The path of the boxer Vladimir Safronov was largely unique to success. In today’s times, it is impossible to imagine that the usual first -discharge falls on the Olympics, not to mention the gold medal. This was all Safronov – he broke stereotypes and went to the goal, no matter what.

Unlike many colleagues, Vladimir managed to find himself after the end of his career. Thus, the news of his death at the age of 44 became the shocking.

A strong man in the body and spirit, who defeated the best boxers of the planet, lost his pernicious habit.

Drawing hobbies and dancing

Safronov was born in Ulan-Ude in 1934 and found the horrors of war. Father was taken to the army, so Volodya had been taken from the life in the family from an early age. Despite a difficult time, the boy managed to engage in various sports, among which were gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, athletics and even ballroom dances. Moreover, the latter constituted an important part of his life. Another love of Safronov was drawing, which he became interested in in the city house of pioneers.

Perhaps it was numerous hobbies that helped Safronov avoid the unenviable fate of many peers, whom the dysfunctional environment pushed to the path of crime.

Boxing appeared in Safronov’s life only at the age of 14, very late by modern standards. Vladimir went to the Pioneer camp, where he met a well -known coach Alexander Rinchinov, who took a young guy under the guardianship. Safronov literally went crazy about boxing and, under the leadership of Rinchinov, was ready to improve his skills for days and nights.

It would seem that such a love of sport was supposed to bring him to a physical education institute, but at the age of 17, Safronov moved to Irkutsk and entered the art school – the craving for creativity did not weaken. At the same time, Boxing Vladimir was not going to throw. The presence of talent for a young athlete was absolutely obvious. He quickly became the best in his city, then in the region, and then won the competitions throughout Siberia and the Far East.

Vladimir Safronov / Photo: © Boxing Federation of Russia

From the First Cop of Olympic Champions

The logical consequence of such achievements was the entry into the national team of the country. Vladimir was not the first number there, so his chances of participating in the Olympics seemed minimal. However, gradually Vladimir improved his indicators and a year before the games in Melbourne was considered a strong second number of the national team.

The leader then was the silver medalist of the European Championship of 1955, Alexander Zasukhin. And here the first riddle appears in the life of Safronov. According to one version, shortly before the Olympiad, Zasukhin received his hand injury, so Vladimir went to Australia. According to another version, which many call more believable, in closed training in Tashkent, Safronov was much stronger than Zasukhin and other applicants for a trip to the games. And in an honest struggle he earned the right to protect the colors of the national flag.

Next is an absolutely cinema story. The boxer, who was at that moment in the status of the first -bit, managed to defeat all rivals in general and became the first Olympic boxing champion in the history of the Soviet Union in boxing. Now even a master of sports is extremely difficult to break into games (mainly all participants have the titles of international sports masters or honored masters). Of course, the leisureness of Soviet officials played a role, who, even before the start of the Olympiad, had to make Safronov a master of sports, but did not have time. The fact remains a fact – almost an amateur destroyed competitors at the main start of the fourth anniversary.

Stanislav Stepashkin and Vladimir Safronov / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Yuri Somov

The end of the career and normal life

Unfortunately, in those years, many Soviet athletes could not withstand the test of copper pipes. But this was the wrong case. Vladimir was not going to leave boxing, the next year he became a winner of the European Championship, then he won the Spartakiad and twice the country’s championship. Yes, he did not get to the next games, but lasted in good shape until 29 years old, when he decided to complete his career. At that time – the age is solid. In the country, they persistently promoted the directive that young people should speak at international starts.

Safronov completed his performances, but quickly found himself in life without boxing. Vladimir moved to Moscow, took a two -room apartment donated for the victory at the Olympics and got a job in the journal Physical Culture and Sports. In addition, Vladimir worked in the Grekov Military Artists studio, issued books of books for various publishers, wrote for the Baikal magazine and even released his own story “The Road to Victory”.

Moreover, he was friends with the director of the legendary cartoon “Well, wait a minute!” Vyacheslav Kotyonochkin, who attracted him to the creation of some episodes. In general, Vladimir often appeared at Soyuzmultfilm and was involved in a bohemian party. He talked and was in good relations with many writers and poets – for example, with Boris Pasternak. And his civilian wife was the star of Soviet cinema Maya Bulgakov.

Boris Pasternak / Photo: © Ullstein Bild DTL. / Contributor / Ullstein Bild / Gettyimages.ru

The mystery of death

Safronov was in demand as an artist, but this did not protect him from the tragedy. The illustrious athlete was gone at 44. Safronov’s acquaintances said that he consumed alcohol, but it was precisely about drunkenness and binge. However, one of the versions of his death is associated with vodka. Allegedly in December 1979, Vladimir received a solid fee of 700 rubles and decided to arrange a holiday on this occasion. The man in an inadequate state was found by neighbors who caused an ambulance several times. Doctors pricked him a sedative, which is why the boxer had a heart attack.

According to another version, on that day Safronov simply hurt his head, which was confirmed by his sister and colleagues. He asked the painkillers, and upon arrival home there was a stroke, as a result of which he had a paralyzed body and tongue. The neighbors considered that he had drunk, and the ambulance arrived in introduced him a sedative, which led to death.

After so many years, we are unlikely to find out what really happened. The fact is that a versatile gifted man who achieved historical achievement for Soviet sports passed away very early.