Alexandra Zabelina
Encyclopedia
Alexándra Zabélina is a former Soviet Olympic
fencer
. She won gold in the women's team foil
at the 1960
, 1968
and 1972 Summer Olympics
.
She was the World Champion in 1957 and 1967. She won the Silver Prize winner of 1961 and 1966 World Championships in the individual championship. The World Champion in 1956, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1971. The Silver Prize winner of 1959, 1962, 1967 and 1969 World Championships in team championship.
gold medals, and a twenty three-time USSR Champion.
Her career started back in the far 1950s. Many years ago she occasionally came to the Dynamo club salle. Earlier in her childhood she was enthusiastically going in for gymnastics and even achieved the first success, but had to quit due to a trauma. Then a neighbour took her to his coach, R. I. Chernysheva, the Honoured Master of Sports in the fencing
section of Dynamo sports club. Already at the third training session Raisa Ivanovna said: "Shurochka, you will be the World Champion." Later Zabelina joined the group led by Ivan Ilyich Manayenko, where she trained together with her team-partners and friends, the future stars of national fencing G. Gorohova, V. Rastvorova, J. Rylsky, L. Romanov.
Zabelina attended the World Championship in Paris
in 1957. At the time fencing was held on a pool system with no knock-outs, and those who reached the final competitions had to have up to 40 bouts per day. The foiler’s bouts were over after midnight, when only few spectators stayed in the fencing salle. Zabelina, an unknown Soviet fencer, won the competition. The next day, the journalists and fans were looking for Zabelina in the fencing salle.
Zabelina participated in the Olympics
for the first time in 1960, in Rome
. This was followed by the 1968 Olympics in Mexico
, and the 1972 Olympics in Munich
. She missed the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo
, when she was expecting her son. Three times she became an Olympic Champion in team competitions.
"If all three my Olympic Games are compared, the latter ones were the most difficult," Zabelina recalls. "Before Munich
, I had faced a global challenge to win the USSR championship. Only the gold medal at the Championship could open me the way to the Olympics. Hence, with the young athletes at my heels, I had to prove that I am stronger again and again. At the Olympics, there was a fascinating start and a tragic outcome. The events were very well organized, widely publicized and it looked nothing could go wrong in that perfect mechanism. However, everything was ruined by Palestinian terrorists, who captured the team of Israel
. Unfortunately, the majority of hostages were killed in the counter-terrorist operation. A military regime was introduced in the Olympic Village
. The women-athletes were relocated to the men’s hostel, there were tanks standing nearby, the streets of the villages were patrolled by militants. The Olympics
were on the verge of collapse. We were waiting, and the competitions were postponed from day to day. I should say, our nerves were at the limit. That is why the victory at the Olympics in Munich
is of a special value."
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
fencer
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
. She won gold in the women's team foil
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
at the 1960
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, 1968
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
and 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
.
She was the World Champion in 1957 and 1967. She won the Silver Prize winner of 1961 and 1966 World Championships in the individual championship. The World Champion in 1956, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1971. The Silver Prize winner of 1959, 1962, 1967 and 1969 World Championships in team championship.
Biography
Zabélina was the first Soviet World Champion, the winner of three OlympicSummer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
gold medals, and a twenty three-time USSR Champion.
Her career started back in the far 1950s. Many years ago she occasionally came to the Dynamo club salle. Earlier in her childhood she was enthusiastically going in for gymnastics and even achieved the first success, but had to quit due to a trauma. Then a neighbour took her to his coach, R. I. Chernysheva, the Honoured Master of Sports in the fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
section of Dynamo sports club. Already at the third training session Raisa Ivanovna said: "Shurochka, you will be the World Champion." Later Zabelina joined the group led by Ivan Ilyich Manayenko, where she trained together with her team-partners and friends, the future stars of national fencing G. Gorohova, V. Rastvorova, J. Rylsky, L. Romanov.
Zabelina attended the World Championship in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1957. At the time fencing was held on a pool system with no knock-outs, and those who reached the final competitions had to have up to 40 bouts per day. The foiler’s bouts were over after midnight, when only few spectators stayed in the fencing salle. Zabelina, an unknown Soviet fencer, won the competition. The next day, the journalists and fans were looking for Zabelina in the fencing salle.
Zabelina participated in the Olympics
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
for the first time in 1960, in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. This was followed by the 1968 Olympics in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and the 1972 Olympics in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. She missed the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, when she was expecting her son. Three times she became an Olympic Champion in team competitions.
"If all three my Olympic Games are compared, the latter ones were the most difficult," Zabelina recalls. "Before Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, I had faced a global challenge to win the USSR championship. Only the gold medal at the Championship could open me the way to the Olympics. Hence, with the young athletes at my heels, I had to prove that I am stronger again and again. At the Olympics, there was a fascinating start and a tragic outcome. The events were very well organized, widely publicized and it looked nothing could go wrong in that perfect mechanism. However, everything was ruined by Palestinian terrorists, who captured the team of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Unfortunately, the majority of hostages were killed in the counter-terrorist operation. A military regime was introduced in the Olympic Village
Olympic Village
An Olympic Village is an accommodation centre built for an Olympic Games, usually within an Olympic Park or elsewhere in a host city. Olympic Villages are built to house all participating athletes, as well as officials, athletic trainers, and other staff. Since the Munich Massacre at the 1972...
. The women-athletes were relocated to the men’s hostel, there were tanks standing nearby, the streets of the villages were patrolled by militants. The Olympics
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
were on the verge of collapse. We were waiting, and the competitions were postponed from day to day. I should say, our nerves were at the limit. That is why the victory at the Olympics in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
is of a special value."