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An hour early maturity
Sergei Shachin | Posted in room №1370, June 1984
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At sixteen, many of us have set themselves super-task. However, not many manage at this age to convince others of the feasibility of their desires. Moscow schoolchildren Dmitry Bilozerchevu succeeded! Last autumn in Budapest became the youngest undisputed world champion in the history of gymnastics. Winning Dmitry sparked a lively response from readers of "change." Peers champion interested in a variety of details of his still short career. Such interest is understandable: after all, the fate of the winner analyzing, comparing it with their own destiny, we learn from his example.

When and how Dmitry became an athlete?

This question Muscovite S. Agaltsova and many other readers responsible father gymnast Vladimir Bilozerchev:

- The fact that Dima will be famous, we never dreamed of. Our family ordinary, working, I - welder's wife - computer operator. From morning to evening is lost at work. So much to take care of Dima and his older sister Nadia, hard to try to discover their latent abilities in us, to be honest, there was no time. To prevent children hanging out all day in the yard unattended, we decided to define them in the sport. Why in the sport, and not, say, in amateur? There has affected my example. I'm in a youth training in "Dinamo" was a champion of Moscow on boxing, but most importantly - delicious acquired physical training, which still makes do without doctors. Nadia we recorded in the pool. But for Dima Sports managed to pick up immediately.

At first I thought that my son would be a hockey player. In our house I lived in Tushino Valery Kharlamov, and, of course, all the boys dream to be like him. We was friends with Valery and I asked him to give Dima workshop stick. You should have seen how happy the son of present! Chasing the puck to the point of exhaustion. But one evening, returned home in tears, stick robbed some hooligans. Kharlamov soon gave him another, but Dima was not satisfied. "Dad, Dad, - said - take me to the sports section, I want to really train to become strong and never give in insult." With great difficulty, we enrolled in a hockey school "Wings of the Soviets." We go back home, and on the table card: tomorrow morning, Dima invited to the gym CSKA Moscow on Leningradsky Prospect, 39 ...

This postcard sent aspiring Army coach Alexander Alexandrov. Then, in 1974, he toured the day-to-day schools in the capital in search of gifted children. Not long ago, Alexander himself was training in CSKA close to such outstanding masters as Sergei Diomidov Victor Lissitzky, brothers Klimenko. However, in this brilliant company of world and European champions he always remained on the sidelines, but do not despair, and from the platform did not go - he graduated from the Institute of Physical Education, he decided to become a sports teacher to bring their own understanding of gymnastics in the future students.

A lesson in the 818-th high school, Alexander saw Bilozercheva. Another coach might not have paid attention to this small robust fellow - it is believed that the exercises are particularly suitable for mobile, slender, flexible guys, but for the time Dima managed to gain a foothold nickname "fat." However, Alexandrov liked the tenacity with which is not too well-turned seemingly kid perform gymnastic exercises. After consulting with colleagues, he sent an invitation to view the Dime in the Army Hall. As a novice tightrope climbed only half - did not have enough skill. And then, feeling that fails the exam, rallied and wring out the floor forty-five times in a row - more than even the "old-timers" Alexandrov Group. Dima recorded in school.

So, a child prodigy in Bilozercheve initially did not see anybody. And most importantly, that he himself young gymnast did not consider himself as such. Over-confidence in their own abilities, especially when it is fueled by enthusiasm of friends and parents, often leads to defeat, because generates superficiality, lack of respect for the authority of the teacher, the desire to jump up just three steps. Dmitri, on the contrary, from the first day in school CSKA felt as far as he is far from perfect. This feeling impelled to work zealously to perform advice coach. And he did not hurry student brought him the care and thoroughness - those qualities without which it is impossible to achieve true mastery.

Often, Alexander Sergeyevich had to restrain Dima. From Tushino to CSKA is not so close, so a future champion in the room mom brought home on his way to work one hour before the workout. This time he spent away from the older masters - tried to copy a combination thereof. Once Alexandrov pretty frightened entered the room, he saw that a decade of student self fulfills a triple somersault on the rings - the riskiness of an element of higher complexity. Hard then went to Dima. From the day they made a solid contract: on the platform should have no place unnecessary risk. Every new program is necessary to grind so as to prevent injuries and breakdowns. This principle of teacher and student adhere strictly.

- The first training session Alexander Sergeyevich looked like a fun game, - says Dmitry. - He came up with an unusual exercise, organized funny contests and prizes were presented by the most unexpected, such postage stamps or a great big chocolate cake. So I first took gymnastics as entertainment. And only two years later I taste for this creative work. Sport - is a constant search. Razuchivaya another new element, you have to expand ideas of their own ability. Then there is a desire to look a little bit more forward, and so on to infinity ... Sometimes, in the evening so tired that you do not want to hear anything about the gym. The next morning again pulls the room - after all how many interesting ideas still remain unfulfilled!

I listened to Dmitri and thought that maybe it was when he first felt the need to present creative work, and began maturing a future world champion. Gymnastics of entertainment has become a big deal - one that you are delighted to submit themselves without reserve. Children live favorite pastime, and adults - favorite work. Those who work only entertain, is overgrown child, and it should not be relied. On Bilozercheva in his sixteen years can rely unconditionally.

In last year's season, he won everything there was to win - an international tournament at the Luzhniki Stadium on the prizes of the newspaper "Moscow News", the European Championships, sports days of the USSR, the last world championship. Seasoned professionals and are amazed at the extraordinary stability of the young gymnast. So many tournaments responsible - and not a single significant failure! Suffice it to say that in Budapest Dmitry twice received the highest marks on the horse - the projectile, which is traditionally considered the "restive".

- And I just love the most horse - precisely because it is not a raid, "curb", - says Dmitry - Parents of a child with the sister taught us not to be afraid of work. "The more difficult and stubborn thing, so it is interesting - my father often says - and the more honorable to deal with it." I believe that all of last year's success ensured primarily through hard work in training.

I showed the letter to champion Aziza Ms. S. Ikramova Tashkent: "Most of us in the age of sixteen there is a model to follow. And someone to be in the gym Bilozerchev? "

- Idols in the sport I have never been. - Said Dmitry. - I like the ease and confidence of Nikolai Andrianov, technical skills and amazing creativity of Vladimir Markelov and Alexander Tkachev, the power and at the same time flawless elegance Alexander Dityatin. I want to combine these advantages in their previous Champions Gymnastics. Large master, usually left on the memory of his element names - at least remember the "Tkachev flight" or "loop Korbut." We dream of a coach such findings. We dream - and work.

Bilozerchev trying to work on gymnastic apparatus with an apparent softness and ease. But behind them are accurate calculation of confidence and firmness. The handwriting of the new champion manifested his character. Being firmly convinced that a conscientious, hard work certainly is crowned with success, he believes his victory quite natural and therefore do not like to be around too loudly admired his swift sport takeoff. Dmitry completely nesvoystven youthful adventurism - he carefully plans commensurate with the real possibilities, and obviously that is why his words with deeds.

"Dmitry is very difficult if you had at the World Championships in Budapest?" - He asks in his letter to Tatiana Alexeeva from the Tula region.

- Perhaps it was easier than the older teammates. With debutant demand is less than with the acknowledged masters, from whom are just waiting for victory. Therefore, I felt relaxed, as if on a normal workout. But now everything has changed: I no longer align with someone, and all equal to me. So, to speak at the same level can not - you need to take care of the safety margin. We try to create a trainer stock by complexity of the program.

"What influenced your life the unexpected loud glory?" - A group of ninth-graders interested in Riga and Angela Marcicov of Ruzaevka. Asked Dima shrugged helplessly, and his father took the floor:

- In my opinion, it had no effect. Is that became more responsible to collect. We are taught from childhood Dima did not become conceited, never created his family some special conditions. Household chores between him and sister have always been divided equally: she was preparing, cleaning up the apartment, he went every day to the store. Now Dima, when is at home, always helps her mother with the housework. I often say to him: "The only privilege of talented people - this work better than others."

"Dmitri, and you do not get tired of living alone in gymnastics? Admit it: sometimes you must go instead of training at the disco, to the cinema or just for a visit ... "(E. Question Telegin from Moscow.)

- In my opinion, a person must live that you love, be it gymnastics, or anything else. My favorite work is constantly arouses interest and therefore can not get bored. Most capable tire and annoy empty pastime. A visit to the cinema, and of course, I go, but not instead of training.

"The success in the sport gains more difficult. Title great responsibility. And are not you afraid to get tired before the time? Do you have the stamina to have sixteen years to live permanently on the note title? "(Question I. Saenko of Kalinin.)

- After graduating from high school, I'm going to go to college physical education, then to stay, but as a coach in the gym. And from it I do not ever get tired. Maybe someone of my future students will also become a champion. Then come to life, "the note title" ... If this dream will not come true, and even then, I think, has not lost in life. Because sport has taught me to really work.

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