Denis Sukhanov

He started to learn sambo in the first grade of primary school in Mekhonskoye. 

- Our classes were held in the Usoltsevsky club, and after it was closed, they were transferred to the basement, - recalls Denis. - Despite the poor conditions, my friends and I never missed a single training session.

His first competition, where he took third place, was also held in rather Spartan conditions - in the gym, which was a converted former... boiler room. But, apparently, this is the only way to develop the character of future champions.

The first coaches of Denis Sukhanov were V.N. Selivanov, and then M.G. Stennikov (twin brother of Valeriy Stennikov, current general director of the UMMC Sambo Club). Their promising trainee managed to show himself quite quickly. Already in 2008, he won the "silver" of the youth Championship of Russia. Sukhanov had a true triumph at the junior level, crowned with victories at the European and World Youth Championships.

In 2018, he came to the UMMC Sambo Club (Verkhnyaya Pyshma) as a mature and established master, but by that time, he had never been a medalist at the Russian championships. And finally, in 2020 he won a silver medal in the main national championship, and a ticket to the European Championship, which was supposed to take place in the autumn of that year in Yekaterinburg, but was canceled due to coronavirus pandemic. A kind of consolation for Denis in this situation was his victory at the World Cup in December 2020.

Graduated from Shadrinsk State Pedagogical Institute. Married, with a son and daughter.

Landmark achievements

• World Cup Winner (2020) 
• Silver medalist of the Russian Championship (2020)  
• Winner of the World Youth Championship (2011) 
• Winner of the European Youth Championship (2009)  
• Winner of the Russian Championship Under 23 y.o. (2014)