Then, in 1966, few believed that of thesetwo something will turn out. However, four years passed, and Lyudmila Alekseevna Pakhomova and Alexander Georgievich Gorshkov became one of the world's best pairs in figure skating. Since 1976, ice skating discipline has been included in the program of the Olympic Games in figure skating. Lyudmila Pakhomova and Alexander Gorshkov were the first Olympic champions in figure skating in Innsbruck, Austria, in this sports category.
The first sports steps of the future champion
Alexander Georgievich Gorshkov was born in Moscow 8October 1946. In the family of George and Maria Gorshkov a baby was born - the future Olympic champion, multiple champion of world and European championships, honored master of sports of the Soviet Union. Alexander Gorshkov's sports biography begins in 1956, when he first set foot on the ice arena of the Moscow youth sports school at the Young Pioneers Stadium.
Like all boys, the young man dreamed of conqueringice hockey rinks with beautiful goals. However, the coach did not make out in the guy the makings of a hockey player, and Gorshkov's parents were advised to change the sport. So, by the will of fate, Sasha Gorshkov became a figure skater. By 1966, speaking at various competitions, Alexander G. Gorshkov was fulfilling the norm of the first adult figure skating sport category.
Star duet
In 1964, after a triumphant performance onat the USSR Championship in Kirov, Lyudmila Pakhomova and Viktor Ryzhin, where the couple won, it seemed that a new star duet was born in figure skating. However, after doubling the success at the USSR Championships in Kiev in 1965 and 1966, the couple broke up. On the nose, the USSR Championship in Kuibyshev, and the coaching staff is concerned about the selection of a partner for Lyudmila Pakhomova. It was then, on the recommendation of Elena Tchaikovskaya, that a new dance couple was created, which she also undertook to prepare for the national championship.
The beginning of a long way
In the success of this newly formed pair, no onebelieved. Alexander Gorshkov is a lone figure skater, for that period he was just a promising first-rank athlete. However, the young coach Elena Anatolyevna Tchaikovskaya instilled confidence in success, who offered to master a completely new style in figure skating - the style of sport dance on ice, which is becoming more and more popular in the world ice sport.
Non-standard approach to the original danceThe theme in Russian style was based on the traditions of the Soviet ballet school, where classical works of Russian composers and folk music were used. Over the three years of hard training, the couple has achieved some success in domestic championships and international championships:
- 1967 USSR Championship in Kuibyshev - silver;
- 1967 World Championship in Vienna (Austria) - 13th place;
- 1967 European Championship in Ljubljana (Yugoslavia) - 10th place;
- 1968 USSR Championship in Voskresensk - silver medals;
- 1968 World Championship in Geneva (Switzerland) - 6th place;
- 1968 European Championship in Vasteras (Sweden) - 5th place;
- 1969 USSR Championship In Leningrad - gold;
- 1969 World Championship in Colorado Springs (USA) - silver;
- 1969 European Championship in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany) - bronze medals.
Young figure skaters continued to train hard under the guidance of their coach.
World Figure Skating Championships in Ljubljana
1970 год стал знаковым событием в жизни sports couple. Leningrad hosted the European Championship in figure skating. Skipping a mandatory program brilliantly, Alexander Georgievich Gorshkov and Lyudmila Alekseevna Pakhomova become the winners of the European Championship.
It was the first great success of the future.Olympic champions who proved the consistency of their stellar duo. And soon they surrendered to the world championship in figure skating in Ljubljana (Yugoslavia). Thus, A. Gorshkov and L. Pakhomova become the first of the athletes of the Soviet school of figure skating to win the international titles of the World and European Championships. In addition to sporting achievements in 1970, another important event occurred in the life of Alexander Gorshkov and Pakhomova - they became husband and wife.
Further successes
Winning the World Cup and European Goldthe championship did not become an isolated case in the life of skaters. The collection of gold medals replenished every year, confirming that they are really the strongest couple in the world of figure skating:
- 1971 World Championship in Lyon (France) - gold;
- 1971 European Championship in Zurich, Switzerland - gold;
- 1972 First place at the World Championships in Calgary (Canada);
- 1972Silver medals at the European Championship in Gothenburg (Sweden). At this championship, during the performance of sports dance, the partner stumbled, and A. Gorshkov and L. Pakhomov gave the palm to German figure skaters Angelika and Erich Buck, sister and brother.
This annoying mistake did not make them weaker, but only became an occasion to prove again that they are truly the best in the world:
- 1973 European Championship in Cologne (Germany) - gold;
- 1973 World Championship in Bratislava (Czechoslovakia) - gold;
- 1974 European Championship in Zagreb (Yugoslavia) - gold;
- 1974 World Cup in figure skating in Germany, Munich - gold;
- 1975 European Championship in the capital of Denmark - gold medals.
For three years - no loss!
Olympic character
Returning from the European tournament in Copenhagen,Alexander felt a sharp pain in his back. Upon arrival in Moscow, the doctors diagnosed a severe pulmonary disease. An urgent operation was needed that jeopardized not only the couple’s participation in the Olympic Games in Innsbruck, but also A. Gorshkov’s further sports career. The strength, will and character of the athlete made him overcome all difficulties and once again emerge a winner.
The next year, the pair worked perfectlycompulsory program and received the highest scores of the sports jury of the European Championship 76 in Switzerland. Gold medals have once again replenished the star duo collection.
The European Championship in Geneva was the starting point and the launching pad for the first Olympic test for Lyudmila and Alexander, which they stood with honor.
Olympic gold Innsbruck
Sports "well-wishers" watched with interestfor the titled couple from Moscow, betting on the success or failure of figure skaters from the Soviet Union. However, once again A. Gorshkov and L. Pakhomova proved that they have no equal. A convincing separation from the closest rivals made this duet unattainable, and they rightfully became owners of gold medals in Olympic Innsbruck (Austria).
Gold medals of the World Championships in Sweden, whichA. Gorshkov and L. Pakhomova won in Gothenburg in March 1976, became the latest awards in their sports career. The couple decided to leave the big sport and take up coaching.
Results of sports career
For nine years, from 1967 to 1976,the sports duet won gold medals at six World Championships, six European Championships and six Soviet Union Championships. Such a success until today in ice dancing has not been repeated by any athlete. This achievement of figure skaters was noted as a record in the Guinness Book.
Public and private life of Alexander Gorshkov
Having graduated from a career in big sports, A.Gorshkov becomes a sports functionary. The State Coach of Figure Skating of the USSR State Sports Committee - Alexander Georgievich held this position for fifteen years, from 1977 to 1992.
The result of a great love between athletes is Julia - the daughter of Lyudmila Pakhomova and Alexander Gorshkov, who was born in 1977. However, family happiness did not last long.
Until the last day, the wife of A. G. Gorshkova was devoted to sport and her students. Being under a drip, she constantly asked about the success of their wards.
May 17, 1986 at the age of 39 was goneLyudmila Pakhomova. Lymphogranulomatosis is an officially confirmed cause of death of a great athlete. Alexander Gorshkov lost not only his wife, but also his faithful, trusted friend, life partner.
The second marriage of Alexander Gorshkov was decorated withIrina, an old friend of the athlete, with whom he was familiar during the life of L. A. Pakhomova. The second spouse at that time worked as a translator at the Italian Embassy in Russia. The wife of Alexander Gorshkov from his first marriage has a son who got along well with his stepfather. However, this event a little alienated daughter Julia from her father. All this time, after the death of L. Pakhomova, her grandmother, Lyudmila's mother, was engaged in raising the girl. Only after her death, Julia first met her stepmother. It was on New Year's Eve 1994. Today Yulia Alexandrovna lives and works in Paris, she is a successful fashion designer and fashion designer.
Further career
Since 2000, Alexander Gorshkov isPresident of the Art and Sport Charitable Foundation named after L. A. Pakhomova, initiated by the creation of which were Elena Anatolyevna Tchaikovskaya, Tatyana Anatolyevna Tarasova and Alexander Georgievich himself. Since June 2010, A. G. Gorshkov has headed the Federation of figure skating in Russia. The merits of the great athlete were highly appreciated by the state:
- 1970 - Honored Master of Sports of the USSR;
- 1972 - Order "Badge of Honor";
- 1976 - Order of the Red Banner of Labor;
- 1988 - Honored Coach of the USSR;
- 1988 - Order of Friendship of Peoples;
- 1997 - Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Russia;
- 2007 - Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th degree;
- 2014 - Order of Honor.
Today, Alexander G. Gorshkov still remains in the ranks, he lives and actively works in Moscow, doing his favorite thing.
