The history of the country is shaped like a mosaic of large and small elements. Builders, scientists, actors, athletes and ordinary citizens make their contribution to the big picture. Maria Isakova is a simple Russian woman. Simple and great.
Starting conditions
People of the older generation still remember the times when people were engaged in physical education and sports not for fees, but for their own pleasure. And at the stadium you could test your physical abilities and willpower. Or just have a good time. As a little girl, Maria Grigorievna Isakova made her way to the stadium to go ice skating in her free hour. For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that two metal plates with rope attachments can be called skates with a large degree of convention.
The future world champion was born on July 5, 1918 in an ordinary Russian family. Parents lived in the famous city of Vyatka. My father worked at a woodworking plant. Mother worked in a laundry at a sawmill. In the house, apart from Masha, four more children were growing up. Like the majority of the population in these places, the Isakovs did not live well. No, the children were not swollen with hunger, but every penny came with hard work. The girl had to help her mother in everything. She cleaned the house. Washed ports and sundresses. I could cook cabbage soup and fry potatoes.
The house where Maria grew up was located not far from the Dynamo stadium. She, like all the surrounding tomboy, knew the weak points in the fence, and could easily get to the rink. In those days, observant and perceptive people were selected for coaching. One of the experts in speed skating drew attention to how a girl named Isakova skated. He presented her with real skates and invited her to classes in the section. After several trainings, Isakova took part in competitions for the city championship. And immediately set a record at two distances. As a reward for the victory, she was presented with brand new galoshes.
When Maria brought her prize home, she was treated with respect. From that moment on, she began to play sports with full responsibility. In training, the athlete gained muscle mass. Strengthened the breathing apparatus. She improved her running technique. After a while, she won the title of USSR champion. And then she set a world record. In between sporting events, she got married and gave birth to two daughters. However, the war began, and all plans were destroyed.
Trainings and tournaments
When all the men went to the front, they had to leave sports. Maria worked for almost two years in a local hospital as a physical education instructor. She worked with wounded soldiers who needed rehabilitation. Isakova developed individual exercises for each wounded and coordinated them with the attending physician. In 1943, she was summoned to Moscow to involve her in the country's speed skating championship. No matter how hard Maria tried, she did not rise above seventh place. Despite the failure, the coaching staff unanimously decided to support the athlete and transferred her to the capital for permanent residence.
The calculations and creativity of the coaches were justified. In 1945, Isakova took first place in the national championship. From that moment on, the sports career, as they say, went "uphill". For six years, no one could compete with the current champion. It is important to emphasize that Maria originally developed her own running technique. She began to prepare for the next tournament or championship in advance. Exactly calculated the date when the body will reach its maximum capacity. Isakova discovered all her “secrets” in the book “Learn to Skate”.
Successes and achievements
In 1948, Soviet athletes went to the World Speed Skating Championships in Finland for the first time. Morally, our girls were in a fighting mood. However, the situation before the 500 meter race was dramatic. During the warm-up at Isakova, who was the leader of the team, the meniscus of the knee joint "flew out". Only she could really confront the Finnish athlete, the world champion of last year. The doctors did everything in their power, and Maria went to the start. She came out and won with a convincing lead of more than three seconds. Isakova's face was mingled with tears from knee pain and joy that she became the world champion.
The next year the championship was held in Norway. And again the gold went to the Soviet athlete. At the presentation of the awards, the Norwegian king named Isakova “the queen of ice”. To which Maria replied that to a greater extent she felt like “Cinderella from Vyatka”. At the next championship, the placement on the podium has not changed. Experts and spectators had no doubt that the famous speed skater Isakov was full of energy. However, age was already making itself felt.
Essays on personal life
If you look at the official biography of Maria Grigorievna Isakova, then there are a few words about her personal life. Yes, life outside of sports was difficult for the multiple champion. She got married three years before the war. The husband and wife lived in friendship and harmony. They had two daughters, Polina and Oia. In 1941, the husband went to the front and died a heroic death. In the abyss of adversity, the younger Iya died of illness.
It is difficult to convey in words all the experiences and tears that Maria Isakova shed. She endured all the trials and tribulations that fell to her lot. She survived and remained a Man with a capital letter. After leaving big sports, Isakova was engaged in coaching. She has written several books about her sports destiny. She devoted a lot of time and effort to work in the "Children's Fund". Maria Grigorievna Isakova died in the spring of 2011. She was buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery in Moscow.
