Viktor Sidjak
Encyclopedia
Viktor Alexandrovich Sidyak is a successful left-handed sabreur
from the Soviet era, pupil of Mark Rakita
and David Tyshler
. As a fencer
, Sidyak was famous for his aggressive style. He was one of the best known exponents of the "Russian preparation" or the "one-and-a-half tempo attack".
in Kemerovo Oblast
but spent most of his childhood in Donetsk
. He started fencing
at age fifteen. Sidyak trained at Armed Forces sports society
. In the 1960s, training in Lvov, he represented Ukraine
on the internal Soviet circuit. In 1970, he moved to Minsk
and joined the then mighty Belarus
ian fencing lobby (whose other luminaries include Elena Belova, Alexandr Romankov
, and Nikolai Alekhine).
, Sidyak became the first Soviet sabreur to win individual Gold. At the same Olympics, he famously fenced in the team final with his right eye bandaged over after having a fragment of the Italian
Michele Maffei
's blade removed from his eye the previous day. Besides Sidyak, the team consisted of Vladimir Nazlymov
, Eduard Vinokurov, and Viktor Bazhenov. The Soviet and Italian teams met again in the finals, Italy taking Gold, and USSR Silver. In 1994, Maffei
's 1972 team-mate Mario Aldo Montano
invited Sidyak to coach the young fencers, including his own son, at his club in Livorno
.
Association of Belarus
.
Sabre (fencing)
The sabre is one of the three weapons of modern sport fencing, and is alternatively spelled saber in American English. The sabre differs from the other modern fencing weapons, the épée and foil, in that it is possible to score with the edge of the blade; for this reason, sabreur movements and...
from the Soviet era, pupil of Mark Rakita
Mark Rakita
Mark Semenovich Rakita is a famed Russian sabreur and coach from the Soviet era.-Fencing career:Rakita started fencing at 14. He practiced daily for between three – six hours a day. A 1969 graduate of The Daghestan State Pedagogical Institute, Rakita earned the title of Master of the Sport in...
and David Tyshler
David Tyshler
David Abramovich Tyshler is a former competitive sabreur, part of the first generation of internationally successful Soviet fencers . He is best known as an extremely successful and innovative fencing coach...
. As a 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...
, Sidyak was famous for his aggressive style. He was one of the best known exponents of the "Russian preparation" or the "one-and-a-half tempo attack".
Biography
Sidyak was born in the town of Anzhero-SudzhenskAnzhero-Sudzhensk
Anzhero-Sudzhensk is a town in the Kuznetsk Basin in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. The town, which was formed out of the amalgamation of the Anzherka and Sudzhenka settlements, is located to the north of the oblast's administrative center of Kemerovo and to the east of the Tom River. It is on the route...
in Kemerovo Oblast
Kemerovo Oblast
Kemerovo Oblast , also known as Kuzbass after the Kuznetsk Basin, is a federal subject of Russia , located in southwestern Siberia, where the West Siberian Plain meets the South Siberian mountains...
but spent most of his childhood in Donetsk
Donetsk
Donetsk , is a large city in eastern Ukraine on the Kalmius river. Administratively, it is a center of Donetsk Oblast, while historically, it is the unofficial capital and largest city of the economic and cultural Donets Basin region...
. He started 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...
at age fifteen. Sidyak trained at Armed Forces sports society
Armed Forces (sports society)
Central Sports Klub of the Army or is the Russian sports society and the successor of the Soviet CSKA.-Overview:The society was one of the largest sports societies in the USSR. In the Soviet era all CSKA and SKA teams that resided in the Soviet Union belonged to the Armed Forces sports society...
. In the 1960s, training in Lvov, he represented 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...
on the internal Soviet circuit. In 1970, he moved to Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
and joined the then mighty 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 ,...
ian fencing lobby (whose other luminaries include Elena Belova, Alexandr Romankov
Alexandr Romankov
Alexandr Romankov is a former fencer from the former Soviet Union, who was born November 7, 1953 in the town of Korsakov on the island of Sakhalin . One of the most successful Soviet fencers, he is also regarded by some as the greatest foilist of the 20th century...
, and Nikolai Alekhine).
Olympic Games
At the 1972 Summer Olympics1972 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....
, Sidyak became the first Soviet sabreur to win individual Gold. At the same Olympics, he famously fenced in the team final with his right eye bandaged over after having a fragment of the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Michele Maffei
Michele Maffei
Michele Maffei is an Italian fencer. He won a gold and three silver medals in the team sabre events at four different Olympic Games.-References:...
's blade removed from his eye the previous day. Besides Sidyak, the team consisted of Vladimir Nazlymov
Vladimir Nazlymov
Vladimir Nazlymov - Sabre fencer and coach for USSR and later United States. Born in Makhachkala, Daghestan. A 1970 graduate of The Daghestan State Pedagogical Institute, Nazlymov earned a bachelor's and master's degree in physical education...
, Eduard Vinokurov, and Viktor Bazhenov. The Soviet and Italian teams met again in the finals, Italy taking Gold, and USSR Silver. In 1994, Maffei
Michele Maffei
Michele Maffei is an Italian fencer. He won a gold and three silver medals in the team sabre events at four different Olympic Games.-References:...
's 1972 team-mate Mario Aldo Montano
Mario Aldo Montano
Mario Aldo Montano is an Italian fencer. He won a gold and two silver medals in the team sabre at three different Olympic Games. He is the son of fencer Aldo Montano who competed for Italy at the 1936 and 1948 Summer Olympics. His son, also called Aldo Montano, competed at the 2004 and 2008 Summer...
invited Sidyak to coach the young fencers, including his own son, at his club in Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
.
World Championship Records
Apart from the Olympics, Sidyak's victories include:- 1969 World Championship (individual)
- 1969 World Championship (team)
- 1970 World Championship (team)
- 1971 World Championship (team)
- 1972 World Cup
- 1973 World Cup
- 1974 World Championship (team)
- 1975 World Championship (team)
- 1979 World Championship (team)
Today
At present, Sidyak is the chairman of the Professional BoxingBoxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
Association of 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 ,...
.
See also
- FencingFencingFencing, 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...
- List of notable fencers
- List of Olympic medalists in fencing (men)
- Fencing terminologyFencing terminologyGlossary of terms used in fencing.-Footwork:Advance : The ‘advance’ is the basic forward movement. The front foot moves first, beginning by lifting the toes. Straighten the leg at the knee, pushing the heel out in front. Land on the heel, and then bring the back foot up to en garde stance...