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Sergey BelovBasketball player, the first European elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Date of Birth: 23.01.1944
Country:  Russia |
Content:
Biography of Sergey Belov
Sergey Alexandrovich Belov was a Soviet basketball player and coach. He was a renowned master of sports of the USSR, a distinguished coach of the USSR, and a distinguished worker of physical culture of the Russian Federation. Belov was awarded the Order of Honor and the Medal for Labor Distinction. He was recognized as the best European player of all time by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and was the first European basketball player to be inducted into the prestigious Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. The Russian Basketball Federation also honored Belov as the best coach of Russia in the last decade of the 20th century.
Early Life
Sergey Alexandrovich Belov was born on January 23, 1944, in the village of Nashchokovo in the Shigarsky district of the Tomsk region. His father, Alexander Alexandrovich Belov (1906-1973), graduated from the Leningrad Forestry Engineering Academy. His mother, Valeria Ippolitovna Belova (1909-1988), graduated from Leningrad University. Sergey was married three times and had three daughters and one son.
Basketball Career
From an early age, Sergey had aspirations to become a football goalkeeper. However, due to his height and natural talent, he excelled in basketball. He began playing basketball in the fifth grade and quickly stood out with his skills and physical attributes. Belov joined the Politechnichesky Institute team, which competed in the city championship. After finishing school, he moved to Moscow to attend the Moscow Forestry Institute, but his main motivation was to be closer to the famous Moscow basketball clubs. Sergey played in university championships for his institute and was also selected for the youth Russian teams.
In 1964, Sergey caught the attention of coach A. Kapler from Sverdlovsk and was invited to join the Uralmash team. He accepted the offer and quickly established himself as one of the team's top players. In 1967, Belov made his debut for the Soviet national team and won both the World Championship and the European Championship. After the World Championship, he received an offer to join CSKA Moscow, one of the strongest teams in the country. Belov played for CSKA for twelve years, winning multiple Soviet championships and European titles.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Sergey Belov achieved remarkable success and became one of the most respected players in the history of Soviet and European basketball. He won numerous Soviet championships, European titles, and international medals. Belov was an Olympic champion in 1972, a two-time World champion (1967, 1974), a four-time European champion (1967, 1969, 1971, 1979), and a two-time winner of the European Cup (1969, 1971). He also won medals at multiple Olympic Games and World Championships.
Belov was known for his self-confidence, ambition, and the ability to perform under pressure. He had exceptional speed and agility, allowing him to outmaneuver opponents and score crucial points. He was often described as a player who thrived in the final moments of a game. Sergey Belov's talent and determination made him a legend in the world of basketball.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring from playing, Sergey Belov transitioned to coaching. He completed his coaching education and took on various coaching roles, including leading the national team of Russia. Belov faced challenges and obstacles in his coaching career, but he managed to revive Russian basketball and achieve significant success. In 1999, he became the head coach of the Ural-Great basketball club in Perm, Russia, and guided the team to prominence both nationally and internationally.
Sergey Alexandrovich Belov received numerous honors and awards throughout his career. He was recognized as the best European player of all time, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and named the best coach of Russia by the Russian Basketball Federation. Sergey dedicated his life to the sport he loved and left an indelible mark on the world of basketball.
On October 3, 2013, Sergey Alexandrovich Belov passed away in Perm, just short of his 70th birthday. His legacy as a basketball player, coach, and ambassador of the sport lives on, and he will always be remembered as one of the greatest figures in the history of basketball.
