Evgeny Grishin is a famous speed skater and cyclist who has become a multiple Olympic champion and has set several world records. He is also known for his marriage to the athlete Marina Granatkina and his own books on sports topics.
Early biography
Evgeny Grishin was born on March 23, 1931 in Tula. At an early age, the young man's first hobby was cycling. In 1951-52 he became one of the best trackers in the Soviet Union and became a member of the USSR national team at the Olympic Games held in Helsinki. Despite all his efforts, he failed to pass the qualifying stage of the competition. In addition, heavy physical exertion began to be difficult for Evgeny, and he decided to quit cycling.
Since childhood, Grishin was very fond of ice skating and stubbornly honed his skills every winter in his hometown. After retiring from cycling, he was invited to study at professional speed skating schools in the country. In addition to training, Evgeny tried in every possible way to contribute to the development of speed skating in the Union and even took part in the construction of the Alma-Ata high-mountain skating rink Medeo. The first major victories at the USSR and World Sprint Championships soon followed. Grishin performed mainly at distances of 500 and 1500 meters.
Sports merit
In 1956, the athlete took part in the Olympic Games, held in the Italian city of Cortina d'Ampezzo, having won the "gold" in the sprint at his usual distances. Four years later, he repeated his success at the Olympic Games in Squaw Valley. Grishin was also in the lead at his next Olympics in Innsbruck, but he made a technical mistake and did not meet the time needed to win, taking second place. Despite his considerable age, Eugene did not leave training and four years later went to the Olympic Games, held in Grenoble, but did not win a prize.
In 1963, Grishin set a world speed skating record of 500 m, finishing in 39.5 seconds, holding the lead for five. At the peak of his form before the 1964 Olympics, he repeatedly ran the distance for 38, 5 s.
Personal life and death
In 1959, Evgeny Grishin married Marina Granatkina, who also achieved high results in sports. Grishin's wife is famous as the champion of the Soviet Union in pair skating, master of sports and honored worker of physical culture of the USSR. In marriage, a daughter, Elena, was born. Gradually, the relationship between Eugene and Marina deteriorated, and in the 70s they decided to divorce.
After retiring from sports, Grishin began working as a coach, training with the country's leading sprinters and preparing the 1972 and 1976 Olympic team. He wrote and published biographical books "500 meters", "Either - or". He was a member of the CPSU, for his contribution to the development of sports in the country he was awarded the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. Evgeny Grishin died in 2005. He was 74 years old.
