The legend of "Spartacus"

On August 24, 2018, Russian football lost its oldest veteran. At the age of 93, Aleksei Paramonov passed away. A few weeks after the home world championship, the legendary Spartak player was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Paramonov began his football career immediately after the war. In the Great Patriotic War, he worked in military factories. From the “Builder” team, a young athlete joined the Air Force, and then ended up in the ranks of the red-and-whites. Moreover, in the transition he was assisted by the famous commentator Nikolai Ozerov - it was he who advised the club management to take this player.

As part of the Moscow "Spartak" Paramonov spent 12 years, during which four times became the champion of the USSR and twice raised above the Cup of the country. For the midfielder, he had a good goal assist, noting 73 scored goals in 302 meetings. In the national team, he played in the period from 1954 to 1957 and won the gold medal of the Games in Melbourne.

In 1959, Paramonov completed his career as a football player and decided to try himself in the coaching field. For more than 20 years, he worked at the headquarters of the USSR national team of various ages, as well as the Tunisian Etoile du Sahel. From 1981 to 1991, he served as executive secretary in the country's Football Federation, and after that - as chairman of the RFU veterans committee.

“Alexey Alexandrovich was and will always remain a true legend of the national sport, the idol of many generations of football fans, fans of the Spartak club,” said a telegram from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who expressed condolences to relatives and friends of Paramonov.

  • Alexey Paramonov
  • globallookpress.com
  • © Nataliya Kondratenko

Olympic champion

Since childhood, Sergey Litvinov was fond of sports, devoting a lot of time playing football and wrestling, but he achieved the greatest success in hammer throwing. In this he was helped by the honored coach of the USSR Igor Timashkov, who, while still at school, noticed the talent of the young Sergey. The Olympic Games in Moscow were a high point for the athlete, in which he won the silver medal, losing only to his compatriot Yuri Sedykh.

Because of the decision of the Soviet Union to boycott the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Litvinov received his second chance to win gold at the Games only in 1988. He brilliantly took advantage of this opportunity and took first place in Seoul, setting a new competition record (86.04 meters). This achievement has not yet been beaten.

The asset Litvinova also appear two victories in the world championships. At the same time, the tournament of 1983, in which Sergey once again collided with his long-term rival - Yuri Sedykh, is particularly noteworthy. After the defeat at the Olympics in Moscow, Litvinov finally took a long-awaited revenge, almost two meters ahead of Yuri.

Litvinov continued to speak up to 35 years. By this time, he represented the national team of Russia, in which he became the champion of Europe in 1993. But at the championship of the planet in Stuttgart, Litvinov was only the seventh. After this failure, he decided to leave the sport.

In recent years, the legendary hammer thrower was engaged in coaching, in particular, collaborated with his son, Sergei Litvinov, the youngest. The athlete died on February 19 in Sochi at the age of 60. On the way to the base of the team, he suddenly felt bad and fell off the bike. The ambulance workers arrived in the shortest possible time, but could not save the life of the famous athlete.

  • Sergey Litvinov Sr.
  • RIA News
  • © Yuri Somov

Queen of court

In summer, the legendary Maria Bueno passed away. Brazilian tennis player has achieved tremendous success in both singles and doubles, winning 19 Grand Slam tournaments and a huge number of competitions at various levels in her career.

The representatives of the family of Bueno tennis was, as they say, in the blood. Her mother and father played at a semi-professional level, and her brother even represented the country's national team in the Davis Cup. It is not surprising that Maria also decided to try herself in this sport and at an early age achieved great success. In less than 15 years, she became the winner of both the junior and adult championships in Brazil, and four years later, she first appeared at competitions in Europe.

The first successful stage of Bueno’s career began in 1958. Together with American Althea Gibson, she won her first title at the Grand Slam tournament in London. She then added to the track record and wins singles, winning Wimbledon and the US Open in a row. And in 1960, she forever inscribed her name in the history of tennis. The Brazilian won the Grand Slam in the doubles and, thus, for the year gained the upper hand in all four major tennis competitions.

In 1961, Bueno was forced to suspend his career. After Roland Garros, the athlete became ill with hepatitis, because of which she spent almost eight months off the court. When she returned, Maria confirmed her status as one of the most successful tennis players in history, winning ten more titles in Grand Slam tournaments (four in singles, six in doubles).

In recent years, the Brazilian tennis player's career has been complicated by a hand injury. He played his role and the departure from the sport of her long-time rival - the legendary Margaret Gene Court, who won 62 Grand Slam tournaments during her career. Apparently, after that the Brazilian lost interest in the game.

It is noteworthy that for its incredible services, Bueno was included in the International Tennis Hall of Fame two years before the end of his career - in 1978.

Bueno died on June 8 at the age of 78. In recent years, she has struggled with a serious illness - oral cancer. Two days before her death, the athlete was taken to the hospital, but could not be saved. Her memory was honored before the final match of the women's single tournament "Roland Garros" - for a minute on the court of Philip Shatrie applause sounded in her honor.

  • Maria Bueno carries the Olympic flame before the start of the 2016 Olympics
  • globallookpress.com
  • © imago sportfotodienst

Summer Olympic Views

In 2018, the world sport lost many famous athletes, multiple champions of their countries, the world and Europe, as well as medalists of the Olympic Games.

On April 6, the famous weightlifter Alexander Kurlovich passed away. During his career, a native of Grodno set 12 world records, four times won gold medals at the world championships and twice at the Olympics. He died at the age of 56 from heart failure.

On November 22, the two-time Olympic champion Soslan Andiyev did not. After graduating from his grandiose sporting career, he became a famous coach, also served as the Minister of Sports of North Ossetia.

  • Exiled Andiev
  • globallookpress.com
  • © Alexander Chernykh

On August 16, at the age of 49, the renowned gymnast Elena Shushunova passed away. She is a two-time Olympic winner and five-time world champion. Cause of death of the famous athlete became pneumonia.

February 19, the famous athlete and honored rowing coach Yury Tyukalov died. In addition to success in the sports field, where he became a two-time Olympic champion, an athlete at a young age defended his country during World War II, for which he was awarded the medal "For the Defense of Leningrad." He was 87 years old.

Also in the summer there was no Olympic champion in foil fencing Valentina Rastvorova. The star hour of the Dynamo was the Olympics of 1960 in Rome, in which she won team competitions and also won silver in the individual tournament. The athlete died on August 24 at the age of 86.

On March 19, her age mate, the disc thrower Irina Beglyakova, was gone. In 1956, the athlete won silver at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, and subsequently was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor.

At the age of 82 years, died bronze medalist of the world championship in rhythmic gymnastics Lilia Nazmutdinova. She was one of the pioneers in this form in the Soviet Union, becoming the first honored master of sports of the USSR and four times absolute champion of the country. She was gone September 18th.

  • Lilia Nazmutdinova
  • © minsport.midural.ru

On January 1, at the age of 97, American runner Clifford Borland passed away. A native of Los Angeles showed great promise in sports and became the champion of the United States among amateurs, but was forced to postpone his career because of the Second World War. Upon return, he performed at the 1948 Olympics in London, where he became a champion in the 4 × 400 m relay.

Winter Olympic views

On September 25, at the age of 74, the famous Soviet skier Vladimir Voronkov died suddenly. At the Sapporo Olympics, he was part of the team that won the gold in the 4 × 10 km relay race.

The murder of a 25-year-old Kazakhstan figure skater Denis Ten was a real shock for world sports. The bronze medalist of the Olympic Games in Sochi received a deep stab wound during a fight with attackers who were trying to remove the mirrors from his car. The athlete died in hospital on June 19th.

  • Denis Teng
  • Reuters
  • © Lucy Nicholson

Tragic was the death of titled skier Vibeke Skofterud. July 29 Olympic champion Vancouver in the relay was found on the shores of one of the islands in southern Norway. Presumably, the athlete died in a jet-ski accident. She was 38 years old.

Football and hockey

November 29, the famous Soviet footballer Viktor Matvienko died on the 71st year of his life. A native of Zaporozhye, became famous for his performances for Dynamo Kyiv, which included winning the USSR championship four times, and in 1975 won the Cup Winners' Cup. In the national team, he became the bronze medalist of the Olympic Games and the silver - European Championship.

Shock was the death of Italy defender David Astori. On March 4, the footballer was found dead in his room before the game with Udinese. The cause of death was called bradyarrhythmia. He was only 31 years old.

  • Davide Astori
  • globallookpress.com
  • © Maurizio Borsari

On April 23, famous football player Vladimir Weiss passed away. He not only became the silver medalist of the Olympics in Tokyo, but also brought up a whole galaxy of Slovak athletes. Currently, his son is the head of the Georgian national team, and his grandson performs in Qatari Al-Garafe.

Also in 2018, the famous Soviet hockey player Viktor Tyumenev was not. He achieved the main successes in his career with the national team, in which he won the Games of 1984, and also became the world champion three times. He took part in the famous Super Series 1985/86, in which CSKA played with the NHL clubs. The athlete replaced Igor Larionov and more than successfully held a tournament. He passed away on August 2 at the age of 61.

On December 28, Yevgeny Zimin, two-time Olympic champion in hockey, passed away. In 1972, he took part in the famous Super Series with Canada, becoming the author of the first abandoned puck into the opponent's goal. At the end of his career he worked as a coach and commentator.

Game types

July 29 did not become famous handball player Elena Parshkova. In recent years, the athlete was seriously ill, and at the age of 41 she passed away. During her career, she became the national champion three times, and in 2001 she won the world championship.

He suffered serious losses and basketball. At 72, the year passed away, the celebrated American player Joe Joe White. Most of his career he spent in the “Boston Celtics”, with whom he twice became the champion of the NBA. And in 1976, he was recognized as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final.

On January 31, the former Oklahoma City Thunder player Resul Butler died in a car accident. The 38-year-old athlete, who was in the car with his girlfriend, lost control of the car, then hit the wall.

On October 10, at the age of 96, the legendary American trainer, the creator of the triangular attack Tex Winter, died. Most of his career worked as an assistant to Phil Jackson in the "Chicago Bulls" and "Los Angeles Lakers", who helped win nine championship titles.

Functionaries

In the autumn of 2018, the football club Leicester City lost its owner. Vishai Srivaddanaprabha acquired the club in 2010. During his reign, for the first time in history, he became the winner of the English Premier League (Premier League). On October 27, after the match with West Ham, the helicopter carrying the team leader took off, but soon lost control and crashed into the parking lot at King’s Power Stadium. Thai businessman was 60 years old.

  • Vishai Srivaddanaprabh
  • Reuters
  • © Jorge Silva

A few days earlier, the Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Patrick Bauman passed away. A well-known functionary died on October 14 as a result of a heart attack during a visit to the Summer Youth Olympic Games. 51-year-old Swiss led the organization since 2003.

In March, Tom Benson, long-term owner of New Orleans sports clubs, left the world. For 33 years, the businessman led the New Orleans Saints football team, and from 2012 he took control of the basketball team, New Orleans Pelicans. He died on March 15 at the age of 91.

On October 25, the fourth president of the National Hockey League (NHL), John Ziegler, Jr., passed away. He became the first American to occupy this position, and led the organization for 15 years.