Soviet basketball player Tatiana Ovechkina: biography, achievements, awards and personal life

Who is Tatyana Ovechkina? The answer to this question is known to all true lovers of sports, in particular basketball fans. This woman is a basketball legend of the USSR. In its arsenal, the gold of the two Olympics, the gold medal of the World Cup, the six highest awards of European championships, the title of Honored Master of Sports of the USSR and Honored Coach of Russia.

All over the world, only 5 athletes, who twice became Olympic winners.

Biography

Tatyana Ovechkina was born in the family of Kabaev, Nikolay and Evdokia, in the spring of 1950. Dad is a driver, mother is a factory worker. There was no sin in the family. They huddled in a barracks on Khoroshevka with 50 more families. But they did not complain. In a large and friendly team reigned respect, mutual assistance and understanding. The general hobby of the majority was sports. In many sports undertakings the father of Tatyana was the ringleader. His authority was high - the captain of the football team of the motor depot.

Together they equipped several sites where sports battles were constantly played: volleyball, football, basketball. Little Tanya was very fond of moving games with the ball. She was a regular participant in the competition.

A great athlete, she might not have become

Once a misfortune happened. First-grader Tanyusha got under the wheels of the car. Complicated fracture of the legs, bruises. Eight months in a hospital bed. Several operations. Even there was a question of amputation. But all has managed. True, the right leg and remained thinner left.

After treatment - restrictions in movement, release from physical culture. For an active and mobile Tanya, it was torture.

Later Ovechkin Tatyana Nikolaevna will tell you that the muscles of the legs have sneaked secretly from everyone. The eight-year-old girl loaded the stones in a string and trained. At school, hiding behind the backs of classmates, she did physical exercises together with everyone, she danced and ran. She really did not want to lag behind her older sister Vali, who was engaged in basketball. Tanya in all imitated her!

The way to the sport is open!

Time passed. And the doctors finally allowed Tanya to do physical exercises. She enrolled in the basketball section in the "Young Dynamo". The first coach - honored coach of the USSR Vera Kulagina - immediately noticed a talented girl.

And the pupil did not disappoint her. Peers noticeably overplayed. Became the best player at the Olympics of schoolchildren. The young sportswoman is increasingly taken to the senior group. And soon she is among the basketball players of the Moscow youth team. It's a success!

Further sports career Ovechkina goes on increasing. Even before graduating from the sports school, she is a player of the Moscow team of masters "Dynamo".

Recognition had to be won. The game. Experienced athletes did not immediately take a young talent. But the success did not leave Tatyana. The real sporting talent of the point guard and the attacking defender was recognized. At the European Championships, she is appointed captain of the junior team, and she becomes the winner of the prize of the best point guard.

The history of the happy eight

Eight, probably, you can call a family number. It was under this number that Tatyana Nikolayevna spoke, and now her son, the famous hockey player Alexander Ovechkin.

Ovechkin Tatiana - Olympic champion, whose biography is presented to your attention in this article, somehow admitted that when she came to the sports school "Young Dynamo", she really liked the basketball player Vladimir Tsinman. As an athlete, she fell head over heels in a guy who masterfully holds the ball. On his back he was adorned with 8. After coming to a big sport, Tatyana asked for this number.

The road to Olympus is strewn with gold

1970 year. Ovechkin invited to the USSR team. Exhausting training, responsible all-Union, international games. All is not in vain. At European competitions, gold was won. Tatyana Ovechkina is the first time champion of Europe.

Still important events in Tatyana's life during this period: she marries, and in 1972 the firstborn Sergey appears. But it was not possible to enjoy motherhood in full. Another month did not have a son, and she was already on the court. Then the three leading players of the team left on the decree, and responsible competitions are on the nose. Ovechkin was persuaded to play.

Tatyana Nikolayevna told me that my husband was serving in the army and was shocked when he learned of his wife's intention to enter the field. And her mother at first categorically opposed: the child is small, the frost is on the street. Then I gave up and went with her.

The diapers were washed, the baby was nursed and the girlfriends on command. And the success did not take long to wait - gold at the next European Championships.

Then more: Colombia, Italy, Poland. Triumphant victories. At the championship in Poland Tatyana was named the best point guard.

The most important awards are basketball player Ovechkin Tatyana considers the Olympic gold of Montreal (1976) and Moscow (1980).

We go to watch Ovechkin. Training is canceled

For many years Ovechkin was the world queen of basketball. She was envied by the best players, even men. For 12 years of playing for the national team has not lost a single one. Even comradely.

On matches with Tatiana's participation basketball players of elite titled clubs hurried. And Vladimir Kondrashin, coach of the USSR men's team, led his players to the game, canceling any training. Recognition of Tatiana's achievements in sports was unqualified.

The brilliant career of the point guard is over

Even the outstanding athletes do not stay long at the top of the sports Olympus. It is not possible to reach once again one height, and age propels. In addition, stress, nervous stress - all affect the health of the athlete more than any other.

Having a specialty coach, after finishing MOGIFK, in 1984, Tatyana Ovechkina began to train young athletes.

In the dashing 90-s she is the head coach of the women's basketball team "Dynamo". Next to her - husband and son Michael. Together decided not only sports issues, but also material. At night, my husband even engaged in carting. The money was needed to keep the club. Then there was the question of its dissolution. But family efforts and the help of the Moscow authorities helped to withstand the club in such a difficult time.

In the 98th "Dynamo" for the first time became the champion of Russia, having removed this title from CSKA. Success was consolidated in 1999.

Pupils Ovechkina: Elena Shvaibovich, Julia Skopa, Elena Minaeva - basketball players, who rightly proud titled coach. 25 years in sport is a huge time, Tatiana Nikolaevna has something to share with her followers.

"The weather is most important in the house ..."

1968 year. Tatiana only returned from the competition in Bulgaria. All such stylish. Fashionable clothes, accessories. Together with her friend and her boyfriend came to the stadium "Dynamo". A tall beautiful girl caught the attention of one of the players, "Dinamo". It was Mikhail Ovechkin. He approached her and jokingly asked me to treat him to ice cream ...

This was the first meeting of the future parents of the three sons. Which, by the way, for athletes of their rank is also a kind of record. But they really wanted a daughter. Already the name was chosen - Alexander.

The couple live together. Although Tatiana Nikolaevna confesses: both quarreled, and other problems were. But to take the rubbish out of the house, that at home, that at work, does not like. He does not like to complain about the hard maternal test - the loss of Sergei's eldest son.

Tatiana Ovechkina soon 66. But she is full of optimism. He is engaged in public activities, constantly in the course of affairs of the beloved club "Dynamo". There is something to remember, there is something to live. And sons are always pleased with their parents success. And for a woman, the main thing is the weather in the house.