Gainan Saidkhuzhin facts for kids
![]() Gainan Saidkhuzhin in 1960
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Personal information | |
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Born | Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
30 June 1937
Died | 13 May 2015 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
(aged 77)
Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) |
Weight | 69 kg (152 lb) |
Team information |
Gainan Saidkhuzhin (born June 30, 1937 – died May 13, 2015) was a very famous Russian cyclist. He was a ten-time cycling champion of the Soviet Union. He was known for his strength and skill on the bike.
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A Champion Cyclist
Gainan Saidkhuzhin competed in the Olympic Games twice. He raced in the individual road race at the 1960 Summer Olympics and the 1964 Summer Olympics. In 1964, he also helped his team finish fifth in the 100 km team time trial.
Peace Race Success
Gainan was a regular participant in the Peace Race, a major cycling event. He took part in this race nine times. He helped his team win the competition five times (in 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, and 1967). He also won the individual title in 1962. Gainan won individual stages of the race in 1960, 1962, and 1965.
In 1963, he won a bronze medal in the team time trial at the world championship. He also won the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey in 1969.
Early Life and Training
Gainan Saidkhuzhin was born in Novosibirsk, which is in Russia. He came from a Tatar family. He started training in cycling in 1954. By 1957, he had already won his first national title in the Soviet Union.
Becoming a Team Captain
In 1957, Gainan became a member of the national cycling team. Soon after, he became the team captain. He held this important position for about 10 years. During his cycling career, he won a total of 10 national titles.
Education and Later Career
Gainan Saidkhuzhin was not just a great athlete; he also valued education. He studied while he was competing. He graduated from the Smolensk Institute of Physical Education in 1967. Later, he earned another degree from the economics faculty of Moscow State University in 1973.
A Professor of Cycling
After his cycling career, Gainan continued to contribute to the sport. He earned a PhD in pedagogy, which is the study of teaching. For 15 years, he led the cycling section at the Institute of Physical Education in Moscow. He eventually became the first professor of cycling at the Institute. He also worked as a coach and an international referee. For all his achievements, he received special awards like the Order of the Badge of Honour.
Family Life
Gainan Saidkhuzhin had five older brothers and sisters. His brother, Rafail, and his sister, Sagida, were also competitive cyclists. Gainan was married to Rozida. They had a daughter named Zukhra, born in 1960, and a son named Tagir, born in 1967.
Gainan Saidkhuzhin passed away on May 13, 2015, when he was 77 years old. He died in Miami.