Vyacheslav Ivanov (rower) facts for kids
Ivanov at the 1964 European Championships
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Birth name | Vyacheslav Nikolayevich Ivanov | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 30 July 1938 Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR |
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| Died | August 2024 (aged 86) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Rowing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Krasnoye Znamya/CSKA, Moscow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | I. Ya. Demyanov Arkady Nikolayev |
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Medal record
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Vyacheslav Nikolayevich Ivanov (Russian: Вячеслав Николаевич Иванов; born July 30, 1938 – died August 2024) was a famous rower from the Soviet Union. He is known as one of the best rowers of his time. Ivanov won three Olympic gold medals in the single sculls event. He achieved these wins at the 1956 Melbourne Games, the 1960 Rome Games, and the 1964 Tokyo Games.
Ivanov was the first person ever to win the single sculls event three times at the Olympics. This was a very rare achievement. Only a few other rowers, like Jack Kelly Sr., Paul Costello, and Jack Beresford, had won three Olympic gold medals in rowing before him. Later, other athletes like Steve Redgrave also achieved this. The only other rower to match Ivanov's three gold medals in the single sculls is Finland's Pertti Karppinen.
Contents
Ivanov's Rowing Career
Early Start in Sports
Vyacheslav Ivanov first started as a boxer in 1950. In 1952, he began to combine boxing with rowing. Eventually, he decided to focus only on rowing. By 1955, when he was just 17 years old, he won the junior championships in the USSR. He also placed third in the senior championships, even beating the Olympic single scull champion, Yuriy Tyukalov.
Olympic Gold and Challenges
In 1956, Ivanov won his first Soviet and European titles. He also won an Olympic gold medal that year. During the 1956 Olympic race, he was in fourth place with only 500 meters left. He then started an amazing sprint, passing Teodor Kocerka, Jack Kelly Jr., and then Stuart Mackenzie, who had been leading. After winning, Ivanov was so excited that he accidentally dropped his gold medal into Lake Wendouree. He tried to get it back, but he couldn't. The Olympic committee later gave him a new medal.
After the 1956 Olympics, Stuart Mackenzie often beat Ivanov in races like the Henley Royal Regatta and the European Rowing Championships in 1957 and 1958. Ivanov felt disappointed and thought about quitting rowing. However, his coach, Arkady Nikolayev, helped him get back into top shape.
Breaking Records and More Wins
In 1959, Ivanov won the European title again. He also set a new world record for a 2000-meter single scull race, finishing in 6 minutes and 58.8 seconds. He was the first person to ever complete this race in under seven minutes.
At the 1960 Olympics, Ivanov won another gold medal with a powerful sprint, beating Achim Hill by more than 6 seconds. Stuart Mackenzie did not race due to illness. In 1962, Ivanov won the very first World Rowing Championship, defeating both Mackenzie and Seymour Cromwell.
Final Olympic Victory
At the 1964 Olympics, Ivanov faced Achim Hill again. This time, Ivanov was 7 seconds behind Hill with only 500 meters left. But he used his famous sprint to finish 3.73 seconds ahead, winning his third Olympic gold medal.
Ivanov missed the 1965 European Rowing Championships because he was sick. He hoped to compete in the 1968 Olympics, but a younger rower, Viktor Melnikov, was chosen for the Soviet team instead. Melnikov did not reach the Olympic final, and Ivanov retired from competitive rowing the following year.
Besides his Olympic medals, Ivanov won 11 Soviet single scull titles between 1956 and 1966. He also won 4 European titles. He received special awards for his achievements, including the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1960 and two Orders of the Badge of Honour in 1957 and 1965.
Life After Rowing
In 1960, while still a top rower, Ivanov finished military school. In 1969, he earned a master's degree from the Volgograd Institute of Physical Education. After he stopped competing, he worked as an officer in the USSR Navy and retired with the rank of captain. Later, he returned to rowing in races for older athletes, known as the masters category.
Vyacheslav Ivanov passed away in August 2024, at the age of 86.
Images for kids
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Ivanov at the 1964 European Championships
See also
In Spanish: Viacheslav Ivanov para niños
