Magadan family of nine earns top honor for sports and academic excellence
MAGADAN, March 31 – Lawmakers in Magadan serving on the Standing Committee for Social Policy reviewed a petition to award the Zavgorodnykh family—the parents of seven children—the Order of Parental Glory and unanimously endorsed it. The committee also considered a draft resolution introducing a new award category for young athletes, "Sports Hope," the Magadan City Duma press service reports.
A key item on the agenda was the petition to honor Sergei Ivanovich and Zinaida Vasilyevna Zavgorodnykh, a large family from Magadan, with the Order of Parental Glory.
The Zavgorodnykhs have been married for nearly 20 years and are raising seven children. From their eldest son, Nikolai, to their youngest, Nadezhda, all of the children are actively involved in sports—judoka, cross-country skiing, and chess—while excelling in academics and the arts. Their eldest son is now a student at a Moscow university, while their daughter Elizaveta is a Candidate Master of Sport in judo, a winner of national competitions, and a recipient of the GTO silver badge. Many of the children hold the mayor's scholarship, earn straight A's, and study IT and Chinese at the Magadan Quantorium children's technopark, in addition to attending art school.
Zinaida Vasilyevna is deeply engaged in public life: she serves as deputy chair of the Magadan regional branch of the All-Russian Automobile Society and administers a major city social media community. In November 2025, she was awarded the Magadan Region's honorary distinction, the "Maternal Glory" medal. Sergei Ivanovich, a former regional weightlifting champion, now devotes himself entirely to his family. The couple has repeatedly participated in the city's "Sports Family" Spartakiad, winning prizes and earning recognition from school administrators for their active role in parent committees.
"Looking at the Zavgorodnykhs, you understand what true parental happiness means. Seven children, each with their own personality and passions, yet all united by one thing—they are growing up in an atmosphere of love, care, and respect for their elders. Zinaida Vasilyevna and Sergei Ivanovich are not just raising remarkable people—they are proving through their example that a large family is not a hardship but a tremendous joy and wealth. We unanimously supported this petition because families like theirs deserve to be seen. Their achievement—quiet, everyday, yet no less meaningful—is something we take immense pride in. We are honored to express our gratitude to them at the highest level," said Pyotr Burmistrov, First Deputy Chair of the Magadan City Duma and Chair of the Standing Committee for Social Policy.
Lawmakers also reviewed a draft resolution, "On Amendments to the Regulations of the Magadan City Duma on Awards for Contributions to Sports Development in the Municipal Formation 'City of Magadan.'"
The proposal introduces a new category—"Sports Hope"—to recognize and encourage young athletes who have achieved outstanding results in team and individual sports, including basketball, volleyball, football, hockey, chess, and table tennis.
The creation of this award holds special significance for young athletes in the region, where competitors in these disciplines face considerable challenges in making it onto the Far Eastern Federal District team. With growing competition in these sports, only a select few have managed to overcome the obstacles and earn the right to represent Magadan Oblast at national tournaments. The new category aims to help young athletes unlock their potential and advance their sporting careers.
