Discussion in "The Path to Triumph" persists, focusing on significant sporting milestones in our nation between 1941-1945, as detailed by Mikhail Degtyarev.
Unearthed Gems of Wartime Sports: A Look at 1943 and 1944
Delve into the thrilling world of sports in our nation during the period of 1941-1945, as we recount the extraordinary events that took place. You're already familiar with the gripping tales of football in war-torn Leningrad, the revitalized USSR Cup, the legendary 20km race, and the triumphant basketball championship, all amidst the backdrop of the Great Patriotic War. Today, we'll traverse the less-charted territory of several other significant competitions and their champions.
As the autumnal chill took over in 1943, the USSR Weightlifting Championship welcomed its competitors onto the All-Union stage in Gorky. Among the victors gracing the podium were heavyweights such as Grigory Novak, Alexander Bozhko, Yakov Kutsenko, and Moisey Kasyanik. Mitrofan Kosarev rounds off this impressive list of champions.
Just days before this weightlifting triumph, the national athletics Championships unfolded in the same city. A total of 36 medals found worthy owners, with several athletes taking part despite the challenges presented by the war. For instance, the men's 400-meter hurdles and hammer throw saw only two athletes competing for the championship. However, the tournament did boast several intriguing accomplishments.
Estonia's Johannes Kotkas set a new USSR record in the hammer throw with a mighty heave of 53.88 meters. Meanwhile, Nina Dumbadze, a 35-year-old Muscovite, grabbed gold in the 100-meter race, a feat that echoed her previous title-winning performance back in 1927. Interestingly, Nina gleaned her triumph in three distinctive disciplines—sprinting, 4100m relay, and long jump.
Transitioning into 1944, the national championships in boxing, fencing, figure skating, and tennis resumed for the first time following a three-year hiatus. Among the standouts was the supremely talented tennis sensation, Nikolai Ozerov. Though recognized for his future successes as a sports commentator and actor, Ozerov's prowess on the tennis court was already evident before the advent of the war. In 1939, Ozerov secured the USSR Youth Championship, and he claimed his first adult national championship in 1941.
In 1944, Ozerov solidified his dominance on the tennis scene by clinching the men's singles title. He would remain invincible on top of the podium for the subsequent three years, earning himself a place in the history books as the tennis champion with the most gold medals (24) in the USSR championships.
The boxing ring saw another star shine brightly in 1944, as Nikolai Korolev made his mark. At the onset of the war, Korolev, a four-time USSR champion, served as a partisan in the Mitya detachment. An unexpected skirmish showcased Korolev's boxing abilities, which he used to knock out two enemies and subsequently eliminate them with a grenade. After sustaining a concussion during the encounter, Korolev was sent to a hospital for treatment.
Photographs: TASS, RIA Novosti
In the context of the USSR's sports scene during the war, Yakov Kutsenko, a weightlifting champion, also known as Yakov, showcased his brilliance at the 1943 USSR Weightlifting Championship.
The 4100-meter relay saw the participation of Nina Dumbadze, a prominent figure in sports-analysis, who achieved a gold medal at the national athletics Championships in 1943.
In the thrilling world of 1944 national championships, Nikolai Ozerov, a versatile sports sensation, championed not only tennis but also acted as a sports commentator in later years.
Nikolai Korolev, a four-time USSR boxing champion, demonstrated his combat skills during the war, not just in the boxing ring but also in life-or-death situations against the fascists.
Interestingly, the 1944 championship in various sports like boxing, fencing, figure skating, and tennis resumed following a three-year hiatus, marking a significant milestone in the annals of sports history.
