History
ON-THE-JOB SAMBO
Sambo is inherently a very democratic sport. It was equally accommodating among students, both in the midst of eminent sports associations and in the so-called working-class neighborhoods. The simplicity of sambo and the absence of any hint of stiffness was appealing to people. Frequently, therefore, after a day's work, workers went to the wrestling room to get fit and learn new skills.
In 1958, the “Uralmash” Sports Club opened a Sambo section. It was headed by Alexey Goncharov who was later succeeded in 1962 by his trainee Alexandr Kozlov. Thus, the great “Uralmash” era of Sverdlovsk sambo began. With golden letters these names will be recorded in the history of our national wrestling: the first World and European sambo champion Alexander Fyodorov, World Cup winner Nikolai Zuev, European champion Sergey Vorobyov.
In 1958, another sambo section under the plant was set up by the alumnus of UPI, Vadim Zankovich.
Thus, sambo took its rise at the Plant named after Kalinin. It was here that Vasily Grozin (Solovyov), the Honored Coach of the USSR, started his sports career. In 1970, Valeriy Nosov created a section in the “Ural” sports club. Subsequently, Yuriy Krokhalev and Lev Kapnik joined the section. The latter trained many outstanding athletes including the prize winner of the USSR Cup Viktor Fedotov.
Finally, in 1982 Sambo was started at the Uralelectrotyazhmash plant. Sergei Beloguzov became the first coach here with Viktor Bolotov as his assistant.