began to take care of the house and family.
Krovopuskov's third wife is a volleyball player. It was with her light hand that Viktor Alekseevich actively worked abroad in the 90s.
It was a difficult time. I worked as a coach at CSKA. My wife played volleyball, and when she finished her sports career, she was offered a contract in Turkey. You understand that husband and wife cannot live separately. She suggested to me: “Either I come back, or you come to me.” In general, there was a very difficult period in our country, there was almost no work, there was nothing to do, and I went to Turkey.
I was unemployed for some time, and then I went to the Turkish sports committee and introduced myself. At that moment there were rather relative ideas about fencing. In general, they hired me as a coach. I worked there for two and a half years, then returned. None of my students reached the international level: it is difficult in two years to prepare an athlete capable of competing in the most prestigious tournaments. But I probably brought the very idea of fencing to Turkish sport.
He worked briefly in Egypt, trained a team that qualified for the 2004 Olympics, but they were unable to go there. I specifically bought a ticket to Greece to see them, but it didn’t work out. The federation did not have enough funds to send a team to the Games. I worked in Japan, prepared two guys for the Games, they went to the Olympics.
I worked in Iran for a year and a half. The Iranians, by the way, became the champions of Asia. But not those whom I trained, but the students of my students. I'm proud of them, well done! One of the students even qualified for the Rio Olympics. To prepare a participant in the Olympic Games is already a great achievement.
“I worked in Iran for a year and a half. Iranians, by the way, became Asian champions. But not those whom I trained, but the students of my students.”
- Have you tried to get into business like Alisher Usmanov?
He took up fencing and was a very good fencer. But I’m not a businessman, my calling is sports. They say: “I serve the Airborne Forces,” but I say: “I serve fencing.” Sport shapes human personality.
- What experience did you gain from working abroad?
One thing I learned is that I always want to go home. That's why I asked that my contracts be short. Of course, you can get used to it, but it all depends on the person. Some people can adapt, but it’s difficult for me to assimilate. I am Russian! My friends suggested that I get an American passport and invited me to work in the USA, but I didn’t want to. There were already so many of our specialists there that I simply didn’t see the point in moving. American saber fencers are now, by the way, the strongest in the world. It will be interesting to watch their fights in Rio!
“I asked that my contracts be short-lived. Of course, you can get used to it, but it all depends on the person. Someone can adapt, but it’s difficult for me. I’m Russian!”
- Are you going to the Olympics in Brazil?
But of course! I hope to watch fencing, but I’ll also look at other sports to cheer on my own! There have been no Olympic medals in saber for a long time... Maybe this year the guys will succeed.