Vyacheslav Nikolayevich Ivanov

Vyacheslav Nikolayevich Ivanov

Vyacheslav Ivanov in 1964
Personal information
Born 30 July 1938
Moscow, Russia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Sport
Sport Rowing
Club Krasnoye Znamya/CSKA, Moscow

Vyacheslav Nikolayevich Ivanov (Russian: Вячеслав Николаевич Иванов; born 30 July 1938) is known to most of the non-Russian speaking world as Vyacheslav Ivanov, was one of the most accomplished rowers of his generation. He rowed for the Soviet Union, and he won the Olympic Gold medals in the single scull at 1956 Melbourne Games, 1960 Rome Games and 1964 Tokyo Games.[1]

Ivanov was the first man to win the single scull event three times in the Olympics. At the time, only Americans John B. Kelly, Sr. and Paul Costello and Briton Jack Beresford had won three Olympic Gold Medals in the sport of rowing (since surpassed by Steven Redgrave and others)). The only other person to match Ivanov's achievement and win three gold medals in the single scull is Finland's Pertti Karppinen.[1]

Rowing career

Vyacheslav Ivanov took up the sport of rowing in 1953. By 1955, at the age of 17 years, he won the USSR junior championships and finished third in the senior championships and beat defending Olympic single scull champion Yuri Tyukalov in the process.

In 1956, Ivanov won his first of his eleven Soviet championship. He went on to take his first European Rowing Championships in Yugoslavia.[2][3]

Ivanov won his first gold medal in rowing's single sculls event in 1956 Olympics as an 18 year old. He was in fourth place at the 1,500 meter mark. With only 500 meters left, he began a devastating sprint, first catching Poland's Teodor Kocerka, then American John B. Kelly, Jr. Finally, with 200 meters to go, he blew past fellow teenager Stuart Mackenzie of Australia who had led the entire race. Mackenzie had momentarily stopped rowing and according to his account Mackenzie believed that he had won the race. When Mackenzie realized his error, he was unable to regain his form. Ivanov went on to win by a 5½ seconds. At the award ceremony, excited, Ivanov dropped his gold medal into Lake Wendouree, where the race took place. His diving attempts to rescue he medal were fruitless, and the IOC later provided him with a replacement.[1]

In both 1957, and 1958, as a prelude to the 1960 Summer Olympic Games, Mackenzie, who was now living in England, defeated Ivanov in the Diamond Challenge Sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta and at the European Rowing Championships.[2][3]

In 1959 Ivanov won the European Rowing Championships for a second time.[3] He also set a World best time of 6:58.8 for a 2000 m single scull race – the first person to break the seven minute barrier.[4]

At the 1960 Olympics, Ivanov won a second time, again with a blistering sprint, defeating East Germany's Achim Hill by 6¼ seconds to claim his second gold medal. Poland's Teodor Kocerka won the bronze medal. Australia's Stuart Mackenzie who had been Ivanov's prime competitor in 1956 withdrew because of illness, spoiling a much anticipated matchup.[1]

In 1962, Ivanov won the first ever World Rowing Championship, again by rowing through the field, and defeating longtime rival Stuart Mackenzie, now rowing for Great Britain, and American newcomer Seymour "Cy" Cromwell who placed third.[4]

Ivanov faced the East German Hill again in the 1964 Olympics. This time he trailed Hill by 7 seconds with 500 m to go, but finished so powerfully that he closed the gap and moved ahead. Ivanov made such a tremendous effort that he briefly blacked out. He regained awareness fifty meters before the finish line to find himself still in the lead and went on to win by 3.73 seconds.[1]

In 1966, Ivanov tasted defeat, finishing sixth and last in the finals of the World Rowing Championship. In addition to the Olympics, Ivanov won the USSR single scull championship 11 straight years (1956–1966) and he won the European Rowing Championships 4 times.[2] He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1960) and two Orders of the Badge of Honor (1957 and 1965).[4]

Life after retirement

In 1960, at the peak of career, Ivanov graduated from a military school, and in 1969 received his master's degree from the Volgograd Institute of Physical Education. After retiring from competitions he served as a navy officer and retired in the rank of captain. He then resumed competing in rowing in the masters category.[4]

Publications

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Vyacheslav Ivanov. sports-reference.com
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Иванов Вячеслав Николаевич. Olympic Encyclopedia (2006)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Rudern – Europameisterschaften (Herren – Einer). sport-komplett.de
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Вячеслав Николаевич ИВАНОВ at the Wayback Machine (archived March 10, 2007). ukrrowing.com.ua

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