Unified Sports Classification System of the USSR
Encyclopedia
Unified Sports Classification System of the USSR is a document which provided general Soviet
physical education system requirements for athletes. The classification was established in 1935 and was based on separate classifications, which existed for several sports disciplines before. Since 1949 it was revised every four years, the period, which corresponded to the Olympic
cycle, to reflect new standards for the physical training. The document contained test standards, principles and conditions, necessary for the conferment of sports ranks and titles, for all sports, cultivated in the USSR.
As of the 1970s, there were following ranks for athletes of the USSR (listed in descending order of value):
Each of these titles was awarded only for results on the official competitions. Athletes who qualified for the rank were awarded a badge with serial number.
This All-Union system existed until the breakup of the USSR in 1991. Some former Soviet republics, for example, Russia
, Ukraine
and Belarus
, still maintain similar sports ranks system.
The title of Merited Master of Sport of the USSR was awarded to foreigners several times. In particular, in 1972, for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the USSR this title was awarded to the following prominent athletes: Maria Gigova
(world champion in rhythmic gymnastics
) András Balczó
(modern pentathlon
, Hungarian Sportsman of the Year
in 1966, 1968, 1969) Karin Janz (Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics
) Li Ho-Jun
(1972 Olympic Champion in shooting
) Teófilo Stevenson
Khorloogiin Bayanmönkh Włodzimierz Lubański Nicolae Martinescu
(1972 Olympic Champion in amateur wrestling
) Ondrej Nepela
On 30 January 1952 the title Merited Master of Sport of the USSR was awarded to Augustin Gomes, who was born in Spain
and started to play football
there, but moved to the USSR during the Spanish Civil War
in 1937, and played for Torpedo Moscow in 1947-1954, being the team captain in 1951-1953.
One foreigner holds the regular Master of Sports title based on his achievements within Russia, the Dutch field hockey player Mark Sluiter. Sluiter lived, studied and later worked in Moscow for several years in the eighties. He got a sports contract with the Moscovian hockey Club Fili Moscow to stay active within his sport while living abroad. When this club won the Russian national Cup he and his team colleagues received the Master of Sports award. Sluiter returned to and works in his native country, The Netherlands, and was still active as a field hockey player.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
physical education system requirements for athletes. The classification was established in 1935 and was based on separate classifications, which existed for several sports disciplines before. Since 1949 it was revised every four years, the period, which corresponded to the Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
cycle, to reflect new standards for the physical training. The document contained test standards, principles and conditions, necessary for the conferment of sports ranks and titles, for all sports, cultivated in the USSR.
As of the 1970s, there were following ranks for athletes of the USSR (listed in descending order of value):
- Merited Master of Sport of the USSR, , equates to international champion who has made valuable contributions to the sport
- Master of Sport of the USSR, International Class , equates to international champion
- Master of Sport of the USSR , equates to national champion
- Candidate for Master of Sport of the USSR , equates to nationally ranked player
- First-Class Sportsman , equates to regional champion
- Second-Class Sportsman , equates to state champion
- Third-Class Sportsman , equates to city champion
- First-Class Junior Sportsman
- Second-Class Junior Sportsman
- Third-Class Junior Sportsman
Each of these titles was awarded only for results on the official competitions. Athletes who qualified for the rank were awarded a badge with serial number.
This All-Union system existed until the breakup of the USSR in 1991. Some former Soviet republics, for example, 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...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, still maintain similar sports ranks system.
The title of Merited Master of Sport of the USSR was awarded to foreigners several times. In particular, in 1972, for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the USSR this title was awarded to the following prominent athletes: Maria Gigova
Maria Gigova
Maria Gigova is a Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast. She was the first gymnast to become a triple world champion in rhythmic gymnastics with her titles in 1969, 1971, and 1973...
(world champion in rhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which individuals or teams of competitors manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus: rope, clubs, hoop, ball, ribbon and Free . An individual athlete only manipulates 1 apparatus at a time...
) András Balczó
András Balczó
András Balczó is a Hungarian modern pentathlete and Olympic champion.-Olympics:Balczó participated on the Hungarian team which won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome...
(modern pentathlon
Modern pentathlon
The modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run...
, Hungarian Sportsman of the Year
Hungarian Sportspeople of the Year
Hungarian Sportspeople of the Year awards are granted each year since 1958, with categories for sportsmen, sportswomen, teams, coaches and presidents .- Sportspeople of the Year :...
in 1966, 1968, 1969) Karin Janz (Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
) Li Ho-Jun
Li Ho-jun
Ri Ho-Jun is a sports shooter and Olympic Champion for North Korea. He won a gold medal in the 50 metre rifle prone event at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.-References:...
(1972 Olympic Champion in shooting
Shooting at the 1972 Summer Olympics
This is a list of results of the Shooting competition at the 1972 Summer Olympics....
) Teófilo Stevenson
Teófilo Stevenson
Teófilo Stevenson Lawrence or Teófilo Stevenson is a former Cuban amateur boxer. He is one of the only three boxers to win three Olympic gold medals, alongside Hungarian László Papp and fellow Cuban Félix Savón....
Khorloogiin Bayanmönkh Włodzimierz Lubański Nicolae Martinescu
Nicolae Martinescu
Nicolae Martinescu is a Romanian wrestler and Olympic Champion in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Olympics:Martinescu competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and received a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, the heavyweight class.-References:...
(1972 Olympic Champion in amateur wrestling
Wrestling at the 1972 Summer Olympics
At the 1972 Summer Olympics, 20 wrestling events were contested, for all men. There were 10 weight classes in Greco-Roman wrestling and 10 classes in freestyle wrestling.- Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-Medal table:-Participating nations:...
) Ondrej Nepela
Ondrej Nepela
Ondrej Nepela was an Olympic gold medalist and three-time World champion Slovak figure skater who competed for Czechoslovakia in the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:...
On 30 January 1952 the title Merited Master of Sport of the USSR was awarded to Augustin Gomes, who was born in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and started to play football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
there, but moved to the USSR during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
in 1937, and played for Torpedo Moscow in 1947-1954, being the team captain in 1951-1953.
One foreigner holds the regular Master of Sports title based on his achievements within Russia, the Dutch field hockey player Mark Sluiter. Sluiter lived, studied and later worked in Moscow for several years in the eighties. He got a sports contract with the Moscovian hockey Club Fili Moscow to stay active within his sport while living abroad. When this club won the Russian national Cup he and his team colleagues received the Master of Sports award. Sluiter returned to and works in his native country, The Netherlands, and was still active as a field hockey player.