Anatoly Rakhlin is a well-known Russian and Soviet judoka, an honored worker of physical culture of the Russian Federation, an outstanding coach. A man with a unique heroic biography. He survived the siege of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War; in modern history, he is known primarily as a coach of the President of Russia.
Siege childhood
Anatoly Solomonovich Rakhlin was born in Leningrad on the eve of World War II - May 23, 1938. By the way, an interesting fact. Although his father was called Solomon and according to the documents his middle name was just like that, however, in everyday life, during training, among colleagues and pupils he preferred that Anatoly Semenovich contact him.
His father Solomon Zinovievich worked as an engineer at the Baltic Plant. From the first days of the war he went to the front. His mother, nee Rebekah Davidovna Kaplan, had a liberal arts education. She worked as a teacher at the Herzen Leningrad Pedagogical Institute.
All 900 days of the siege of Leningrad, our hero was in the city. When the city was surrounded, Anatolia was only 3 years old. Therefore, he survived thanks exclusively to the merit of his mother.
Wrestling youth
At the age of 15, he began to practice in the sambo section at the Leningrad Palace of Pioneers. His first coach was Sergey Dashkevich, the legendary wrestler, who at one time competed with Ivan Poddubny. From him, he adopted the first advice.
After leaving school, Anatoly Rakhlin entered the Herzen Pedagogical Institute, in which his mother worked. Sambo enthusiasm played a big role in choosing a future profession: he chose the faculty of physical education. In 1959 he successfully graduated from the institute and went to serve in the army.
Rakhlin entered the Black Sea Fleet, where sambo was also actively developed and cultivated. After serving three years at sea, he returned to the "citizen". His first profession was becoming a trainer in a sports club at the Leningrad Metal Plant. Sambo Anatoly Rakhlin taught at the club under the name "Turbostroitel".
Presidential fight
In 1964, Anatoly Solomonovich Rakhlin recruited the first group of his own pupils. Among them was the current president of Russia, Vladimir Putin. He was only 12 years old at that time. Subsequently, Putin trained with Rakhlin for more than 10 years. He admitted that a judo mentor played a key role in his life and becoming a person. Putin, studying with Rakhlin, achieved serious success - he became a master of sports in judo and sambo. Already parting with a mentor, in 1976, he won the judo championship of the city of Leningrad.
Judo coach Judo Anatoly Rakhlin worked with his pupil for 11 years.
Even having finished practicing with Rakhlin, Putin did not give up his passion for judo. Today it is one of the most popular, as they say, the presidential sport in the country.
Already in the 2000s, the famous coach published a book of memoirs, "Sensei of the President." In it, in particular, he describes in detail the features of Putin's wrestling style. According to Rakhlin, Putin from an early age knew how to endure pain, which was superior to many opponents. Most victories were won not due to physical preparation, although it was excellent, but due to cunning and resourcefulness, the ability to hold the right trick at the right time. The main advantage of Putin was that it was extremely difficult to calculate his actions in a duel, which is why he remained one of the most serious opponents for everyone. Defeating him was not easy.
Putin himself also became the author of a book on martial arts. In 1999, he released a collection of practical tips "Learning Judo with Vladimir Putin." And in 2008, he presented a training film in which he played the role of himself - an experienced judo fighter who gives advice to novice pupils.
Putin still continues to practice judo and personally supports the federation of this sport.
Star pupils
Among the young pupils of Rakhlin there were many significant figures of Russian society today. In the 60s and 70s, the foundations of judo came from Arkady Rotenberg, now a billionaire, chairman of the board of directors of several large banks and companies.
He also studied with Rakhlin and Vasily Shestakov, a future sports and political figure, president of the international sambo federation, and a deputy of the State Duma.
Rakhlin Anatoly is a coach not only for boys, but also for girls. Among his pupils, in particular, Ekaterina Buravtseva. Repeated champion of Europe and Russia among cadets, one of the leaders of modern Russian judo.
Sports results
Anatoly Rakhlin worked as a judo and sambo trainer for over 50 years. During this time, he trained more than 100 masters of sports.
Thanks to him, the sports calendar of Russian sports has replenished with several significant tournaments. Among them are judo competitions in memory of the participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union Vladimir Petrov. This is an international youth tournament that Rakhlin founded back in 1973.
The tournament has become one of the centenarians among wrestling competitions. In 2013, the 40th anniversary competition was already held for the prizes of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
Anatoly Rakhlin, whose biography is closely connected with sports throughout his life, initiated the creation of a judo training center in St. Petersburg. The base for it was the building of the Turbostroitel sports club, in which Rakhlin once began his coaching career. In order to open a training center, the building was completely reconstructed. Today it opens its doors on Kondratyevsky Avenue in St. Petersburg.
Team led
In 2008, Anatoly Rakhlin was appointed head coach of the Russian national women's judo team. The very next year, the team faced the first serious test - the world championship in the Dutch Rotterdam. The Russians fought stubbornly, but they did not bring medals to the national team.
The next year, an even more representative delegation left for the World Cup in Tokyo. In almost all weight categories, two athletes were represented. The Japanese at the home world championships did not leave their opponents virtually no chance, winning 6 finals out of 8.
The Russians, unfortunately, did not make their way to any decisive duel, stopping at the maximum at the stage of the semifinal. So, the Russian woman Natalya Kuzyutina in the weight category up to 52 kilograms shared the bronze with the Mongolian athlete Monkhbaataryn Bundmaa, and Thea Donguzashvili in the absolute category received third place along with the Japanese Megumi Tatimoto. Fights for third place at this World Cup were not held.
As a result, two bronze medals that the Russians brought to the team's piggy bank allowed the Russian team to take 15th place in the overall standings. In total, the Russians turned out to be 4 bronzes.
The ball was ruled by the Japanese that season. They won an unthinkable number of awards - 23 medals, 10 of which were gold.
Olympics in London
Judo with Anatoly Rakhlin in Russia has become a popular and beloved sport for many. In many ways, the London Olympics, which took place in 2012, contributed to this.
Men played brilliantly at the games, who brought 3 gold medals to the team piggy bank and secured the team first place in the overall standings. Women were not so successful, but many fans remembered the bright and uncompromising struggle.
Rakhlin family
The main woman in the life of the famous judoka was Evgenia Lipatova. With her, he spent many years living together. He had two sons.
The eldest, Eugene, was born in 1975. He followed in the footsteps of his father, became a judge of the international category in judo. Also, Rakhlin Jr. chose a sports career. He became a master of sports in judo, for several years he led the national team of St. Petersburg in this sport.
Sons gave parents grandchildren and granddaughters.
Trainer's death
Anatoly Rakhlin, whose photo you see in our article, passed away on August 7, 2013 in his hometown - St. Petersburg. He was 75 years old.
He did not leave work until the last days of his life, continuing to prepare pupils and advise members of the Russian national team.
His most famous and famous student, Vladimir Putin, came to say goodbye to an outstanding coach. The episode remembered by many - in memory of the coach, the president took a solitary walk, without security and accompanying, along Vatutin Street. He started it on Kondratyevsky Avenue, on which Rakhlin had once started working as a trainer in the Turbostroitel club, where the future president himself learned the first lessons of judo. And he finished it on Sverdlovskaya embankment.
Anatoly Rakhlin is buried in the Leningrad region, at the Kuzmolovsky cemetery.