Alexandr Medved Athlete Date of Birth: 16.09.1937 Country: Ukraine

1. Biography of Alexander Medved
2. Childhood and School Years
3. Early Career and Military Service
4. Introduction to Wrestling
5. International Achievements
6. Coaching Career
7. Recognition and Honors
8. Later Life

Biography of Alexander Medved

Alexander Medved is a Soviet athlete and freestyle wrestler. He was born on September 16, 1937, in the city of Belaya Tserkov. His father, Vasily Zinovievich Medved (born in 1909), worked as a forester, and his mother, Maria Khomovna Medved (born in 1911). Alexander is married to Tatiana Stepanovna Medved (born in 1940) and has a daughter named Elena Alexandrovna Medved (born in 1960) and a son named Alexey Alexandrovich Medved (born in 1967).

Childhood and School Years

Alexander Medved spent his childhood and school years in his hometown. He grew up as a tall and clumsy boy, and no one could have imagined that he had an inexhaustible energy and strength, the character of a fighter, and an incredible work ethic that would lead him to outstanding victories and make him the strongest wrestler in the world.

Early Career and Military Service

In 1954, Alexander Medved started his career as a fitter-assembler at a local aviation plant. In 1956, he was called into the ranks of the Soviet Army and served in Belarus. During his time in the army, Alexander enthusiastically participated in various sports competitions, but gradually, the sport of wrestling, which requires courage and strength, started to attract him more and more.

Introduction to Wrestling

In 1957, Alexander Medved first met his future coach, Honored Coach of the Byelorussian SSR and the USSR, Pavel Vasilyevich Grigoriev. Alexander proved to be an exceptionally talented and capable student. His first significant success came at the II Spartakiade of the Soviet Union in 1959, where he won the 3rd place in the heavyweight category, surpassing many recognized masters of the mat.

International Achievements

After leaving the army in 1959, Alexander Medved studied at the coaching school of the Byelorussian State Institute of Physical Culture from 1959 to 1961. In 1961, he enrolled in the same institute, where he continued his training with Bolislav Mikhailovich Rybalko, a senior lecturer and later a professor and Honored Coach of the USSR. In the same year, Alexander Medved won his first gold medal at the USSR Championship.

From 1961, Alexander Medved started a period of brilliant victories at the European and World Championships, as well as the Olympic Games. He won three gold medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo (1964), Mexico City (1968), and Munich (1972). He became a seven-time world champion, a three-time European champion, and a nine-time champion of the USSR. Alexander Medved is also the winner of three Spartakiads of the Peoples of the USSR (1963, 1967, 1971). He was awarded the honorary titles of "Merited Master of Sports of the USSR" (1962), "Merited Coach of the USSR" (1984), "Merited Coach of the Byelorussian SSR" (1979), and "Merited Figure of Physical Culture of the Byelorussian SSR" (1969).

Coaching Career

From 1972 to 1992, Alexander Medved had a successful coaching career as the coach of the national teams of the Byelorussian SSR and the USSR. Under his guidance, Belarusian freestyle wrestlers achieved high sporting results. He also served as the head of the interuniversity department of sports improvement at the Minsk Radiotechnical Institute (now the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics) and holds the title of professor.

Recognition and Honors

For his outstanding achievements in sports and significant contributions to society, Alexander Medved was awarded two Orders of Lenin (1962, 1964), the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1970), and two Orders of Honor (1964, 1969). In 1975, he was awarded the Silver Order of the International Olympic Committee and the UNESCO Prize for Fair Play. He was also honored with the "Sports Valor" badge and the Honorary Badge of the Central Committee of the All-Union Leninist Communist Youth League (Komsomol).

Later Life

Since 1972, Alexander Medved has lived and worked in Minsk. He is currently the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus, a member of the European Committee of the Associated Styles Wrestling International Federation, the President of the Belarusian Wrestling Federation, and an academician of the Russian People's Academy of Sciences. In 1975, he was granted honorary citizenship of the hero city of Minsk.

In addition to his sports career, Alexander Medved also enjoys hunting. His favorite sports include wrestling, basketball, football, and tennis. He has a love for classical music.

Overall, Alexander Medved is a legendary figure in the world of wrestling, known for his exceptional talent, numerous victories, and contributions to the sport as both an athlete and a coach.