Ivan Edeshko
BelarusBiography of Ivan Edeshko
Ivan Edeshko, a renowned basketball player and the author of the famous pass to Alexander Belov that brought the Soviet national team the gold medals at the Munich Olympics, was born on March 25, 1945, in the village of Stetski, Grodno region, Belarus.
Family Background
His father, Ivan Aleksandrovich Edeshko (1907-1997), and mother, Anna Vikentyevna Edeshko (1912-1988), played significant roles in his upbringing. Ivan Edeshko is married to Larisa Andreevna Edeshko, born on May 25, 1946. They have a daughter named Natalia Ivanovna, born in 1970.
Education and Career
Ivan Edeshko graduated from the Belarusian State Institute of Physical Culture in 1970, specializing in coaching and teaching. He began his sports career in Minsk from 1963 to 1970, playing for "Spartak". In 1970, he joined the military. From 1971 to 1977, 1979, and 1980, he played for the CSKA club, and in 1978 and 1981, he played for SKA (Kiev). From 1980 to 1984, he served as a coach for the national junior team and the Soviet national basketball team. He worked as a coach in Guinea-Bissau from 1984 to 1987. In 1987-1990, he was the coach of the CSKA team and the Soviet national team. From 1990 to 1992, he served as the head coach of CSKA basketball team. He worked as a coach in Lebanon from 1992 to 1995. In 1995, he returned to CSKA and remained the coach until 1997. From 1997 to the present, he has been a coach for the basketball club "Sporting" in Lebanon.
Achievements
Ivan Edeshko is an Olympic champion (1972), a silver medalist at the Olympic Games (1976), a world champion (1974), a medalist at the World Championships (1978), a European champion (1971, 1979), a silver medalist at the European Championship (1975), and a bronze medalist at the European Championship (1973). He also won the European Champions Cup in 1971 and became the champion of the USSR (1971-1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980). He won the silver medal at the USSR Championship in 1975 and was the winner of the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR in 1975 and 1979. He was honored with the title of Honored Master of Sports of the USSR and the Order of "Sign of Honor" for his victory at the Olympic Games. He was also awarded the title of Honored Coach of the USSR and the medal "For Labor Valor" for his contribution to the preparation of the Soviet national team and their victory at the World Championships. Ivan Edeshko received several other honors, including the "For Sporting Excellence" medal and commemorative medals.
Personal Interests
Outside of basketball, Ivan Edeshko enjoys activities related to nature, such as working in his garden and traveling. He has a passion for music from the 70s and 80s, jazz, and popular songs. His favorite writer is Jack London, and he prefers watching domestic films, especially those featuring V. Vysotsky, A. Mironov, E. Leonov, and M. Ulyanov. He tries not to miss opportunities to meet old friends and acquaintances from his youth. The greatest success in his life, he believes, is that his work coincided with his favorite hobby - basketball.
