The Kruglovs are a dynasty of champions. Biathlete Nikolai Kruglov Jr.: biography, achievements and interesting facts Olympic champion sold a medal

Russian biathlete Nikolai Kruglov left the location of the national team in Korea and flew to Russia, Elena Vaytsekhovskaya, a columnist for the Sport-Express newspaper, said in her blog. In Saturday's individual 10 km race, the biathlete took 67th place, and the next day he could not take part in the pursuit.

The Biathlon World Championship, which takes place in Pyechang, South Korea, continues to “please” fans with new scandals and showdowns. First, they caught doping and sent home from South Korea Albina Akhatova, Ekaterina Yuryeva and Dmitry Yaroshenko. Then they took away gold medal with Maxim Chudov. Although at first the Norwegian Bjoerndalen was disqualified for a mistake at a distance. And now an incomprehensible and very strange story happened to another leader of the Russian national team - Nikolai Kruglov.

In the pursuit race, the usually frisky Nikolai unexpectedly took as much as 67th place. After the finish, as they say, there was no face on him. He was clearly worried that he completely failed his performance at this not the most difficult distance. Therefore, he decided that he was not in shape, that nothing “shines” for him at this World Cup. Therefore, he left the camp of the national team and flew to his homeland - to Moscow.

Version two - Kruglov fell ill, realized that he needed to be treated. So he flew away with the consent of the team coaches.

Unfortunately, mobile phone Nikolay turned out to be disconnected, and it was not possible to talk with him in order to find out the reason for such a hasty departure. The official leaders of our team, who are now in Pyeongchang, do not want to say anything either.

For example, Alexander Tikhonov, vice-president of the Russian Biathlon Union, refused to talk about this topic at all. But he said that the Norwegian Ole Einar Bjoerndalen came to put up with Maxim Chudov, deprived of the gold medal.

“Last night, Bjoerndalen came to talk to Maxim Chudov,” said Alexander Ivanovich. I don't know the content of their conversation yet, but we'll find out. I don't think he has any complaints. Perhaps the Norwegian wanted to ask Maxim to recognize the justice of his victory. But, knowing Chudov, I am sure that he will not go for it.

However, there is a third version, which is quite actively walking on the sidelines of the biathletes. Rumor has it that Kruglov also took some illegal drugs. And that's why I left South Korea. In order not to take doping tests once again ...

Of course, Russian biathlon fans will resent this not the most pleasant version for us. However, let's remember the same Dmitry Yaroshenko. When his name began to appear in the famous doping scandal, many fans said in the style: "Hands off Dima!". However, everything was confirmed and Yaroshenko was forced to leave Pyeongchang.

Moreover, after this scandal, another Yaroshenko test gave a positive result. Thus, for the third time this season, Dmitry was convicted of using illegal drugs. The A doping test, which was taken from the athlete during the World Cup stage in Oberhof, Germany, turned out to be positive. The Russian refused to open the "B" sample, thereby confessing to doping. And now Yaroshenko faces a lifetime disqualification.

At the same time, a rather strange story happened to the leader of the Russian women's team - Svetlana Sleptsova. She caught a cold and will probably not perform in the next races. Due to a cold, she also missed one of the World Cup stages. And, by the way, when it became known three weeks ago that three Russian biathletes were caught doping, unofficial sources named Sleptsova among the guilty. Like, that's why she did not run one of the stages of the World Cup.

At the moment, both Nikolai Kruglov and Svetlana Sleptsova are clean before the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). But, as the practice of modern professional sports, and no one can be vouched for. And it may very well be that soon a new doping scandal will break out around the Russian team involving, say, Kruglov and Sleptsova. And, perhaps, they will finally catch all the “deserved asthmatics” like the Norwegian Ole Einar Bjoerndalen taking illegal drugs.

Meanwhile on the official site International Union biathletes, the starting protocol for tomorrow's men's individual 20 km race was published. Four representatives of the Russian national team, as well as their main competitors, were divided into the first three starting groups.

Maxim Chudov and Evgeny Ustyugov will start among the first 37 athletes. Chudov has the 8th starting number, and Ustyugov has the 20th. Maxim Maksimov started the race 56th, and Ivan Cherezov - 81st ...

What Fans Say Online

SVYAZIST:

Or maybe it’s really better to take it and leave ... The organization for this World Cup is disgusting, everyone sues ... The truth is not on our side ... In general, take it and leave ... let them ride this World Cup ... because no one needs it in this form ...

P.s. where are our special services looking??? Isn't it possible to find out what and who takes in other teams ??? they stole an atomic bomb... and here... Right now, they would have dug up dirt on them all and leaked everything to the press... Otherwise, our athletes are humiliated every year, and all sports officials don't give a damn...

oneloveKryliaSovetov:

Thank God, otherwise I was afraid that they would put him on an individual and he would come running to the last place, I never really liked him! Lately, he's been walking around! Might be good to leave...

anti-beaver:

Kruglov, of course, sucks. Even having pumped up with doping, he did not rise above the sixtieth place ... Shame!

denpol-80:

before the championship, it was clear that Kruglov would not pull. But they took him, for what???

No Kruglov this year!!! It’s a pity, but objectively the strongest should perform: (And at the expense of the World Cup, that’s for sure, there hasn’t been such a disgusting thing for a long time :(

yes, Kruglov didn’t show anything especially ... he couldn’t help but shoot or run.

Voice:

yes, the team is crumbling before our eyes, annoyingly.

It's time for him, the races are not in shape, it would be better if they took our promising youth from the European Cup.

It is clear that every athlete dreams of winning a medal at the Olympics. But the Russian biathlete Nikolai Kruglov had not one, but two cherished dreams before going to Turin. The first came true: he won the silver as part of the relay quartet. But the second is to find and redeem the medals of his father, two-time Olympic biathlon champion Nikolai Kruglov Sr.

My father trained me from an early age, - Nikolai told us after the finish of the last race. - At one point, when the first successes began to come to me and I needed money for training camps, equipment, he sold his Olympic awards. We, of course, did not starve, but there were no savings - before, after all, they did not pay for victories at the Olympics.

When did it happen?

In 1998, shortly after the default. We then lived in Nizhny Novgorod. The parents are still there. And I moved to Khanty-Mansiysk, where Better conditions for training.

How much did these awards sell for?

Looks like $5,000. Father doesn't like to talk about it. But now that I got back on my feet thanks to him, I just have to return the family heirlooms. I am ready to redeem them for all the prize money that I will receive for the Olympic “silver”. If they are not enough, then, thank God, there are people who are ready to help me.

How much are these rarities worth now?

Best of the day

Can they really be found?

Difficult, but possible. My assumption is that the circle of people interested in these things is quite narrow. Well, 100, 200 people... Can't they be found among two hundred people?! I'm sure people will give them back to me. I just don't have access to them. Maybe your newspaper will help?

Be sure to publish your request, try to contact the collectors! Where can we find medals?

In Moscow. My father sold them there. I think they are in the capital now. Unfortunately, I don't have time to delve into this matter now. I very rarely visit Russia. Constant fees, competitions, last time visited the capital in September. If there was time, I would have taken up the search seriously. After all, by and large this is my profession.

???

I'm a lawyer. Graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Of course, I do not consider myself a born policeman. But I will be very happy if this knowledge will help me in life, for example, at least in the search for medals. I have always wanted to have such an education.

What is your specialization?

Fight against economic crimes.

Do you think that after the end of your career this will be your main profession?

I don't want to guess. You know what kind of world we live in. How things change. I want to say only one thing, that I do not shy away from any work. If necessary, ready to run after crooks.

Perhaps you will run away from the biathlete Kruglov ...

Calling parents

Nikolai's mother did not allow the sale of awards

Who did you sell it to, do you know?

No. He didn't even tell me how much he sold his "gold" for. But the proceeds allowed him to buy a uniform, skis, a rifle, take his son to the training camp, and prepare him for the Olympics. The outfit cost over $5,000. Kolya is a real fighter. Do you know how difficult it is to compete at the Olympics, realizing that your father is a two-time Olympic champion in the same sport?!

The famous Soviet biathlete, two-time Olympic champion, three-time world champion.

Date of birth: January 31, 1950
Place of birth: pos. Red Cape, Balakhna District, Gorky Region, USSR
Place of residence: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Higher education. Graduated from the State Institute physical education them. P. F. Lesgaft (1976)
Job: worked as a biathlon coach for the Armed Forces, a teacher of the GZRKU PVO.
At present he is the head coach of the youth sports club "Nizhegorodets".
Retired lieutenant colonel.
Marital status: Married; son Nikolai, born in 1981
First coaches: B.P. Martynov, V.N. Komarov
Club: Armed Forces (Gorky)

Achievements:

Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1976);
- Honored Coach of Russia.

Olympic Games:

1976 (Innsbruck): gold (relay)
1976 (Innsbruck): gold (individual)

World Championships:

1974: gold (relay)
1975: gold (sprint), silver (individual), bronze (relay)
1976: bronze (sprint)
1977: gold (relay), silver (sprint)
1979: bronze (relay)

1974 The winners in the 4x7.5 km relay race of the World Cup are Soviet biathletes: Nikolai Kruglov, Yuri Kolmakov, Alexander Ushakov and Alexander Tikhonov

Two-time Olympic champion Nikolai Konstantinovich Kruglov started skiing, but "tried" biathlon when he served in the Air Defense Forces in the Urals District. There, those who wished were offered to take up this sport. While serving in the army, he was fifth in both cross-country skiing and biathlon at the championship of the Armed Forces.

After the army, he came to Gorky, began working at the Krasnoye Sormovo plant. But he trained at the Trud Training Center. Then he got into the “trade unions”, then into the national team.

Champion of the USSR in the individual championship and in the relay (1973-1975).

Already in 1975, on the eve of his "star" Olympics, Kruglov became the world champion in the sprint and also won two silver medals at the same championship.

However, the XII Winter Olympics in 1976 in Innsbruck (Austria) was the only one in the career of a biathlete.

Schneemann-Innsbruck 1976

When Innsbruck, Austria hosted winter Olympics in 1976, a mascot was needed that would best represent both the country and its cold climate. So there was a Snowman in a Tyrolean hat. It also reminds me of M&Ms.

At the 1976 Olympics, the USSR national team managed to score a record in history Winter Games the sum of points - 192 and medals - 27, among which there were 13 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze.

In 1976, the city was filled with an atmosphere of goodwill, and during the Olympics, it could not be otherwise. Of course, there was a confrontation between East and West, but the athletes themselves did not feel it. IN Olympic village there was a small hall in which concerts were held, and they rested there. Athletes did not sit on chairs, but on large tires from trucks, in this hall we got to know each other, congratulated the winners, and danced. It was there that the famous spirit of the Olympics reigned first of all.

There were not very many Soviet fans in Innsbruck, mostly tourists and, of course, a squad of wives of our hockey players.

gazeta.ru

In the biathlon program of the XII winter Olympic Games 2 sets of awards were drawn. Competitions were held from 6 to 13 February.

Gold medal of the XII Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck, 1976.

Relay video

The Soviet national team consisting of Alexander Elizarov, Ivan Byakov, Nikolai Kruglov and Alexander Tikhonov wins the relay at the third Olympics in a row.

Official results of competitions.

Men 4x7.5 km relay:

1. USSR, 1:57:64.92.
2. Finland, 2:01:45.5.8.
3. GDR, 2:04:08.61.

Videos racing

Nikolai Kruglov becomes the Olympic champion in the individual 20 km race, Alexander Elizarov wins bronze in this race.

Official competition results

Men, 20 km:

1. Nikolai Kruglov, USSR, 1:14:12.26.
2. Heikki Ikolla, Finland, 1:15:54.10.
3. Alexander Elizarov, USSR, 1:16:05.57.

According to him, on the eve of the 1980 Olympics, he was perfectly prepared, but did not get to the Games for reasons beyond his control and soon ended his biathlon career.

Lives and works in Nizhny Novgorod.

On June 20, 2007 he became an honorary citizen of this city (Resolution of the City Duma No. 62).
- Awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor (1976).
- He is the winner of the award of the city of Nizhny Novgorod in the field of physical culture and sports. - In 2006 the national public fund"Constellation" and one of the Nizhny Novgorod charitable foundations awarded N.K. Kruglov the title "Hero of Sports". The diploma was signed by the great doctor Leonid Roshal.

Currently (as of 2010) he is the head coach of the youth sports club "Nizhegorodets".

List sports achivments and the merits of Kruglov Sr. can be hours. Here is his son glorified Russian biathlete I started skiing at the age of 2. Kolya was also involved in other sports, but he still gave preference to biathlon. The father never regretted that his son followed in his footsteps: “A person must go ski training Necessarily. He also played table tennis well. But I think I made a good choice.” - says Nikolai Konstantinovich.

On the way of his son to the great victories of his son, Kruglov the elder was not afraid to part with his awards (1998):

“I don't regret this. It was just an opportunity... I parted with the medals with absolute ease. What should I look at them? Do you know who I am? And everyone else knows. Everything is fine. Nothing else matters. There was an opportunity - and thank God. This investment turned out to be a positive result.

What else could I do if I came to sports committees - city, regional (they said that biathlon“We” don’t need it), I say - I need to buy a rifle.

The committees also told me that athletes use their own money to buy skates, bicycles ... But for society, I bought a rifle with my own (!) Money. It's ridiculous that there are no nine thousand in the regional committee. OK. I buy a rifle, skis.

- As a child, Kolya played with your Olympic medals?

Played, but not for long. When Kolya grew up to understand who his father was, I ... sold my Olympic medals. Yes, this is true, but I do not see this as a reason for special pride. No need to imagine me as a unique altruist and unmercenary. I know many veterans who have done the same.

- Were you in dire need at that time?

Money was needed. Very. Although I am a two-time Olympic champion, I didn’t have any special savings and values, except for these two medals. We used to run, in fact, for diplomas. And the son began to seriously engage in cross-country skiing in the mid-90s, when you already had to pay for everything yourself. Buy expensive equipment, several sets of skis, ointments, go to the training camp ...

- How much did you earn for the medals, if it's not a secret?

They deceived me like the last fool ... They offered only 5 thousand dollars, although their current market value is at least three times more. And then they told me that it was impossible to get more for them. I agreed. Thank God, this money is still enough for everything you need.

- Now your medals can be redeemed back?

I'm not obsessed with them. It's just two pieces of metal. I don't know who has them, and I don't want to know. I brought them to an intermediary, received the money and left. I had to do it - and I did it. I absolutely do not need these medals. I know who I am. And everyone else knows who Nikolai Kruglov is. Nikolai Kruglov Sr. This does not require material evidence.

- Now, when Nikolai Jr. is achieving success in biathlon, has it become easier?

Yes, Kolka immediately began to succeed. Picking up a rifle, in the second year he became a repeated European champion. He was quickly noticed, taken to the national team, transferred to state support.

- Now you don't have to sell anything?

Just (laughs) there is nothing to sell!

rodgaz.ru

Silver medalist of the 2006 Olympics Nikolai KRUGLOV: I will receive prize money and redeem my father's medals.

- When did it happen?

In 1998, shortly after the default. We then lived in Nizhny Novgorod. The parents are still there. And I moved to Khanty-Mansiysk, where there are better conditions for training.

How much did these awards sell for?

How much are these rarities worth now?

I don't know... I think that they cost collectors at least three times more than they were sold. That is, 15 thousand. But now it’s not the money that I feel sorry for, but the relics themselves, which are priceless to me. If there was time, I would have taken up the search seriously. After all, by and large this is my profession.

- What is your specialization?

Fight against economic crimes.

- Do you think that after the end of your career this will be your main profession?

I don't want to guess. You know what kind of world we live in. How things change. I want to say only one thing, that I do not shy away from any work. If necessary, ready to run after crooks.

- From the biathlete Kruglov, perhaps, you will run away ...

President of the Russian Biathlon Union, four-time Olympic champion Alexander TIKHONOV: Kruglov Sr. and I won this "gold" in Innsbruck

We met Kruglov Sr. in the mid-70s, and in 1976 we won the relay together in the Olympic Innsbruck. Kolya then also won at a distance of 20 km. He was a powerful biathlete, stubborn. Evil in sports. Innsbruck was his main triumph. And five years later, Kolka Jr. was born.

- When Kruglov Sr. began to train his son?

Yes, in fact, from the cradle. I put on skis at the age of three.

- Do you know that Kruglov Sr. had to sell medals in order to take his son to the training camp?

I heard from others, but it's inconvenient to ask about it myself. Nikolai Konstantinovich, out of old friendship, somehow turned to me for assistance. I organized a couple of training camps for them, and then, after looking at Kolya Jr. in action, I insisted that he be included in compound national team. I believed in him and he fired.

- Nikolai Konstantinovich still trains his son?

Officially, he is coached by the mentors of the national team Savinov and Zakharov. But my father is always there. He came to Turin as a tourist and visited every biathlon race. He was the first to congratulate his son on the "silver" in the relay.

- Kolya told us that he dreams of redeeming his father's two gold medals with the prize money earned.

He told me about it too. I promised him: if the medals have to be redeemed for a lot of money, I will help.
kp.ru

Nikolai Kruglov Sr.: Why should my son return the medals to me? Why play heroism? This way we will get to the point where he will have to sell his medals in order to buy mine. They have increased in price now, and it is not known how much.

Nevertheless, Nikolai managed to buy one of his father's medals.
Six months after the Olympics, one of the coveted medals surfaced at an auction. Kruglov Jr. found out about this with the help of sports patrons and managed to buy Innsbruck's "gold". The issue price was not disclosed. But, according to rumors, the starting price of the lot was $30,000. After the auction, it increased to 50 thousand. Nikolay is in search of a second medal, but he fears that collectors will raise the price for it even higher than for the first.
vesti70.ru

Nikolai Konstantinovich has always been a reliable support and support for his son. Father - as an experienced athlete, was for Kolya not only a personal trainer and consultant, but also a spiritual mentor. At the Olympics in Turin, Kruglov Sr. was present at every race and was the first to congratulate Kolya on the “silver”.

REAL PRICE OF OLYMPIC GOLD

What is "gold" made of?

1896 - Athens (Greece)

Olympic medals, in fact, have a rather low real material value. Manufacturers of the modern Olympic "gold" claim that its price is about 130 dollars.

The modern second and third place awards are made entirely of silver and bronze, respectively. And the technology for making gold medals is more complicated: a layer of pure gold is applied to the silver base. Only this gold is only 6 grams.

But there were also times when championship awards acquired value, not only being on the chest of the winner, but also worth a lot in themselves. However, the champions were given medals made entirely of gold for only four Olympiads. The last of these games were the 5th Games of 1912 in Stockholm.

1912 - Stockholm (Sweden)

Classics and innovations

A standard modern Olympic medal has a diameter of at least 6 centimeters, a thickness of 3 millimeters, and the weight, shape, and informational and artistic content is limited only by the imagination of designers. As a rule, designers prefer not to experiment with the form, sticking to the classical one. But there must be exceptions to the rules. Already for the second Olympic Games of our time in 1900, the French distinguished themselves - they made medals ... rectangular.

1900 - Paris (France)

On XVII Summer Games in Rome, a standard round medal was framed by a bronze laurel wreath.

1960 - Rome (Italy)

More recently, in 2006, the Italians showed off - the medals of the Turin Winter Olympics were a disc of precious metal ... with a hole in the middle.

2006 - Turin (Italy)

Although the Greek goddess Nika has been and remains the favorite character of the medal design, each country that hosted the Games tried to give the awards some kind of national flavor - to depict some kind of architectural structure or monument that is a symbol of the capital of the Olympics or the entire host country of the Games.

That's just not always the officials of the International Olympic Committee gave space for design ideas to fly. Thanks to the efforts of the Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli, there was a real stagnation in the "medal art" - the appearance of the awards did not change for almost fifty years. All due to the fact that the design proposed by him in 1928 was so liked by the Olympic Committee that he obliged the organizers of all subsequent Games to use only it. And such "standard" awards lasted until the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

1928 - Amsterdam (Holland)

21 grams of gold and a pound of Utah

Much more often than design - at almost every Olympics - the weight of awards changes. On average, one gold medal weighs about 200 grams, but there were also very light medals - only 21 grams - such were the winners of the III and IV Olympic Games. But it was pure gold! Well, the heaviest in history Olympic competitions turned out to be the Salt Lake City medals. Each of them weighed ... half a kilo. They had an irregular shape and resembled pebbles turned by waves.

2002 - Salt Lake City (USA)

By the way, the Americans then broke all the records of originality. They made the medals for the Salt Lake City Games not only the heaviest and most unformatted, but also made them from exclusive materials. Champions and medalists of Salt Lake City received not just awards, but "a piece of Utah." The medals were made from metals mined exclusively in the state. It's good that there are no uranium mines there... It's a joke.

What can you bring from Beijing

The Chinese for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing also figured out how to excel. There have never been such medals in the Olympic history - an insert of jade was made into the precious metal. The medal combined Olympic symbols and motifs of the ancient historical culture of China. On the front side of the medal, the permanent winged goddess Nike is engraved in a sports arena surrounded by stands. On the reverse side there is an image of a running man, whose features add up to the hieroglyph "ching" - "capital" written in cursive. A red silk ribbon with a traditional Chinese ornament of white clouds, symbolizing happiness, is attached to the dragon-shaped bow. A whole set of accessories is attached to the medal: a certificate, a ribbon clip, and a case for storing the medal, painted in traditional Chinese colors - red and gold. For the manufacture of gold medals, copper concentrate with a gold content was supplied from the Chilean mines and copper cathodes for bronze production and manufacturing bronze medals. Silver for gold and silver awards was brought from Australia.

Olympic bonuses

The organizers of the Games were not always generous. At the first revived Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896, the winners were awarded certificates, wreaths of olive branches and silver medals. Athletes who showed the second result received bronze medals and laurel wreaths, those who took third place went home empty-handed.

But even in antiquity, there was a tradition that the governments of countries support and encourage their Olympians, adding some bonuses to their awards. IN Ancient Greece, for example, olympionists, as they were then called, received after their triumph 500 drachmas - at that time this was a fortune. At the current exchange rate, it will pull on a hundred thousand dollars. In addition, athletes were entitled to free meals and tickets to the front rows of ancient theaters.

At the revived Games of 1896, the postal clerk Spyridon Louis, who won the marathon race, among numerous prizes and the status of the national hero of Greece, received a ton of chocolate, 10 cows and 30 rams, as well as lifelong tailor and hairdresser services.

Modern awards for winning the Olympic Games sometimes look more than impressive. For example, Olympic champion figure skater Evgeni Plushenko received $50,000 for his “gold” at the 2006 Games in Turin and a Toyota worth $60,000 from the President of Russia. By the way, in America the work of athletes is estimated much more modestly. Prizes to winners from the US NOC are respectively 25, 15 and 10 thousand dollars for "gold", "silver" and "bronze". The owners of gold medals in swimming receive another 25,000.

Sold "gold"

Sometimes life circumstances develop in such a way that the champions are forced to part with the most valuable sports relic - the Olympic gold medal. This is the situation faced by Russian biathlete Nikolai Kruglov Sr., a two-time Olympic champion in 1976, who sold both of his medals more than a decade ago in order to invest in his son's training.

Our biathlete is not the only one who was forced by circumstances to part with his awards. Recently Polish Olympic champion In swimming, Otilia Jedrzeczak sold her gold medal for winning the 200-meter butterfly at the 2004 Athens Games at an auction for $82,770 to donate the proceeds to a children's oncology clinic.

The owner of three Olympic medals - two silver and one bronze - our legendary weightlifter Valentina Popova keeps her awards at home in a specially equipped locker: “Sell medals? It didn't even cross my mind. My grandmother - I loved her very much, she was wonderful - when I told her that something was not working out for me or complained that someone did not love me, she answered: “There is nothing worse than war, baby.” Now I say the same to my daughter. I mean, I can sell my medals only in such a terrible case ... Only if there is nothing to feed the child with.”
alleyasporta.ru

Each of the new Olympic medals that the athletes put into the piggy bank of Russia's Olympic medals will still be more valuable than any gold. No matter how low the manufacturers estimate its real value, the Olympic gold medal is truly an invaluable reward. She is a symbol, a symbol of the fact that an athlete has achieved the almost impossible - he has become the best of the best..

In Russia, generously endowed with talents in all areas, there are many dynasties that have entered the annals of domestic sports with world-class achievements. But in Nizhny Novgorod, perhaps, only one can, following the Queen group, repeat the cherished phrase: “We are the champions!”. The Kruglov family has three champions of Russia, the world and various Olympiads, and the number of medals for three can hardly be counted.

Destiny to be a champion

Despite the fact that more than a third of a century has passed since the stunning victories of Nikolai Konstantinovich Kruglov in domestic and world biathlon tournaments, he is still in the center of attention of sports fans and the Russian media. Two-time Olympic champion, three-time world champion, multiple champion The USSR, Honored Master of Sports, Honored Coach of Russia, Kruglov, is still in a fighting mood and is ready, if necessary, to storm the Olympic peaks with no less enthusiasm than in his younger years.

I chose sports, and I understand that there was no other way, - says Ikolay Konstantinovich. - My brother Alexander taught me to ski, and I began to win competitions. The choice of biathlon is in a sense an accident, a coincidence, but I would say - a fate that is given from above. Imagine, while serving in the army, I came to the city of Zlatoust for a skiing training camp and suddenly I meet my friend, who was called up six months after me. I ask: "How did you get here?" He says: “Now I am doing biathlon in CSKA in Moscow. Do you want me to ask you to try? I tried and everything worked out. Six months later, I was called to CSKA for further service and biathlon.

After his dismissal from the army, Kruglov was invited to Russian team biathletes, and he immediately won the All-Union Youth Championship. He quickly became a master of sports, got into the national team of the Soviet Union. Since then, annual victories have become a habit for him: at the Olympics, at the national and world championships.

- When athletes stand on a pedestal, both young and adults cry, - says Nikolai Konstantinovich. - Victory is very difficult. It takes years of work to beat an opponent in 60 or 100 meters. Before a responsible start, you analyze all the mistakes, keep diaries, study yourself thoroughly. You are always focused on this, because this is not football, in biathlon a lot depends on the athlete personally. The tension is huge, and whoever does not burn out wins. But it is also hard to win for a long time, it is always easier to win than to repeat the result. In general, the burden of responsibility to the Motherland, to the people is enormous. I was shaking at the Olympics precisely because of this - the whole country is looking at me, and I have to win. In the West, there is a powerful psychological relief: today you won, tomorrow you lost, and no one demands supernatural things from you. And here it is as if a gun is pointed at your temple - as before in the Soviet Union, and now.

Having ended his sports career in the early 80s, Nikolai Konstantinovich coached the CSKA team, taught at the Gorky Anti-Aircraft Missile School, and for several years was the director sports school No. 5 in Nizhny Novgorod. In the difficult 90s of the twentieth century, he financed the trips of Nizhny Novgorod athletes to competitions, lending his own money. Despite all the difficulties, he managed to make his son a champion, who became his main coaching achievement. He was ready to train athletes further, but for many years ski resort in Nizhny was not, and in sports schools there was no elementary - skiing. Everything has changed in recent years.

Sport today has become more complex, commercialization has affected many aspects, - says Nikolai Konstantinovich. - We used to run for diplomas, but now - for money. I, as an Olympic champion, received less than a second-class, because he worked in three places, and I in one. In a way, everyone was equal. But I am satisfied with the result of my life - money is not the main thing. I think that sport will not hurt my grandchildren either. In any case, they will have no less intelligence, and perhaps more, than others. Children grow up on the living example of their parents. Therefore, a dynasty is obtained if people work purposefully and purposefully.

Sports Methodist

Already a biathlete, but not yet a champion, in 1972, while entering the Gorky branch of the Leningrad Institute of Physical Education named after P.F. Lesgaft, Nikolai Konstantinovich met his future wife Galina Alexandrovna. She was engaged athletics, participated in competitions at the level of the national team of trade unions. A common cause united young people, and later the whole Kruglov family.

- In the years of our youth, there was practically no other way - many went in for sports, - recalls Galina Aleksandrovna. - I chose it as a profession on my own, without any influence from my parents, but, unfortunately, after the birth of my daughter, I had to leave the sport. My limit is a candidate for master of sports.

Galina Alexandrovna became a sports worker: she worked in the district, then the city committee of physical education, in the regional sports school at the education department. Since 1990, she has been engaged in methodological work at the Nizhny Novgorod School Olympic reserve, being one of the old-timers of this forge of sports personnel. Its task is to help in training athletes of high ranks, the specifics training process which are associated with certain difficulties. When an athlete is at a training camp for a long time, the school a short time he has a lot to do.

- In our family, it seemed natural that children would play sports. We did not have grandparents, so they were always in the atmosphere of the things we were doing. I think that in sports family it cannot be otherwise. Of course, my husband had to be away from home for a long time, leaving for training camps, but during periods of his return, we often went skiing with the whole family in our free time. We devoted our whole lives to children and are pleased with the results. We are proud of our children, and I want to believe that they are proud of us too. But the key to success is hard work. Not only coaches and educators should work, but also the athlete himself. It is customary to think that they are narrow-minded people, but this is an outdated myth. An athlete will not work out of a fool, especially in our time.

Gymnastics that won biathlon

Until now, Nikolai Konstantinovich regrets that the eldest daughter of the Kruglovs, Larisa, did not become a biathlete - he believes that she had the ability for this. But the girl connected her life with rhythmic gymnastics and does not regret it. She began to study at the age of 5 and achieved great success in this field. In 1988, Larisa became a three-time champion of Russia in the group exercise, the first of the Nizhny Novgorod gymnasts of the younger generation. Once upon a time, the famous Gorky resident Natalya Tishina (Sergeeva), Larisa's coach, achieved high results in such competitions. But after her success, our compatriots remained without victories for a long time.

Usually they leave gymnastics at the age of 16, but Larisa continued to practice until the age of 20. The Nizhny Novgorod team was constantly missing one gymnast, and in order to support the national team, Larisa made a certain self-sacrifice, because she had to fight overweight, follow a diet. In parallel with the performances, she began working as a coach: first with juniors, and for the last five years with adult gymnasts. In 2004, she became an honored coach of Russia. It is interesting that this honorary title was awarded to Larisa Kirnus earlier than her famous father. The fact is that biathletes have a slightly more complicated award system: the coach's wards must win in different competitions for two years.

IN last years Larisa works in a joint team of coaches at sports school No. 16 and the Nizhny Novgorod Olympic Reserve School. This team has brought up many champions of Europe and the world, as well as the Olympic Games. Every year, the team of their pupils wins prizes at the championships and championships of Russia. For the training of athletes highly qualified Larisa Kirnus was twice awarded the Nizhny Novgorod Prize.

- My 16-year-old son Robert has been playing badminton for many years, but for a long time he could not decide on a further sports direction, - says Larisa Kirnus. - 10-year-old daughter Vika is engaged in rhythmic gymnastics and wins prizes in competitions of various levels . And of course, a living example of an uncle is very important for children - my brother Nikolai, for whom they ardently cheered together with our whole family during his performances.

Philosopher-athlete-official

Nikolai Kruglov Jr. is unique in many ways. By the number of medals, this is one of the most titled biathletes of his generation: four-time world champion, multiple winner and medalist of the World Cup stages and silver medalist of the 2006 Olympic Games. Parents joke that their son started walking and skiing at the same time. The Kruglovs lived on Gorky Street and on weekends went for a walk in Kulibinsky Park, where two-year-old Kolya mastered skiing. People from all over the neighborhood went to look at him: the child is not visible because of the sticks, and he is already an athlete. Yes, and his equipment was first-class, because in the country then there were no mass-market skis. Until now, these skis are kept in the family as a relic. When Nicholas became professional athlete, the old women who remembered him as a child always cheered for him.

The young man immediately began to win on ski competitions different levels. But his father set him a task: until you become the national champion in cross-country skiing, there is nothing for you to do in biathlon. And when his son, studying in the 11th grade, became the champion of Russia among young men, Nikolai Konstantinovich began to train him. The 90s of the 20th century in Russia were very difficult, for many people absolutely penniless. Kruglov Sr. sold everything he could - a house in the village and his Olympic medals to buy his son necessary equipment. The rifle then cost 9 thousand rubles, a lot of money at that time.

Arriving for the first time at the European Championship, Kruglov Jr. immediately won three races. This shocked everyone: he was a young, promising athlete, nothing more! Later, he would shock everyone more than once not only with his victories, but also with the decision to leave the sport at the peak of fame and success. However, for Nicholas, gifted in various fields, sport has never been the only meaning of life. As a child, he began to speak early, and immediately in clever phrases. He was developed beyond his years, studied well and left the 40th mathematical school for the school of the Olympic reserve with only one "four" - in the Russian language. Not surprisingly, after one of the victories, Kruglov, who speaks two languages, held a press conference in English. After working for six months as a press secretary at UTair, in 2011 Nikolai became Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Policy Nizhny Novgorod region where he worked for almost three years.

- Thanks to sports, I understood a lot, says Kruglov Jr. - To achieve something, you need to want it very much, with all your being. It happens that circumstances are against a person, but he wants something very much and always achieves a result. At the first Olympiad, I had neither experience nor regalia, but I madly wanted to win. Then absolutely everything did not work out: I was far from being in my best shape, the place was not very good, the weather was unlucky, but there was an insane desire to win - and there was a medal, in spite of everything. Although I practically did not sleep for a whole month from excitement and calmed myself by reading books by Radzinsky, whom in ordinary life I would not have paid attention to at all. At the second Olympiad, there were all the conditions for victory, but there was no result. Apparently, in the depths of my soul I did not have that strong desire as before. When you do something for the first time, you do not think about anything, you go to the goal. In sports, an Olympic medal is the most an athlete can dream of, and when you have this medal, it is very difficult to start over. Sport for me is a field on which I can do a lot, and in such a way that it is exemplary. That is why I worked in the ministry for three years. I have experience, knowledge, vision of a way out of this situation. the main task- so that our children do not leave the sport tomorrow. We need to make it interesting for them here, to drag them off the streets, from drugs and other nasty things that are a lot in life today. In general, a person must be a professional in any field, then he will be successful. About ten years ago, I had to turn to a plumber for help, whose working hours were scheduled by the minute for ten days in advance. I am still satisfied with the result of his work and use his advice in everyday life. This example made an indelible impression on me.

Svetlana Vysotskaya

Nikolai Kruglov Jr.

Date of Birth: April 8, 1981
Place of Birth: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Location: Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Height Weight: 180/73
Education: higher, Nizhny Novgorod Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, specialization - "Fight against economic crimes"
Foreign languages: English german
Family status: not married
Hobbies: music, cars

Member of the Russian national team since 2002
Team coach: V.A. Alikin
Personal trainers: N.K.Kruglov, V.P.Zakharov
Club: Dynamo

rifle model: Anschutz
Ski brand: Fischer

Achievements

Honored Master of Sports.
Silver medalist of the World Championship among juniors in sprint, pursuit and relay (Khanty-Mansiysk, 2001).
Silver medalist of the World Championship among juniors in the pursuit and relay (Hochfilzen, Austria, 2000).
Two-time world champion in mixed relay(Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, 2005 and Pokljuka, Slovenia, 2006).
Two-time world champion in the classical relay (Anterselva, Italy, 2007 and Östersund, Sweden, 2008).
Silver medalist of the World Championship in the classical relay (Hochfilzen, Austria, 2005).
Bronze medalist of the World Championship in mixed relay (Östersund, Sweden, 2008)
Silver medalist of the 2006 Winter Olympics relay race. (Turin, Italy.)
Winner of three races in the World Cup: Pursuit in Pokljuka in 2005, Sprint and Pursuit in Oberhof in 2007.
The total number of hits in the top three at the World Cup stages (excluding relay races) is 13.
World Cup 2001-2002 - 80th place World Cup 2002-2003 - 42nd place World Cup 2003-2004 - 14th place World Cup 2004-2005 - 8th place World Cup 2005-2006 - 20th place World Cup 2006-2007 - 8th place World Cup 2007-2008 - 9th place
In the 2004-2005 season, he had absolutely better stats shooting in the World Cup (total 91%, prone 92%, standing 90%).

I started skiing for the first time at the age of two. In junior school age Nikolai managed to visit the section table tennis, but relations with tennis did not work out: Nikolai often skipped training and soon had to leave tennis. Finally skiing took his own at the end of the seventh grade, when he was invited to the SDUSHOR No. 5. The results were not long in coming. According to the results of performances in the first season, Nikolai Kruglov entered the top ten strongest skiers in the region. In the eighth grade, he moved to the school of the Olympic reserve No. 1, where Yuri Kuzmin became his mentor. Two years later, his father took up the preparation, and in the eleventh grade, Nikolai became the champion of Russia among young men.

But biathlon in the Nizhny Novgorod region practically did not develop. In the mid-90s, Nikolai's father sold Olympic gold medals so that his son could continue playing sports. In the summer of 1999, an official invitation was received from Kolya to join the Russian national team and go to the first training camp. Since 2000, he began to show good results at junior competitions, getting on the podium, and in 2002 he was included in the main Russian team.

The silver medalist of the Games in Turin, Nikolai Kruglov, bought back his father's Olympic medals, which he sold to finance his son's preparation for the Olympics. When one of the two gold medals surfaced at one of the auctions, Kruglov Jr. found out about this and, with the help of sports patrons, bought Innsbruck's "gold". According to rumors, the starting price of the lot was $30,000.
Not long before the 2006 Olympics, Nikolai moved to Khanty-Mansiysk in order to have decent conditions for training.

After the Vancouver Olympics, Nikolai announced the completion of his sports career in 2010 year. The athlete explained his decision by the lack of motivation.
After completing his sports career, he worked as a press secretary for UTair, which, when he was an athlete, was his sponsor. On October 22, 2010, Nikolay Kruglov headed the federation of ski racing and biathlon of the Nizhny Novgorod region. And since January 2011, Nikolai Kruglov became Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

He was one of the consultants for the film "Champions". Quite often he acts as a co-commentator for biathlon races on various channels.