Boris Shilkov
Encyclopedia
Boris Arsenevich Shilkov (born 28 June 1927 in Arkhangelsk
, Russia
) is a former speed skater
.
, Boris Shilkov lived in Leningrad
(now Saint Petersburg
), where he worked as an engineer. He became Soviet Allround Champion in 1953 and made his international debut 3 weeks later at the World Allround Championships
, where he won silver behind teammate and rival Oleg Goncharenko
after having just recovered from an illness. The following year (1954), he became Soviet Allround Champion again (with Goncharenko, again, winning silver), European Allround Champion
(with Goncharenko finishing 4th), and World Allround Champion (with Goncharenko taking the silver – a reversal of the roles of the year before).
In an international meet at Medeo
, on 9 January 1955, Dmitry Sakunenko
became the first person to skate the 5000 m below eight minutes, with 7:54.9. In a later pair Shilkov then improved this world record to 7:45.6. The following year, at the 1956 Winter Olympics
in Cortina d'Ampezzo
, he became Olympic Champion on the 5000 m, finishing only three seconds above his own world record, thus silencing the critics and proving that his world record had not been a fluke.
Despite his impressive 5000 m results, Shilkov had trouble with the 10000 m. This is illustrated by his performances at the World Allround Championships of 1953 (where he won silver), 1955 (where he won bronze), and 1957 (where he won silver): At each of these three World Championships he was in the lead after three distances, but lost too much on the final distance – the 10000 m – to win the title. His bronze medal at the World Championships of 1955 was 0.026 points behind the silver medallist (his eternal rival, Goncharenko) – a mere 0.52 seconds of difference on the 10000 m.
Shilkov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
in 1957.
Shilkov was number one on the Adelskalender – the all-time allround speed skating ranking – for a total of 1,518 days, divided over three periods between 1955 and 1960. He has an Adelskalender score of 182.436 points.
Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
) is a former speed skater
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
.
Short biography
Competing for the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Boris Shilkov lived in Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
(now Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
), where he worked as an engineer. He became Soviet Allround Champion in 1953 and made his international debut 3 weeks later at the World Allround Championships
World Allround Speed Skating Championships
The World Allround Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of the world...
, where he won silver behind teammate and rival Oleg Goncharenko
Oleg Goncharenko
Oleg Georgievich Goncharenko , Distinguished Master of Sports of the USSR, was the first male Soviet speed skater to become World Allround Champion....
after having just recovered from an illness. The following year (1954), he became Soviet Allround Champion again (with Goncharenko, again, winning silver), European Allround Champion
European Speed Skating Championships
The European Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of Europe. The International Skating Union has organised the European Championships for Men since 1893 and the European Championships for Women since 1970. The...
(with Goncharenko finishing 4th), and World Allround Champion (with Goncharenko taking the silver – a reversal of the roles of the year before).
In an international meet at Medeo
Medeo
The Medeu , or Medeo , is an outdoor speed skating and bandy rink. It is located in a mountain valley on the south-eastern outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Medeu sits 1,691 metres above sea level, making it the highest skating rink in the world...
, on 9 January 1955, Dmitry Sakunenko
Dmitry Sakunenko
Dmitry Sakunenko is a former speedskater.At an international meet at Medeo 9-10 January 1955, Sakunenko was the first person to skate the 5000-m below eight minutes, with 7:54.9. In a later pair, Boris Shilkov improved this world record to 7:45.6. On this occasion Sakunenko set a new samalogue...
became the first person to skate the 5000 m below eight minutes, with 7:54.9. In a later pair Shilkov then improved this world record to 7:45.6. The following year, at the 1956 Winter Olympics
1956 Winter Olympics
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This celebration of the Games was held from 26 January to 5 February 1956. Cortina, which had originally been awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, beat out...
in Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo is a town and comune in the southern Alps located in Veneto, a region in Northern Italy. Located in the heart of the Dolomites in an alpine valley, it is a popular winter sport resort known for its ski-ranges, scenery, accommodations, shops and après-ski scene...
, he became Olympic Champion on the 5000 m, finishing only three seconds above his own world record, thus silencing the critics and proving that his world record had not been a fluke.
Despite his impressive 5000 m results, Shilkov had trouble with the 10000 m. This is illustrated by his performances at the World Allround Championships of 1953 (where he won silver), 1955 (where he won bronze), and 1957 (where he won silver): At each of these three World Championships he was in the lead after three distances, but lost too much on the final distance – the 10000 m – to win the title. His bronze medal at the World Championships of 1955 was 0.026 points behind the silver medallist (his eternal rival, Goncharenko) – a mere 0.52 seconds of difference on the 10000 m.
Shilkov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
in 1957.
Medals
An overview of medals won by Shilkov at important championships he participated in, listing the years in which he won each:| Championships | Gold medal | Silver medal | Bronze medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympics Speed skating at the Winter Olympics Speed skating has been featured as a sport in the Winter Olympics since the first winter games in 1924. Women's events were added to the Olympic program for the first time in 1960.-History:... |
1956 (5,000 m) | ||
| World Allround World Allround Speed Skating Championships The World Allround Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of the world... |
1954 | 1953 1957 |
1955 |
| European Allround European Speed Skating Championships The European Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of Europe. The International Skating Union has organised the European Championships for Men since 1893 and the European Championships for Women since 1970. The... |
1954 | ||
| Soviet Allround | 1953 1954 1955 |
World records
Over the course of his career, Shilkov skated one world record:| Distance | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 m | 7:45.6 | 9 January 1955 | Medeo Medeo The Medeu , or Medeo , is an outdoor speed skating and bandy rink. It is located in a mountain valley on the south-eastern outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Medeu sits 1,691 metres above sea level, making it the highest skating rink in the world... |
Personal records
To put these personal records in perspective, the last column (WR) lists the official world records on the dates that Shilkov skated his personal records.| Distance | Time | Date | Location | WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 m | 41.9 | 30 January 1960 | Medeo Medeo The Medeu , or Medeo , is an outdoor speed skating and bandy rink. It is located in a mountain valley on the south-eastern outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Medeu sits 1,691 metres above sea level, making it the highest skating rink in the world... |
40.2 |
| 1,500 m | 2:10.4 | 20 January 1955 | Medeo Medeo The Medeu , or Medeo , is an outdoor speed skating and bandy rink. It is located in a mountain valley on the south-eastern outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Medeu sits 1,691 metres above sea level, making it the highest skating rink in the world... |
2:09.8 |
| 3,000 m | 4:55.7 | 26 December 1960 | Kirov Kirov, Kaluga Oblast Kirov , formerly known as Pesochnya , is a town in Kaluga Oblast, Russia, located on the Bolva River southwest of Kaluga. Population: 31,888 ; 38,893 ; 29,000 . It is home to Shaykovka air base.... |
4:40.2 |
| 5,000 m | 7:45.6 | 9 January 1955 | Medeo Medeo The Medeu , or Medeo , is an outdoor speed skating and bandy rink. It is located in a mountain valley on the south-eastern outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Medeu sits 1,691 metres above sea level, making it the highest skating rink in the world... |
8:03.7 |
| 10,000 m | 16:50.2 | 20 January 1955 | Medeo Medeo The Medeu , or Medeo , is an outdoor speed skating and bandy rink. It is located in a mountain valley on the south-eastern outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Medeu sits 1,691 metres above sea level, making it the highest skating rink in the world... |
16:32.6 |
Shilkov was number one on the Adelskalender – the all-time allround speed skating ranking – for a total of 1,518 days, divided over three periods between 1955 and 1960. He has an Adelskalender score of 182.436 points.