From the moment of the triumph on the Olympic Games-1996 Yury Melnichenko managed to replace wrestling body stockings at first with a trainer's jumpsuit, and then and with an easy chair of the functionary. Today our first summer olimpionik — the director of the center of the Olympic preparation of types of wrestling. However, despite high and thus more sedentary position, Melnichenko it is still improbably active, vigorous, strong and will tighten — though right now let out him on a carpet...

— It is interesting how you managed to keep such tremendous sportswear?

— You what I can hold a teapot in one hand and thus the stomach didn't spread out it on a table? — Yury joked, dexterously pouring in a cup tea. — There are sports in which there are certain restrictions in food. And when the person leaves sports, the organism starts changing. I know such examples. Sportksmen acted in weight category to 48 kg, and then gained almost 100 kg. It is important not to lose over itself control.

— How you cope with this problem?

— Thank God, she didn't mention me. And my rule on life — moderation. I try not to eat before saturation: it is necessary to the person of food actually not so much. The big-time sports (which I left in 2000) too much at me energy of visors therefore to go to the sports hall on regular occupations I didn't hurry — there was an emotional wear. It happens. But there came the moment when the organism itself called to the sports hall. Today for form maintenance I willingly play billiards, I am engaged in morning exercises, I go on foot. It is necessary to be in movement, only it is necessary to do it intelligently.

— If to return to your sports career why you changed nationality — from Kyrgyzstan got over to Kazakhstan?

— All of us managed to live in the Soviet Union, represented the uniform mighty country abroad. At the time of its disintegration at the beginning of 90th we passed a number of the international competitions, in essence, the sports infrastructure was destroyed. Before me, as well as before many, there was a question: what to do? Situation in Kyrgyzstan didn't allow to move further in sports: money it wasn't elementary on collecting. Far from Frunze didn't want to leave. In Kazakhstan at me at that time was many friends and instructors on USSR national team. Here, in Almaty, the professional sports club "Daulet" opened. Here the trainer of USSR national team Gennady Sapunov was invited by the consultant. From it and Dauleta Turlykhanova the invitation which very quickly flowed in nationality followed. Generally, there were most comfortable conditions for continuation of my sports career. And since 1993 I have honor to represent the Republic of Kazakhstan. I got over to Kazakhstan just during the transition from junior age group in adult so all serious awards are received by me as a part of the national team of Kazakhstan. In 22 years I already became world champion.

— During your sports youth that was motivation for professional growth?

— In the USSR trip abroad was a huge event. To bring home souvenirs or something from clothes, having saved on daily allowance, then still to tell about the seen — unforgettable feelings. Unfortunately, in the USSR rules of objective selection weren't always observed. Sometimes the people who were repeatedly winning the championships of the USSR, didn't leave on the World Cups and Olympic Games. Though in other relation the system was faultless. After all all country worked for military industrial complex, astronautics and sports. The country was considered and it is considered successful by number of the first-class athletes. Since the childhood to athletes issued free coupons on a food, the best получа¬ - whether apartments. Sports support from the state was enormous, hundreds thousands athletes of the USSR used these benefits.

— Who played a crucial role in formation of outstanding athlete Yury Melnichenko?

— Certainly, it is my first trainer Egor Ivanovich Mukshtadt. With it I mastered fundamental knowledge of equipment. The second instructor — Daulet Turlykhanov which accepted me in Kazakhstan. He became for me the second trainer and is it to this day. This person helped at that difficult stage of my life. Well and, at last, Gennady Sapunov. The deserved master of sports, the double world champion, the champion of Europe, it possessed phenomenal equipment, for 25 years headed a national team of the USSR. At us the interesting creative tandem turned out. Its answers to my infinite questions emerged from subconsciousness at the responsible moments of competitions. For fractions of a second I made the correct decisions. Now I try to communicate with younger generation in this way.

— You have many pupils?

— At present it is 150 athletes who train in the center of the Olympic preparation for types of wrestling. I consider that it is all my pupils.

— To that reasonable, kind, eternal wrestling — quite aggressive look of sports can teach the boy?

— This natural finding of skills of courage. Single combats — such sports in which everyone is responsible for itself(himself). In each young man the aspiration to be better, to win, but that expects it every second on a carpet is put, forms in it skill of an assessment: whether correctly it does, whether it is good? The code of the wrestler which passed check by time not for one millennium is still actual. Its rules concern discipline, respect for seniors, the instructor, the rival. All these major bases of the courage, healthy vision of life and the harmonious personality are formed in wrestling. You see how the world changed. Same-sex marriages consist. There is no wrestling, boxing and sports in general, the world could be left so far that at some instant we couldn't return it back. There have to be natural methods of wrestling against this negative. And they are formed in especially man's sports.

— But after all it is known that in antique times Greeks and Romans didn't refuse to themselves as to tell it more softly, in same-sex romanticism...

— Those "villains" who were far from sports meets sinned, probably. And by and large, the person weak in spirit won't be able to protect the family and the more so the country. Certainly, the aspiration to win — is some kind of aggression. For balance also there is a code which main postulates were formed throughout not one millennium. Duels begin and come to an end with handshake irrespective of result. And still there is audience who always badly react to any unsportsmanlike behavior. Each person needs positive emotions therefore he seeks to gain audience. Sports in any country are socially significant. It distracts youth from such evils, as drugs, alcohol...

— Whether members of your family treat a circle of sports people?

I have two children. Daughter Alina (her 6,5 years) already tests in rhythmic gymnastics. 5-year-old son Timur tests in everything. Today he wants to be a boxer, tomorrow — the wrestler, the day after tomorrow — the acrobat.

— The father for it an example for imitation?

— He yet doesn't understand that the father reached any tops in sports. This subject for children while is closed, postponed for later. Timur's main heroes — it is superheroes: Batman, Spiderman. I think that in the next months we will think, to what section to send him, let him there splash out the energy, instead of creates difficulties to a garden or the parents.

— Give the forecast for the future. In February the wrestling which was permanently entering into the program of the Olympic Games since antique times, sensationally lost the status of the protected Olympic discipline. However the other day the executive committee the IOC nevertheless voted for wrestling inclusion in number of official applicants for participation in Games of 2020. Who, in your opinion, will win the Olympic permit: wrestling, squash or baseball with the softboly?

— Me very much pleases that in the three of applicants after vote there was no karate which, in my opinion, had the most preferable chances to get on the Olympic Games. And chances of baseball, squash and wrestling are absolutely equal. Behind squash there is a mighty Federation of big tennis. Baseball is very popular in the USA — and it too should be considered. But round wrestling the whole world united. In many countries passed large-scale actions in protection of our sport. So, at the railway station of New York there took place a match meeting of wrestlers of the USA, Iran and Russia. Considering relationship of Americans and Iranians, I think hardly anyone could assume that such in general it is possible! The international federation of wrestling too didn't stand aside. At last at such well-known athletes as Turlykhanov, Mamiashvili, the Bear, Karelin, there was a real opportunity to change wrestling rules really to the best. Now, it is sure, only those athletes who seek to wrestling beautifully will win on all tournaments, carrying out the most raznokobrazny, technically difficult receptions.  So, wrestling will live!

Author: Alexander and Oksana Trofimovy