Three-time freestyle wrestling champion of Russia Inna Trazhukova, whose photo did not leave the covers of sports publications, after the Olympics in Rio ended up in the very center of a scandal. The president of the national freestyle wrestling federation and the head coach of the national team, Mikhail Mamiashvili, spoke very hard with her after losing the fight for the medal and allowed himself to hit the athlete. This was followed by a statement to the prosecutor’s office, Mamiashvili’s apology and a withdrawn statement, but an unpleasant aftertaste remained after this story.
Coaching daughter
In 1990, Inna Trazhukova was born in the village of Upper Timmersyany, Ulyanovsk Region. Freestyle wrestling is not the most popular sport for girls, but such an unusual choice is explained by the figure of Inna's father.
Vyacheslav Trazhukov, in his youth, was engaged in freestyle wrestling, after completing an active career, he was re-qualified as a driver. However, then the passion for sports took its toll, and he became a children's coach in his native village. Vyacheslav became engaged with ten-year-old boys and insisted that his daughter also go to the gym. Inna at that time wanted to go out with her friends more than to train with the boys, but her father’s will was above all.
Gradually, the girl was drawn into the process, the first results began to appear. For further development, a move to Moscow was required, where Trazhukova would seriously study at the Olympic reserve school. In 2006, the girl’s father again showed his will and sent his daughter to the capital. At first, it was difficult for her alone in an unfamiliar city, she cried, begging her mother to take her back, but her father’s decision was not subject to review.
Reaching a serious level
Gradually, Inna Trazhukova, for whom freestyle wrestling became work, settled down in the capital and began to win at youth and youth competitions. At adult tournaments, she began to prove herself at a young age, taking the bronze of the Russian championship in 2011. Even then, Inna Trazhukova established herself as a smart, technical athlete who is never afraid to take risks and hold beautiful tricks, dominating on the carpet.
These qualities, coupled with excellent speed, helped her to perform well at the first major international tournament, which was the European Championship, held in Dortmund in 2011.
At that time in Russia there was serious competition in weight up to 63 kg. The tone was set by such athletes as Lyudmila Volosova, who took bronze at the Olympics in London, Anastasia Bratchikova from the suburbs. However, Inna progressed every year and moved closer to leadership within the women's freestyle wrestling team.
Inna Trazhukova in 2013 managed to reach the final of the national championship, and in 2014 she already became the champion of Russia. A year later, she repeated her achievement, consolidating her status as a winner.
Olympiad
To travel to the 2016 Olympic Games, it was necessary to win the national freestyle wrestling championship. Inna Trazhukova was in great shape and was head and shoulders stronger than all rivals. Already in the first round she had to meet with the bronze medalist of the London Games Lyudmila Volosova, who was not in good shape and was defeated with a score of 11: 1.
In the final, Inna was opposed by her main rival, Anastasia Bratchikova. She tried to cling to the Olympic ticket, but Trazhukova acted faster, more aggressive and carried out more effective receptions. A native of the Ulyanovsk region won with a score of 6: 1 and secured the right to participate in the Olympics.
Member of the women's freestyle wrestling team Inna Trazhukova in Rio de Janeiro was sent not just an extra, but one of the favorites. However, the level of resistance at the world forum turned out to be prohibitively high, and the Russian woman reached the semi-finals after spending three fierce fights. The Japanese athlete was already stronger here, and Inna lost to her in a difficult fight.
In the match for third place, Monika Mikhalek from Poland was waiting for Trazhukov, who turned out to be stronger that day and won the bronze.
Hacking as a means of education
The decisive fights of the Olympic women's freestyle wrestling tournament were extremely unsuccessful for the Russian team. Several girls lost in their finals at once, Inna Trazhukova lost the match for third place. The furious president of the national freestyle wrestling federation and the head coach of the national team, Mikhail Mamiashvili, did not find anything better than to burst into dirty laughter at the address of the losing girls.
Most went to Inna, who, in addition to insults, received several blows in the face.
A great scandal erupted, the girl did not tolerate and spoke about this incident. Mikhail Mamiashvili did not consider it necessary to justify himself and, in response, once again “gently” spoke about the moral and volitional qualities of Trazhukova.
She sent a statement to the prosecutor's office, officially accusing the leader of the beatings. Feeling the threat of criminal prosecution, Mamiashvili came to his senses and apologized to the athlete. Trazhukova forgave the trainer and withdrew the statement from the prosecutor’s office, but the incident caused a storm of indignation in the community and furious discussions about the permissibility of harsh methods of education in sports.