There is a wise aphorism: "History is the future in reverse." This expression retains its deep meaning in relation to sports. And indeed. The better we know history figure skating, the more accurately and deeper we will be able to predict the development of our sport.
THE BIRTH OF FIGURE SKATE
Historians look into the very distant past to find the origins of figure skating in order to get to know its pioneers. Already in the manuscripts of the XII century. there are reports of primitive bone skates used by the inhabitants of ancient London (Fig. 1). Here is what the Canterbury monk Stephanius wrote in his Chronicle of the Noble City of London: “...whole groups of young people go in for sports on ice. Some, walking as wide as possible, glide quickly ... Others, more experienced in playing on ice, tie up the tibia of some animals and, holding sticks with sharp iron tips in their hands, from time to time push them off the ice and rush with the same speed, like a bird in the air or a spear thrown from a ballista."
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There are many references to bone skates in the Scandinavian epic. Similar skates were found during archaeological excavations in many European countries, for example, in Switzerland. Of course, the owners of bone skates could not lay the foundations for the future of figure skating. For this, completely different skates should have appeared - made of iron. And the first mention of such skates is in the Icelandic saga of Fridtjof, recorded in 1380.
In the Dutch book "The Life of Ludwina" you can even see what the horse with an iron blade was like. On the engraving depicting a group of skaters near the city wall, we see the skates of that time. There is no doubt that these are combined skates - a wooden block with iron blades (Fig. 2, above).
The appearance of a new type of skates gave a powerful impetus to the development of speed skating and figure skating itself, which at that time consisted mainly in the ability to draw intricate figures on the ice and maintain a beautiful pose at the same time. This is what attracted many people of art. A passionate admirer of skates was, in particular, the great German writer J. W. Goethe. There are even paintings that captured the poet on the ice sliding in an exquisite pose. In general, there are not so many paintings, engravings, drawings and even caricatures devoted to any sport that exists to this day, like skating and figure skating.
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A noticeable trace in the history of figure skating was left by the 18th century artist Benjamin West from Philadelphia. In 1783 he arrived in Europe and demonstrated magnificent plasticity, grace and courage. It turned out that American skaters are not only not inferior to European ones, but also surpass them in the technicality of skating.
The appearance of the first textbook on figure skating dates back to that time. The English artillery lieutenant Robert Jones, himself an excellent skating master, published a Treatise on Skating, in which he described all the main figures that were then known. There, the technique of making internal and external arcs, forward-outward spirals, internal and external boats, forward-outward figure-eight and many other elements is already disassembled.
FORMATION OF FIGURE SKATE AS A SPORT
It took about a hundred years to basically develop almost all of the current compulsory figures and basic technique for their execution. In any case, the book "The Art of Skating", published in Glasgow and written by D. Anderson, president of the skating club of this city, and the work of H. Vandervell and T. Maxwell Whitman from London already contain descriptions of all eights, triples, hooks and other elements, without which today's figure skating. The regularity of the fact that almost all compulsory figures were created in Great Britain is explained by the fact that it was here that the first skating clubs arose (Edinburgh, 1742) and the first official competition rules were developed.
However, the overseas figure skaters did not doze off. Numerous figure skaters' clubs were also organized in the USA and Canada, new models of skates were developed, and their own school of technology was created. And when in Europe in the 60s. of the last century, the best US figure skater Jackson Heinz arrived, it turned out that even the most experienced of the owners of the ice had something to learn from him.
Here is what N. Panin-Kolomenkin wrote about Heinz's arrival in Europe: “Back in 1864, the American figure skater Jackson Heinz arrived in Europe, who was destined to become the founder of the modern form of skating art. His style of skating, absolutely exceptional in beauty and natural lightness, rhythm and musicality of movements, developed, apparently, quite original ... In addition, in the field of technology, it was he who showed for the first time in Europe that the course depends not only on inertia after a push , but that with each rotation of the body associated with stretching and bending the knee of the supporting leg, you can get a new translational movement. This important principle in connection with the nature of all the techniques of J. Heinz, it turned out to be a factor of inestimable significance. But the greatest merit of Heinz was that, as a true artist, he fully possessed a sense of proportion, which categorically blocked his path to extremes; he understood that the aesthetic side should not be suppressed by the purely sports and technical side, that accuracy, confidence and speed should be combined with beauty, freedom and naturalness, and he managed to raise his performance to the level of real art, irresistibly infecting the viewer with its emotionality. Thanks to this, he showed the astonished Europeans the completely unexpected possibilities of performing coherent sequences, the most impetuous figures and elegant rhythmic dances in the most beautiful settings and the most graceful movements of the body ... The influence of his art was colossal. It served as the impetus that caused a huge qualitative leap forward and led later to education new form manifestations of art - to the international style ... "
Heinz also performed in St. Petersburg, and numerous spectators, among whom, of course, were skaters, took a lot from what this best skater in the world demonstrated to them at that time.
Among the spectators was Alexei Pavlovich Lebedev - that Russian figure skater, whose skill invariably aroused respect among the strongest foreign athletes. It was Lebedev who was destined to become the winner of several major tournaments, including the 1890 competition in St. Petersburg, where the world's strongest athletes gathered. This tournament was held in honor of the 25th anniversary of the ice rink in the Yusupov garden. It was attended by the US champion L. Rubenstein, the German champion F. Kaiser, the best figure skaters of Sweden, Austria, and Finland. In terms of its composition, it was actually an unofficial world championship. The victory in it went to A. Lebedev, who showed not only calligraphic accuracy in the performance of compulsory figures, but also excellent free skating, full of artistic finds and striking everyone with its harmony.
A. Lebedev did not hide the fact that he owes his success to his friendship with famous artists, who helped create an unusual free program with advice, a special vision and understanding of plasticity.
The victory at this tournament allowed many sports historians to consider A. Lebedev the first unofficial world champion. The successful completion of the competitions in St. Petersburg largely accelerated the creation of the International Skating Union (1892) and the subsequent organization of the first European and world championships. For many foreign experts, the successes of Russian figure skaters in the early 90s. last century came as a complete surprise. But an attentive observer could note the fact that figure skating in Russia has been popular since the time of Peter I. It was the Russian Tsar who, after his trip to Europe, brought home the first samples of skates. It was Peter I, as it was written about more than once, who came up with new way fastenings of skates - directly to the boots and thus created the prototype of today's equipment for skaters.
By the way, we can also recall the lines from “Eugene Onegin”: “Boys, the joyful people cut the ice with their skates,” where A. S. Pushkin leaves us living evidence that fun on ice in early XIX V. already entered the life of the Russian people. The appearance of our first textbook for figure skaters also belongs to Pushkin's times - “ Winter fun and the art of skating. Its author was G. M. de Pauli, a gymnastics teacher in the military educational institutions of St. Petersburg.
In 1877, the skating rink in the Yusupov Garden passed from the ownership of the Yacht Club to the ownership of a small circle of true fans of skating. It was then that the St. Petersburg Society of Skating Fans was born, which was destined to play an outstanding role in the development of figure skating in our country. It was at the Yusupov Garden skating rink in 1896 that the first world championship in figure skating took place. Its winner was the figure skater from Munich, Gilbert Fuchs.
Only men took part in the championship. There were four of them, and among them were two Russian athletes - G. Sanders and N. Paduskov. The turn of women to play the title of world champion came only ten years later, and even then the right to hold their championship was officially recognized only in 1924. And M. Sayers was proclaimed the first champion in 1906.
The organizer of the championships was then (and retains this right to this day) the International Skating Union.
Pair skating and ice dancing appeared in the program of world championships much later. Only in 1908 was the championship played for the first time among sports couples. At that time, the World Cup was again held in St. Petersburg. German figure skaters A. Hubler and G. Burger went down in history as the first owners of gold medals in pair skating. And the dancers played their awards for the first time only in 1952 in Paris. As expected, the British turned out to be the strongest - D. Westwoody L. Dem-mi. After all, it was the British figure skaters who were the creators of the new “genre”.
At first, world tournaments were attended by only a few athletes. It was a kind of behind-the-scenes competition. But the popularity of figure skating grew at a fantastic pace, and already in 1908 figure skating competitions were included for the first time in the program of the 4th Summer Olympic Games held in London. Even then, Olympians competed on artificial ice. By the way, the first ice rink with artificial ice was built in England in 1876 according to the project of D. Pictet.
We note in passing that in Russia the first indoor artificial ice rink appeared on the eve of the First World War at the former Aquarium Theater in St. Petersburg. Unfortunately, the skating rink did not function for long, and the skaters could not use it for regular training and large international tournaments.
The first Olympic champions in single skating in 1908 were M. Sayers (Great Britain), U. Salkhov (Sweden), the sports couple A. Hubler - G. Burger (Germany) and N. Panin-Kolomenkin from Russia. The Russian skater, winner of the world and European championships, was out of reach in competitions for the best performance of the so-called special figures - there were such competitions then. Skaters themselves drew complex patterns for themselves, and then transferred them to the ice with the help of skates. Figures proposed panel of judges Olympic Games by N. Panin-Kolomenkin were so original, beautiful and complex that they were considered absolutely impossible (Fig. 3). And when the Russian figure skater nevertheless drew them, he received a well-deserved reward Golden medal- the first in history domestic sports at all!
N. Panin successfully performed not only at Olympic Games. His sports way decorated with many achievements and awards. He was the owner of the silver medal of the 1903 World Championship in St. Petersburg, losing to the multiple champion Ulrich
Salchow from Sweden. In his track record a bronze medal at the 1903 European Championship in Davos and a silver medal at the 1908 European Championship in Warsaw. The awards were given to him in the most intense struggle, during which he had to overcome both the bias of the arbitrators (as happened at the Olympic Games in London) and the obstacles placed by the Russian champion at home by bureaucratic officials. For this reason, he had to hide his real name and compete in international competitions under the pseudonym Panin. This pseudonym took root so much that subsequently N. A. Kolomenkin always attached it to his surname.
DEVELOPMENT OF FIGURE SKATE IN THE USSR
The contribution of N. A. Panin-Kolomenkin to the development of figure skating is so great that many more generations will remember him with gratitude. He created the world's first fundamental textbook, in which he outlined almost all the main technical, staging, educational aspects modern workout and figure skating competitions. He designed his skate model, which, being modernized, remains in service with figure skaters to this day. Moreover, it was Panin-Kolomenkin who created and tested the system that has been successfully operating to this day. sports categories as a basis for improvement. and skill growth.
A great merit of N. A. Panin-Kolomenkin was the opening of the figure skating department at the Leningrad Institute physical culture named after P.F. Lesgaft, which marked the beginning of the study of this sport and the training of qualified personnel within the framework of higher education.
Prominent specialists and experienced teachers worked within the walls of the institute, who created the scientific and practical base of modern Soviet figure skating. Among them, a special place is occupied by two-time champion country in pair skating, Professor A. B. Gandelman, a student of N. A. Panin, who did a lot to preserve and develop the rich scientific and pedagogical traditions of Russian figure skating.
The Institute has trained a large group of highly qualified trainers, different years successfully working in the national team of the country: S. A. Zhuk, I. B. Moskvin, T. N. Moskvina, A. N. Mishin and others.
N. A. Panin, in addition to scientific and pedagogical activities, was actively "working on the organization of mass figure skating, seeing in it an effective factor in the improvement of workers and the basis for the growth of higher sportsmanship.
N. A. Panin-Kolomenkin and his students immediately after the revolution began to create the first sections of this sport. Since the mid 20s. the championships of Moscow and Leningrad began to be held regularly.
In Moscow by the end of the 20s. More than 300 people were regularly engaged in figure skating. Among them were such well-known masters as Dynamo Y. Zeldovich, K-Likharev, sports couple M. Gaskevich - I. Vonzblain, representatives of the section of the Union of Metalworkers T. Granatkina, Y. Stankevich, M. Stankevich and others. Healthy competition between the two leading groups of Moscow figure skaters led to rapid growth skill.
Among Leningraders, active organizers of figure skating groups were well-known from pre-revolutionary times, athletes K-Caesar, F. Datlin (before the revolution they repeatedly won the title of Russian champion, and both were students of N. A. Panin-Kolomenkin), L. Popova. However, in terms of skill, the Leningraders were clearly inferior to their Moscow colleagues, and when in 1928 it was decided to send a team of Soviet figure skaters to Norway, only Muscovites got into it, and N.A. Panin-Kolomenkin as a judge.
The Moscow championship was first held in 1923. Yu. Zeldovich, A. Bykovskaya and the sports couple N. Bykovskaya - Yu. Zeldovich became champions then. Leningraders also held their first championship three years later. I. Bogoyavlensky won among men, and A. Yergina - I. Bogoyavlensky excelled in pair skating. There were no competitions among women.
National championships in those years were held irregularly, with long breaks. 1924, 1927, 1928, 1933 were marked by all union tournaments, and only then the championships became a permanent phenomenon, especially after the All Union section (later - federation) of figure skating was created in 1936. The first winners of the All-Union tournament in 1924 became! Muscovites Yu. Zeldovich and N. Bykovskaya - Yu. Zeldovich. Singles women did not play the championship.
In those years, such stars as R. and A. Gandelsman, P. Chernyshev, P. Orlov, R. Novozhilova, S. Glyazer, K-Likharev, T. Granatkina (Tolmacheva), who then, already in the post-war period, becoming coaches and teachers, made a colossal contribution to the development of Soviet figure skating.
To show in what directions figure skating developed at that time, what passions sometimes raged in the stands and ice rinks, we present a small excerpt from N. A. Panin-Kolomenkin’s book “Figure Skating”, published in 1938 in Publishing house "Physical culture and sport>:
“The long struggle between the two currents in our pair skating is not without interest. Under the influence of foreign illustrations depicting the trick numbers of professionals in pair skating, we found imitators of them. But after all, all these lifts of a woman by a partner on herself, turntables upside down, etc., the numbers are not very difficult - and do not require any ability to skate from a woman at all - her role here is purely passive; a skater who is solid on his feet can successfully do all this even with an inanimate object instead of a partner. In 1929, stunt lovers were able to stand out thanks to the novelty of trick figures that give an eye-catching picture. But a year later, the opposite current entered the fight against them, working in a different direction - along the line of pure figure skating and having great advantage in a more or less close level of general skating technique for both partners, allowing the best implementation of uniformity and commonality of performance. For tricksters, on the contrary, a woman is always weaker than a partner, and at the moment of separate skating this is striking. Nevertheless, the struggle was at first quite equal and therefore interesting, and until 1933 success was variable, but from 1934 the anti-trickists took the lead. Echoes of the struggle between these currents one way or another can be observed throughout the history of figure skating, including all recent years. The struggle for harmony, and not only in pair skating, continues tirelessly, and it is pleasant to note that it is Soviet skaters who show the example here. In the pre-war and post-war years, a fairly solid foundation was laid in our country in order to start a struggle in the international arena. By the beginning of the 50s. the best figure skaters of the country, who successfully performed in the 1930s and 1940s, became coaches. Full of creative ideas and energy, they were filled with the desire to prepare their students in such a way that they could successfully compete for the highest titles at the European Championships, the World Championships and the Olympic Games. Among them, it should be noted such skillful educators as T. A. Tolmacheva and P. P. Orlov - multiple champions Soviet Union. The groups of young athletes that formed around them became leaders.
Such excellent coaches as T. A. Tarasova, N. I. Dubova, E. G. Pliner grew up at the State Central Institute of Physical Culture, and V. N. Kudryavtsev, the coach of the first world champion Sergei Volkov, grew up at the Moscow Regional Institute of Physical Culture. Important role GITIS graduate, ex-national champion E. A. Chaikovskaya (Osipova) played in raising the level of the aesthetic content of figure skating.
The first success was achieved by the students of Pyotr Petrovich Orlov, who for many years took a “course of sciences” with Panin-Kolomenkin. For three years - from 1958 to 1960 - Nina and Stanislav Zhuk performed brilliantly at European championships, winning silver medals. Their appearance on the international horizon was stunning, and the complexity of the programs amazed all specialists. Unfortunately, young skaters performed for a relatively short time, but this led to the rapid birth of a new coach - Stanislav Zhuk, who for many years headed the Soviet school of pair skating.
In 1964 and 1968 Soviet figure skaters conquered the Olympic peaks of Innsbruck and Grenoble, and in 1969 I. Rodnina and A. Ulanov, students of S. A. Zhuk, became leaders in pair skating. For four years, they collected the entire harvest of gold medals at the European and World Championships and consolidated their success with an excellent victory at the Olympic Games in Sapporo (1972).
Then, as a partner, I. Rodnina began to act-A. Zaitsev (if Rodnina is a pupil of the Moscow school of figure skating, then Zaitsev grew up on Leningrad ice). Together they twice became Olympic champions - in 1976 in Innsbruck and in 1980 (after a child was born in their family) in Lake Placid. In the same years, they won the titles of European champions seven times and world champions six times. S. Zhuk led them to victories for two years, and from the autumn of 1974 until the end sports career I. Rodnina and A. Zaitsev were trained by T. A. Tarasova.
Distinctive features of the style of I. Rodnina and her partners were high sportiness, saturation of programs with complex elements: jumps, unique steps, lifts, twists, rotations. All this was organically intertwined in programs that emphasized the cheerfulness, optimism, and open character of Soviet figure skaters. This is what brought them the laurels of the winners.
Representatives of the Soviet pair skating were the first to make their way to the world podium. There were years when five or six of our couples at once could fight for the right to be considered the strongest. T. Zhuk and A. Gorelik, T. Moskvina and A. Mishin, L. Smirnova and A. Suraykin, L. Smirnova and A. Ulanov, G. Karelina and G. Proskurin, and later M. Cherkasova and S. Shakhrai, I. Vorobyeva, first with A. Vlasov, then with I. Lisovsky, M. Pestova and S. Leonovich, and finally, E. Valova and O. Vasiliev ... What a magnificent list of champions and prize-winners of the largest international tournaments! No country can now boast of such achievements!
In recent years, only the American couple T. Babilonia - R. Gardner and S. Bess - T. Tirbach from the GDR managed to push, and even then not for long, our athletes on the world and European podium.
If we talk about the Soviet school of pair skating as a whole, then it is distinguished by a variety of styles, an appeal to non-standard solutions, and a constant desire to create a memorable stage image.
As is usually the case in the history of any sport, the appearance of champions causes an overall rise sports achievements. And in Soviet figure skating, following the best sports couples, representatives of other types began to progress rapidly. First of all, the dancers. They were the last to enter the international arena and fell sharply behind in skill. But it took them only three or four years to get to the pedestal. The first to do this were the students of the ex-champion of the USSR in single-night skating of choreographer E. Tchaikovskaya - L. Pakhomova and A. Gorshkov. In 1969 they became winners of the European and World Championships, and in 1970 they became champions.
L. Pakhomova and A. Gorshkov, together with their coach, had to fight hard to strengthen the position of the Soviet dance school. And in 1976 they came to the most remarkable victory, having won - the first in history! - the title of Olympic champions in sports dancing on ice.
I. Moiseeva and A. Minenkov, students of T. Tarasova, picked up the winning baton, and then N. Linichuk and G. Karponosov, students of E. Chaikovskaya, took the lead. Both pairs won the titles of world and European champions twice. N. Linichuk and G. Karponosov in Lake Placid also became Olympic champions.
In recent years, the palm has passed to the founders of sports dancing on ice, the British D. Torvill and K-Din. But in 1983, when the British did not compete at the European Championship due to an injury, N. Bestemyanova and A. Bukin, pupils of T. Tarasova, climbed to the top step of the podium. And the silver medalists were O. Volozhinskaya and A. Svinin, who are trained by E. Chaikovskaya.
Our best dance duets are invariably characterized by the brilliant use of choreography, the ability to combine achievements in the field of plasticity with the technique of skating, an unconventional approach to solving set tasks, and an accurate account of the individuality of the performers.
The most difficult fight is always in the men's competition. Today they have mastered the most complex technical techniques, and the process of complicating programs continues. When at the beginning of the century Salchow, Lutz, Rittberger, Axel Paulsen invented their jumps and skaters, in gratitude for this, left their names forever in the names of the elements, no one imagined that someday all jumps would be performed in three turns. Indeed, today, to win, three-turn axels, salchows, lutzes, rittbergers, sheepskin coats, flips are required, and preferably in a full range. Yes, even in combinations with other jumps. You need four jumps.
But that is not all. A figure skater should look harmonious, musical, plastic on the ice - in a word, have all the qualities inherent in artistic athletes.
Soviet single skaters had to catch up with their foreign rivals for a long time. In the 50-60s. in the USA, Canada, France, Austria, Germany, Czechoslovakia, a brilliant galaxy of craftsmen has grown single skating. R. Button, A. Jenkins, D. Jenkins, T. Wood (USA), D. Jackson (Canada), K. Divin (Czechoslovakia), A. Kalma and A. Giletti (France), M. Schneldorfer (Germany) , E. Danzer, B. Schwartz. (Austria) and many others won the hearts of spectators and experts. They were joined by skaters of new generations: O. Nepela (Czechoslovakia), J. "Hoffman (GDR), D. Curry, R. Cousins (Great Britain), C. Tikner, S. Hamilton (USA), N. Schramm ( Germany). A place of honor among them was taken by Soviet masters. And the pioneer was S. Chetverukhin, a pupil of T. Tolmacheva, and then S. Zhuk. It was he who managed to become the first among our single skaters silver medalist World, European and Olympic Games Championships (Sapporo). Chetverukhin had in his arsenal many elements of the highest complexity, but at the same time he remained musical, plastic, able to fight to the end.
The next generation of Soviet single skaters managed to win top honors. At the European Championship-75, V. Kovalev managed to do this for the first time, who was trained by T. Tolmacheva and E. Chaikovskaya. And a month later, at the World Championships, the pupil of V. Kudryavtsev, S. Volkov, came forward. In 1977 and 1979 V. Kovalev under the leadership of E. Tchaikovskaya became the world champion. But after that, Soviet single skaters only once managed to win a gold medal at the European Championships - in 1981. I. Bobrin did this, with whom Yu. Ovchinnikov, a well-known figure skater in the past, began to work.
The Soviet school of men's single skating continues the best traditions that were born in the pre-revolutionary years and require high and harmonious performance skills. But it must be taken into account that the best single skaters in a number of countries are always out-. Distinguished by a special warehouse of character, the ability to fight at once with several very strong opponents.
It is no coincidence that for many years in a row male champions did not stay on the podium for a long time, and exceptions only confirmed the rule.
We had to wait the longest time for awards in women's singles. Only with the entry into the international arena of the student of S. Zhuk E. Vodorezova did the matter move forward. During 1976-1983. Vodorezova climbed the European podium several times, despite the fact that illness forced her to miss several tournaments. And in 1983, E. Vodorezova won for the first time bronze medal world championship.
In women's skating, progress is not as clear as in other types. And although the champions and prize-winners of recent years - A. Pötsch, K-Errat, K-Witt (GDR), D. Hemell, L. Fratien, E. Zayak (USA), D. Billman (Switzerland), D. Lurz (Germany ) and other figure skaters - possessed a rather impressive arsenal of various complex jumps and other elements, the struggle each time was not very sharp and interesting and was usually accompanied by mistakes that reduced the impression of the performances of the athletes.
Does this mean it will always be like this? Of course not. This is evidenced by the entire history of world and domestic figure skating.
The latest performances of Soviet figure skaters have also been marked by new creative achievements. At the Olympic Games in Sarajevo-84, the pupils of T. Moskvina Elena Valova and Oleg Vasilyev became champions in pair skating, and the bronze medals were won by Larisa Selezneva and Oleg Makarov, who were prepared for the start by I. Moskvin. Two sets of medals went to the Soviet dancers. Silver - Natalia Bestemyanova and Andrei Bukin (coach T. Tarasova), bronze - Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko (coach N. Dubova). For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, a bronze medal was also won by a Soviet single skater, K-Ivanova, trained by two-time world champion V. Kovalev.
The record for the number of medals won was set by our masters at the 1985 World Championship, which was held in Tokyo. E. Valova and O. Vasiliev, N. Bestemyanova and A. Bukin, single skater A. Fadeev, silver medalists - L. Selezneva and O. Makarov, M. Klimova and S. Ponomarenko, K. Ivanova became champions.
Concluding a brief historical overview of the development of figure skating, it must be emphasized once again that every major master different generations possesses those grains of precious experience, which is absolutely necessary for the success of both current and future masters. The study of this experience is obligatory for everyone who strives for progress, for the development of our sport, who dreams of contributing to it. ,
Figure skating- a winter sport in which athletes skate on ice with additional elements, most often to music. In official competitions, as a rule, four sets of medals are played: in women's single skating, in men's single skating, in pair skating, as well as in sports ice dancing. Figure skating is included in the program of the Winter Olympics.
At first
The most ancient skates were found on the banks of the Southern Bug, not far from Odessa, dating back to the Bronze Age. Such skates were made from the phalanx of the front legs of horses.
It is believed that the birthplace of figure skating is Holland. It was there, in the XIII-XIV centuries, that the first iron skates appeared. The appearance of a new type of skates gave a powerful impetus to the development of figure skating, which at that time consisted in the ability to draw intricate figures on the ice and maintain a beautiful pose at the same time.
All mandatory figures were created in the UK. This is explained by the fact that it was here that the first skating clubs arose (Edinburgh, 1742). At the same time, the first official rules of the competition were developed.
In 1882, the first international competition in Europe took place in Vienna. The Viennese won a landslide victory.
The very first edition of the rules for figure skating, published in England, dates back to 1772. The English artillery lieutenant Robert Jones published a Treatise on Skating, in which he described all the main figures that were then known.
The appearance of elements
At the beginning of the 20th century, Salchow, Lutz, Rittberger, Axel Paulsen invented their own elements, and the skaters, in gratitude for this, left their names in the names of the elements.
Women's single skating formed later. Officially, this happened at the end of January 1906 in Davos (Switzerland). Compulsory figures for women and men were similar, but women's free skating immediately attracted attention with high artistry, plasticity and musicality of movements.
Official championships peace among women began in 1924. Since 1930, the world championships in figure skating for women and men have been held jointly at the same time. Soon pair (mixed) skating appeared. The international championship in pair skating was first played in 1908 in St. Petersburg, the winners were German figure skaters. The fourth type of figure skating - sports dancing on ice - was born much later in England. Only in 1952 in Paris, the dancers played their awards for the first time, the British were the strongest.
Synchronized skating competitions have gained the greatest popularity in recent years. This sport has become widespread in Canada, the USA, Sweden, Finland, England, and France.
Beginning in 1983, annual synchronized skating championships began to be held in Canada. And in 1988, these competitions were held together with competitions in the main types of figure skating. Pair skating competitions first took place in Canada in 1914 and were held regularly until 1964, and resumed in 1981. The leaders in this type of figure skating are Canadian and American teams.
First time at the Olympics
The popularity of figure skating grew, and already in 1908 figure skating competitions were included in the program of the Olympic Games in London for the first time.
The first Olympic champions in single skating in 1908 were M. Sayers (Great Britain), U. Salkhov (Sweden), Panin-Kolomenkin (Russia), and the sports couple A. Huebler-G. Burger (Germany). Figure skating was also included in the program of the Summer Olympic Games in Antwerp (1920), subsequently it was presented at all Winter Olympic Games.
outstanding success in Olympic competitions achieved Gillis Grafström (Sweden), who won 3 gold and 1 silver medals, three times Olympic champions-- Sonya Henie (Norway) and Irina Rodnina (USSR). At the White Olympics in St. Moritz (1948), the American figure skater Dick Button literally made a revolution. It was from him that jumps in several revolutions and other acrobatic elements were "registered" in figure skating. Button literally flew over the rink. He was awarded the Olympic gold medal in single skating.
The Olympic championship was played in singles (men's and women's) and pair skating. In 1976 Olympic program sports dancing on ice was included.
Figure skating in pre-revolutionary Russia
Figure skating in Russia has been known since the time of Peter I. The Russian Tsar brought the first models of skates from Europe. It was Peter I who came up with a new way of attaching skates - directly to the boots, and thus created the "protomodel" of today's figure skaters' equipment. The name "skates" arose because the front of the wooden "runners" was usually decorated with a horse's head.
In 1838, the first textbook for figure skaters was published in St. Petersburg - "Winter Fun and the Art of Skating". Its author was G.M. Pauli is a gymnastics teacher in the military schools of St. Petersburg.
A surge of interest in figure skating occurred after a European tour American figure skater Jackson Gaines. He showed unexpected possibilities of performing swift figures in the most graceful movements of the body.
Russian figure skating, as a separate sport, was born in 1865. Then a public skating rink was opened in the Yusupov Garden on Sadovaya Street. This skating rink was the most comfortable in Russia and from the very first days it became a center for the training of figure skaters. On March 5, 1878, the first competition of Russian figure skaters took place on it.
In 1881, the Society of Skating Fans consisted of about 30 people. One of the most famous sports and public figures was Vecheslav Izmailovich Sreznevsky, an honorary member of this society.
In 1908, at the London Olympics, the outstanding Russian figure skater Nikolai Panin-Kolomenkin won the gold medal.
Figure skating is a sport that captivates the viewer with its beauty. But how much effort and time should be given to an athlete to make complex and dangerous tricks on ice look so easy and airy!
When you watch the performances of professional skaters, it is simply breathtaking from their jumps, amazing pirouettes and magical movements. But did you know that figure skating is speed skating sport, which belongs to one of the most complex coordination sports? After all, the main essence of skating is to move a skater or a pair of skaters along slippery ice with the simultaneous execution of various elements to the music.
History of figure skating
Archaeological finds indicate that for the first time people began to skate in the Bronze Age. And the first skates were the phalanges of the limbs of large animals. And only in the 12-13th century in Holland for the first time began to make iron skates. At the same time, figure skating began to develop not only as a popular entertainment, but also as a sport. Although the tasks for figure skaters were, compared to modern programs, primitive - they should simply draw various figures on the ice, while maintaining a beautiful position of the upper body.
In the 18th century, the first figure skating club appeared in Edinburgh. In the same place, the rules for holding competitions and a list of figures necessary for the performance, which were described in the "Treatise on Skating", were developed. It was published in 1772 by Lieutenant of Artillery Robert Jones.
In the future, figure skating began to be actively developed by such countries as Canada and the USA, where new sports associations were created, skate models were improved, grew and developed. own school technology.
The first figure skating competitions were held in 1882 in Vienna and only men participated in them. And the participation of women in competitions was allowed only 10 years later. The first official World Women's Singles Championship was held in Switzerland only in 1906.
In 1924, figure skating was included in the program of the Winter Olympic Games and to this day is one of the most popular winter views sports.
Kinds
In figure skating, it is customary to distinguish 5 main areas:
- women's single skating
- men's single skating
- pair figure skating
- group synchronized skating
- dance Sport
Women's and men's single skating
An athlete in single skating demonstrates mastery of the basic elements - steps, rotations, spirals, jumps. The level of a skater is determined by the quantity, quality and complexity of the elements performed. An important indicator when evaluating an athlete is also a sense of rhythm, plasticity, grace and artistry.
Competitions are carried out in two stages. The first stage is a short compulsory program, the second - an arbitrary one.
Pair skating
In this type of skating, special elements are added to the main components, such as lifts, ejections, twists, death drops, parallel and joint rotations. In pair skating, the ability of partners to perform all movements synchronously and with high quality comes to the fore in order to show the unity of actions.
As in single skating, the competition for pairs takes place in two stages.
Synchronized figure skating
This sport is the youngest among the areas of figure skating. The team can consist of both women and men. Typically, the team consists of 16 to 20 people. The technique for performing the elements is the same as for single skating. The group must perform several mandatory elements synchronously and beautifully, such as a line, a circle, intersections, a wheel, blocks. Jumps of more than one turn, lifts, spirals and crossings are prohibited.
Dance Sport
The main emphasis in this direction of figure skating falls on dance movements. Here, there are practically no emissions and jumps, prolonged separation of partners is not allowed.
In this type of figure skating, it is important to choose the right skater costumes, music, and come up with an attractive image for the couple. Sports dancing on ice is one of the most spectacular and beautiful areas. Modern competitions provide for the performance by a couple of a short compulsory dance, as well as a free dance.
Features of figure skating
Figure skating is a difficult and traumatic sport. To achieve professional goals, you should start exercising at the age of 4-5 years. However, in each individual case there are deviations from the norm.
You should also be aware that even if you have learned to ride in adulthood, you also have a chance to compete. There are non-qualifying championships for those who, for whatever reason, cannot participate in the qualification.
But even if you are not interested in competitions, in any case, figure skating can become a favorite hobby that brings joy and health. After all, this sport gives not only speed of reaction, grace and posture, but also a lot of positive emotions.
How much beauty, how much charm in figure skating! Skating is extremely expressive, emotional; the images created by figure skaters are in many ways akin to images of art, primarily ballet.
The history of figure skating is very old, it should be known to all fans of this sport.
The most ancient skates were found on the banks of the Southern Bug, not far from Odessa, dating back to the Bronze Age. Such skates, apparently, were made from the phalanx of the front legs of horses. Similar bone skates were found during archaeological excavations in many European countries. Of course, the owners of bone skates could not lay the foundations for the future of figure skating. For this, completely different skates should have appeared - made of iron.
It is believed that the birthplace of figure skating is Holland. It was there, in the XIII - XIY centuries, that the first iron skates appeared. The appearance of a new type of skates gave a powerful impetus to the development of figure skating, which at that time consisted in the ability to draw intricate figures on the ice and maintain a beautiful pose at the same time.
The first figure skating clubs appeared in the 18th century in the British Empire in Edinburgh (1742). There was also developed a list of obligatory figures for the competition, and the first official rules of the competition.
From Europe, figure skating came to the USA and Canada, where it was greatly developed. Numerous figure skaters' clubs were created here, new models of skates were developed, and their own school of technology was created. By the middle of the 19th century, almost all modern compulsory figures and the main techniques for their performance were already known in figure skating.
At that time, figure skating was performed in a prim "English" style. American Jackson Heinz, a dancer and skater, combined both and got his own style of skating: riding to the music, dance moves and "tops" on the ice. The skates, attached to the shoes with straps, could not withstand such loads, then he - one of the first - screwed them tightly to the boots. However, this style was not adopted in Puritan America, and in the 1860s he went on tour to Europe.
At the I Congress of Skating in 1871, figure skating was recognized as a sport.
In 1882, the first official figure skating competition in Europe took place in Vienna.
But the approach to competitions changed after the best figure skaters from all over the world were invited to the competitions in St. Petersburg in 1890, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the ice rink in the Yusupov Garden. The competitions acquired the status of an "unofficial world championship", the winner of these competitions in all types of the program was Alexei Pavlovich Lebedev, an honorary member of the St. Petersburg Society of Skating Fans. 
The following year, in 1891, in Hamburg, the first European Championship in men's single skating was held (German figure skater Oscar Uhlig won).
But the demonstration of the international scope and potential of figure skating, shown at the competitions in St. Petersburg, haunted. Therefore, already in 1892, the International Skating Union (ISU) was created, which was supposed to lead the organization of international competitions.
Four years later, in 1896, the first world figure skating championship was held in St. Petersburg (winner - Gilbert Fuchs, German Empire).
The first figure skating competitions were held only among single men (women figure skaters got the opportunity to participate in the world championships only 10 years later). Official women's world championships began in 1924.
Soon pair (mixed) skating appeared. The international championship in pair skating was first played in 1908. in St. Petersburg. At first, world tournaments were attended by only a few athletes. But the popularity of figure skating grew, and already in 1908 figure skating competitions were included for the first time in the program of the 4th Summer Olympic Games held in London.
Even then, Olympians competed on artificial ice. By the way, the first artificial ice rink was built in England in 1876 according to the design of D. Pictet.
The first Olympic champions in single skating in 1908 were M. Sayers (Great Britain), U. Salkhov (Sweden), N. Panin-Kolomenkin (Russia) and the sports couple A. Hubler - G. Burger (Germany). Figure skating was also included in the program of the 7th Summer Olympic Games in 1920, and subsequently it was presented at all Winter Olympic Games. The Olympic championship was played in singles (men's and women's) and pair skating.
In 1976, sports dancing on ice was included in the Olympic program. The first figure skating competitions were held with the advantage of Scandinavian and English athletes, later the figure skaters of Austria and the USA began to perform successfully. In pair skating and sports dancing, the Russian school is a leader in the international arena.
Gillis Grafström (Sweden), who won 3 gold and 1 silver medals, three-time Olympic champions Sonya Henie (Norway) and Irina Rodnina and Alexei Ulanov (Russia), achieved outstanding success in Olympic competitions.
Figure skating in Russia
Figure skating in Russia has been popular since the time of Peter I. The Russian Tsar brought home the first samples of skates to Europe. It was Peter who came up with a new way of fastening skates - directly to the boots, and thus created the prototype of today's equipment for skaters. Probably, the name "skates" arose because the front of the wooden "runners" was usually decorated with a horse's head. A surge, interest in figure skating occurred after a European tour American figure skater Jackson Heinz. He showed unexpected possibilities of performing the most impetuous figures in the most graceful movements of the body.
Historians unanimously recognize him as the founder of the modern international style of figure skating.
Actually, Russian skating originated in 1865. Then a public skating rink was opened in Yusupov Garden on Sadovaya Street, which from the very first days became a center for the training of figure skaters. The skating rink was the most comfortable in Russia. On March 5, 1978, the first competition of Russian figure skaters took place on it. One of the most famous sports and public figures was the Honorary Member of this society V.I. Sreznevsky.
A good sportsman himself (he performed and was among the judges at international competitions), he did a lot to improve the technique and build the theory of figure skating.
In February 1890, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the St. Petersburg Yusupov ice rink, it was decided to arrange sports competition, inviting the strongest figure skaters in Europe and America.
In terms of its composition, it was actually the first unofficial world championship.
Of the 8 participants who competed for the title of the best figure skater in the world for 3 days, A.P. Lebedev, a wonderful Russian athlete, who in our country is called the “grandfather of Russian figure skating”, was the strongest in all sections of skating
In 1926, figure skating sections were created in Leningrad and Moscow, new skating rinks appeared. After the creation of the Russian Federation of Figure Skating in 1936, the championships of the USSR began to be held regularly.
The names of Zeldovich, Bogoyavlensky, Chernyshev, Petrov, Oborin, Kuznetsova and other athletes were known throughout the country.
The post-war years were not the best for Soviet figure skating. Few could seriously engage in figure skating in the sections of the Dynamo and Spartak societies. The rest rode on yard skating rinks, and even more often - from flooded hills on skates, "snow maidens" fastened with ropes to felt boots, and even on one skate, because then skates were a rarity.
In the 50s. Soviet athletes began to compete in international competitions. In 1956, the country's best figure skaters competed at the European Championships in Paris. Soviet figure skaters won the first silver medals for the country in Bratislava in 1958. But the real triumph of the Soviet school of figure skaters was the Olympic gold of Belousova and Protopopov at the IX Olympic Games in 1964.
Many of the athletes have become world famous coaches. The students of Zhuk, Mishin, Tarasova, Moskvina and Tchaikovskaya have won the lion's share of medals at the biggest tournaments of the last two decades.
The school of national figure skating gave the world such names as: I. Rodnina and A. Zaitsev,L. Pakhomova and A. Gorshkov, N. Linichuk and G. Karpanosov, N. Bestemyanova and A. Bukin, E. Gordeeva and S. Grinkov, R. Kostomarov and T. Navka, E. Berezhnaya and A. Sikhorulidze, I. Averbukh and I. Lobacheva, T. Tatmyanina and M. Marinin, A. Urmanov, E. Platov, E. Plushenko, A. Yagudin, M. Usova, O. Grischuk, I. Slutskaya, M. Butyrskaya and others.
At the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014, our figure skaters-champions:
Adeline Sotnikova,Evgeny Plushenko, Julia Lipnitskaya, Tatyana Volosozhar and Maxim Maxaim Trankov,Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov,Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitry Solovyov,Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov.
Historians look into the very distant past to find the origins of figure skating. The most ancient skates were found on the banks of the Southern Bug, not far from Odessa, dating back to the Bronze Age. Such skates, apparently, were made from the phalanx of the front legs of horses. Similar bone skates were found during archaeological excavations in many European countries. Of course, the owners of bone skates could not lay the foundations for the future of figure skating. For this, completely different skates should have appeared - made of iron.
It is believed that the birthplace of figure skating is Holland.. Exactly there, in the XIII - XIY centuries, the first iron skates appeared. The appearance of a new type of skates gave a powerful impetus to the development of figure skating, which at that time consisted in the ability to draw intricate figures on the ice and maintain a beautiful pose at the same time.
Most the first edition of the rules for figure skating, published in England, refers to 1772. English lieutenant of artillery Robert Jones published "A Treatise on Skating", in which he described all the main figures that were then known. The fact that all compulsory figures were created in Great Britain is explained by the fact that it was here that the first skating clubs arose (Edinburgh, 1742) and the first official rules for the competition were developed.
And in 1882. Vienna hosted the first international competition in Europe. The Viennese won a great victory.
Representatives of the Austrian school, figure skaters from Norway, Sweden, Germany, England and the USA contributed to the development of figure skating as a sport.
A figure skater from America played a big role in the development of figure skating in Europe and, in particular, in Russia. Jackson Heinz. His tours of the skating rinks of Europe aroused the admiration of fans of this sport. Historians unanimously recognize him as the founder of the modern international style of figure skating. In February 1890 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the St. Petersburg Yusupov ice rink, it was decided to arrange a sports competition, inviting the strongest figure skaters from Europe and America.
In terms of its composition, it was actually the first unofficial world championship. Of the 8 participants who competed for the title of the best skater in the world for 3 days, the strongest in all sections of skating was A.P. Lebedev is a remarkable Russian sportsman.
The successful completion of the competitions in St. Petersburg largely accelerated the organization of the first European and world championships, the creation of the International Skating Union (ISU) in 1892. At the same time, at the ISU Congress, the rules for holding international competitions were approved, and the procedure for drawing the European Championship was determined.
The ISU approved the rules for holding international competitions, and determined the procedure for drawing the European Championship.
In 1896 ISU decided to hold world championships. In honor of the recognition of the special merits of Russia as the venue for Petersburg was elected the first official world championship. Only 4 participants took to the ice: Austrian G. Hugel, silver medalist of the European Championships, German G. Fuks, bronze medalist of the European Championships, and Russian figure skaters G. Sanders and N. Poduskov. The figure skater from Munich G. Fuchs became the winner.
This is how men's single skating took shape as a sport approved at the first skating congress in America, and then in Europe by the Vienna Skating Society (1871).
At the beginning of the century Salchow, Lutz, Rittberger, Axel Paulsen invented their jumps, and the skaters, in gratitude for this, left their names in the names of the elements.
Women's single skating was formed later. Officially, this happened at the end of January 1906. in Davos (Switzerland). Compulsory exercises for women and men were similar, but women's free skating immediately attracted the attention of high artistry, plasticity and musicality of movements. Official women's world championships began in 1924. Since 1930 the world championships in figure skating among women and men are held jointly at the same time.
Soon pair (mixed) skating appeared. The international championship in pair skating was first played in 1908. in St. Petersburg. German figure skaters went down in history as the first owners of gold medals in pair skating.
The third type of figure skating - sports dancing on ice - was born much later in England. Only in 1952. in Paris, the dancers played their awards for the first time, the British were the strongest.
Synchronized skating competitions have gained the greatest popularity in recent years. This sport has become widespread in Canada, the USA, Sweden, Finland, England, and France. Since 1983 In Canada, the annual Canadian Championships in synchronized skating began to be held. And in 1988. these competitions were held in conjunction with competitions in the main types of figure skating. A significant number of spectators are also gathered by the competitions of fours, where representatives of pair skating perform. In Canada, such performances first took place in 1914. and were regularly held until 1964, and they resumed in 1981. At the 1991 ISU Congress began to consider the issue of holding international competitions under the auspices of the ISU. The following year, a positive decision was made. Currently, the leaders in this type of figure skating are Canadian and American teams.
We can say that single skating is the basis of the diverse types of figure skating.
At first, world tournaments were attended by only a few athletes. But the popularity of figure skating grew, and already in 1908. Figure skating competitions were included for the first time in the program of the 4th Summer Olympic Games held in London. Even then, Olympians competed on artificial ice. By the way, the first artificial ice rink was built in England in 1876. designed by D. Pictet.
The first Olympic champions in single skating in 1908. became M.Sayers (Great Britain), U.Salkhov (Sweden), P.Kolomenkin (Russia) and the sports couple A.Hubler - G.Burger (Germany).
Figure skating was also included in the program of the YII Summer Olympic Games in 1920, and subsequently it was presented at all Winter Olympic Games. The Olympic championship was played in singles (men's and women's) and pair skating. In 1976 Ice dancing was included in the Olympic program. The first figure skating competitions were held with the advantage of Scandinavian and English athletes, later the figure skaters of Austria and the USA began to perform successfully. In pair skating and sports dancing, the Russian school is a leader in the international arena.
Outstanding success in Olympic competitions was achieved by Gillis Grafström (Sweden), who won 3 gold and 1 silver medals, three-time Olympic champions Sonya Henie (Norway) and Irina Rodnina (Russia).
Figure skating in Russia has been popular since Peter I. The Russian Tsar brought home the first samples of skates to Europe. It was Peter who came up with a new way of fastening skates - directly to the boots, and thus created the prototype of today's equipment for skaters. Probably, the name "skates" arose because the front of the wooden "runners" was usually decorated with a horse's head. In 1938 Petersburg, the first textbook for figure skaters was published - “Winter Fun and the Art of Skating”. Its author was G.M. Pauli is a gymnastics teacher in the military schools of St. Petersburg. A surge in interest in figure skating occurred after the European tour of American figure skater Jaxon Gaines. He showed unexpected possibilities of performing the most impetuous figures in the most graceful movements of the body.
Actually Russian skating originated in 1865. Then a public skating rink was opened in the Yusupov Garden on Sadovaya Street, which from the very first days became the center for the training of figure skaters. The skating rink was the most comfortable in Russia. On it March 5, 1978. the first competition of Russian figure skaters took place. The Society of Skating Fans, organized in St. Petersburg in 1881, included about 30 people. One of the most famous sports and public figures was the Honorary Member of this society Vyacheslav Izmailovich Sreznevsky. A good sportsman himself (he performed and was among the judges at international competitions), he did a lot to improve the technique and build the theory of figure skating.
Alexey Pavlovich Lebedev, who in our country is called the "grandfather of Russian figure skating", was an honorary member and prominent figure of the St. Petersburg "Society of Skating Fans". It was he who became the first champion of the unofficial world championship, held in St. Petersburg in 1890. Although he learned his craft from books, he impressed the judges and the audience with his gliding technique in all three numbers of the program. Lebedev was awarded three gold medals. Since 1896 he began to engage in pedagogical work and became the first coach and teacher of N.A. Kolomenkin.
Another idol of sports youth at the end of the last century is Alexander Nikitich Panshin. He was the first Russian champion to win this title in 1897-1900. The unique athlete also won international competitions. But he began his career as a figure skater at the age of 39! February 9, 1896 Petersburg hosted the first world championship in figure skating. He became a kind of incentive in the deployment of educational work at the skating rink in the Yusupov Garden. It was continued by N.A. Panin - Kolomenkin. He participated in the first championships of Russia in figure skating, won the title of champion of Russia in 1901-1903. at the 1908 Olympic Games. in London becomes the first Olympic champion Russia.
ON THE. Panin-Kolomenkin and his students immediately after the revolution began to create figure skating sections. In 1920 the first competitions were organized at the skating rink of the hippodrome of the Semenovsky parade ground. Since the mid 20s. the championships of Moscow and Leningrad began to be held regularly. In March 1924 the championship of the USSR took place. The program included competitions of men-singlers and sports couples. The performances were accompanied by a brass band, in severe frosts the pipes froze and fell silent, only the drum sounded, to the sounds of which the performances took place. The championships of the country in those years were not held regularly, they became permanent after in 1936. a section (later - a federation) of figure skating was created.
Immediately after the war, figure skating schools began to open in Moscow, Leningrad, and Sverdlovsk. In 1955 Moscow hosted the first post-war international competitions figure skaters, in which representatives of Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany, Poland and the USSR took part. A year later, the strongest figure skaters of the USSR for the first time after the war took part in the European Championship, which took place in Paris. The following year, the anniversary European Championship was held in Czechoslovakia. Soviet team For the first time she took part in all types of figure skating.
At present, we can say that our school of figure skating is leading in the international arena. The proof of this is the unconditional victory of Russian figure skaters at the 1999 European and World Championships. At the World Championships in Helsinki (1999), representatives of our country won all the gold medals. Of the twelve prizes, half ended up in Russia.
Modern figure skating includes four independent types: single skating (male and female), pair skating, ice dancing and synchronized skating. Despite the fact that they all have much in common, and before that they are united by skating with figures to the music on the ice rink standard size each type is unique. It is no coincidence that competitions are held in each of its types separately from each other. And the competition rules are drawn up International Union skaters for each type of figure skating separately.
Single skating is divided into:
1) a mandatory program,
2) short program,
3) free skating.
Compulsory figures are called "school", this emphasizes that they are the ABC of skating. Now in single skating there is a tendency to increase the role and importance of free skating, where the fullest disclosure of the skater's capabilities takes place.
Soviet single skaters had to catch up with their foreign rivals. In the 50-60s. in the USA, Canada, France, Austria, Germany, Czechoslovakia, a brilliant galaxy of single skating masters has grown up. For many years, our positions in all international forums in single skating left much to be desired.
And the pioneer in men's single skating was S. Chetverukhin. It was he who managed to become the first among our single skaters to become the silver medalist of the World Championships, Europe and the Olympic Games (Sapporo 1972). The next generation managed to win the highest awards. At the European Championship - 75g. this was the first time that V. Kovalev managed to do this. A month later, S. Volkov took the lead at the World Championships. In 1977 and 1979 V. Kovalev became the world champion. At the 1976 Olympic Games he won silver, and a year later, at the World Championships in Tokyo, Kovalev proved that he was the strongest in single skating.
By the end of the 70s. on sports arena goes one of the talented athletes I. Bobrin. In 1981 he becomes European champion for the first time. At the 1981 World Championships in the USA, he honorably defended the title of the strongest figure skater in Europe, taking third place.
In 1988 at the Olympic Games were the champion of the USSR, the world champion in 1985. A. Fadeev, who took fourth place, and a single skater from Odessa V. Petrenko, who brought the Soviet team bronze medal. big win The CIS national team brought a gold medal to V. Petrenko at the XYI Winter Olympic Games in Albertville in 1992. For the first time in the history of national single skating (after Panin-Kolomenkin), a representative of our team climbed to the top step of the podium. In 1994 second gold Olympic medal at the XYII games brought Russian team A. Urmanov.
And in 1998. appeared in men's figure skating new leader I. Kulik, who won gold at the last Winter Olympics in Nagano.
A. Yagudin - the winner of the World Championship in Helsinki in 1999. - is considered an outstanding Russian figure skater, showing great promise.
