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Boris
Shakhlin
was born in the Siberian town Ishim,
situated north-west from Omsk, on 27 January 1932.
His gymnastic career already started in his home school. There was a high
bar in the courtyard. "My first great success was the mastering of
the upstart on this apparatus", he said remembering this time.
Later on, he attended an educational establishment for sports in
Swerdlowsk, from there he changed to the institute for body culture and
sports in Kiew in order to study.
An
incomparable balance of achievements
To the national team of the Soviet Union Boris Shakhlin was appointed for
the first time in 1953. His further upswing processed rapidly and
innumerable international competitions followed. In total, he was member
of the world famous Soviet squad for 13 years and achieved 19
international gold medals (7 at Olympic Games, 6 at World and 6 at
European Championships)!
Moreover, he took the all-around crone at national Championships six times
and five times he was winner of the Soviet Union-Cup and 13fold Soviet
Champion on single pieces of apparatus. On the international level, he
gained a total of 37 medals.
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In
the eternal Olympic gymnastics ranking list
he follows Nikolai Andrianov (URS) on the second rank (6/2/2), in the WCh
balance he is among the Top Ten (6/6/2).
At all of these competitions there were various interesting encounters and
also rivalries.
At the 1st European Championships in Frankfurt/Main in the year 1955, for
instance, he became European Champion in the all-around and placed second
together with the German Helmut Bantz on the rings. In addition, he shared
the European title on bars with Albert Asarjan.
His
hard combats will remain unforgettable,
too, which he had at the WCh 1962 in Prague with the artist on
pommel horse Miroslav Cerar on this very piece of apparatus as well as on
the parallel bars...
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Boris
Shakhlin...
on stamps of Mongolia, Canada and Guyana as a symbol of honour
world-wide
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...
the "Iron Man"
In many sports halls and gyms, in many gymnastics lessons this man
was and is an example for concentration, combative force and
power, a model for many generations of gymnasts in the world! |
After
retiring from his sportive career and finishing his studies, he worked as
lecturer at the Kiew Institute for Physical culture and Sports. There he
lectures until the present day...
Furthermore, he assumed a series of honorary functions up to the president
of the gymnastics federation of the Ukraine.
Now,
for more than three decades
he is in full activity as "breveted" judge of FIG at
almost all great international competitions. Boris experienced
great support by his wife Larissa, who had also been a gymnast and
works as professor and doctor of medicine at the Kiew Sports
Institute. They have a daughter and a grand-daughter.
It should not be unmentioned that the writer of these lines build
up a friendship with Boris Shahklin
already 50 years ago. During my studies in Moscow Boris visited a
school day friend from his home, with whom I shared a room in a
students‘ residence. We got known to each other not knowing that
this contact would be the starting point of the development of an
life-long friendship.
In
the aftermath we met frequently at competitions and other
occasions. The mutual membership on the Technical Committee Men of
FIG intensified this even more. Boris was member of the TCM from
1969 until 1992 and some years vice president of this board. In
these 23 years we were active at all great international
competitions as judges or members of the jury, respectively. In
addition there were plenty of meetings of the TC and all FIG
congresses in these times.
Shakhlin
as a judge >>
- over him is Ditjatin flying
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Schachlin
together with Larissa Klimenko-Petrik at a visit in Ingelheim/Germany
2001
> FIG press
release)
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From
my perspective it always was very pleasant and impressive,
with what kind of respect Boris Shakhlin
was received and revered all over the world.
This man with his nerves of iron - Shakhlin,
the "iron man" – is still very well known and
accounted on the whole world not only as an idol of art gymnastics,
but as excellent, likeable and friendly person.
The developed friendship between us, I would not like to miss!
The world of gymnastics and all the people knowing him, bow in
reference to this man an send kindest regards to his 70iest
birthday.
Karl-Heinz
Zschocke
Honorary Vice President of the International Gymnastics Federation
F.I.G, ong-term President of the Technical Committee Men
Berlin, January 2002
Translation:
Florian Schmid-Sorg
Website:
Eckhard
Herholz
(C) gymmedia
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