Alisher Usmanov's wife is the Honored Trainer, President of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics Irina Viner. They met in their youth, but got married only many years later and have not parted since then.
Irina Viner and her path to success
Irina Viner was born in 1948 in Samarkand. She grew up in an intelligent Jewish family. When Irina went to school, her parents moved to the capital of Uzbekistan. Her grandfather was a violinist, and her father was a member of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan. They instilled in the girl an artistic taste, which was subsequently reflected in her performances and coaching activities.
Irina Viner has been very artistic since childhood. She studied music, ballet and wanted to become an actress, but her parents were categorically against it. In order to somehow realize her creative potential, the Girl took up rhythmic gymnastics. After graduation, she planned to go to medical school, as her mother, a doctor, wanted. But Irina did not pass the exams and at the family council it was decided that she would study at the Uzbek Institute of Physical Culture and Sports.
Wiener's sports career was successful. She became the champion of Uzbekistan in rhythmic gymnastics three times. After graduation, Irina got a job as a coach at the Sports School of the Olympic Reserve of the Republic. She has been training young athletes for exactly 20 years. During this time, she managed to raise such champions as Venera Zaripova, Marina Nikolaeva, Elena Kholodova. Viner was awarded the title of Honored Coach of Uzbekistan in rhythmic gymnastics.
When Irina Aleksandrovna became quite popular, she received an offer to coach the Russian national team. At the same time, she also trained British athletes. Thanks to her talent and perseverance, gymnasts Debi Southwick and Viva Seifert were able to become Olympic champions. Wiener's pupils were Russian gymnasts Amina Zaripova, Alina Kabaeva, Yulia Barsukova.
In 2003, Irina Aleksandrovna returned to the issue of education, wrote a dissertation and received the title of first candidate, and then doctor of pedagogical sciences. In 2008, she became the president of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Personal life and marriage with Alisher Usmanov
Irina Aleksandrovna is not only a talented coach, but also an unusually beautiful woman. In her personal life, everything turned out very well, but not immediately. After graduation, she married and gave birth to a son, Anton, but Viner does not name the child's father. She reacts quite sharply to all questions about this person and says that she does not want to remember the one who betrayed her.
Acquaintance with the second husband and the main man in the life of the famous coach happened back in Uzbekistan, in a sports school, where they both trained. Alisher Usmanov was engaged in fencing. He attracted Irina with his extraordinary intelligence. But then their paths diverged for a long time. They met many years later in Moscow. Alisher Usmanov then worked as a diplomat and took his first steps in business. They met for several years, but did not dare to get married, since the parents of both were against this union. Everything was decided when Alisher Usmanov was involved in a large-scale embezzlement case. He was arrested and already from prison he sent a handkerchief to his beloved woman, which, according to Uzbek traditions, means a marriage proposal. Irina Viner agreed.
In 1992, Irina and Alisher got married and have not parted since then. An honored coach does not consider himself an ideal wife. She devotes almost all her time to sports, coaching and social activities. But she managed to build a strong family. Alisher Usmanov became one of the richest people in Russia. The owner of the Metalloinvest holding is proud of his wife and calls her the main love of his life.
The couple does not have joint children. But Alisher Usmanov always considered his wife's son to be his own. Now Anton is the owner of a chain of restaurants and fitness clubs. He is married and has two sons.
New projects and social life
Irina Viner has long dreamed of creating a separate complex where gymnasts could train more effectively. In 2013, she managed to make this dream come true. With the financial support of Alisher Usmanov, the residential complex "Olympic Village Novogorsk" was built. The International Sports Academy of Irina Viner was opened on the basis of the complex. This is a sports and educational institution that gives pupils the opportunity to study and train in one place.
Irina Viner often appears on TV screens. In 2016, she was invited to become the jury chairman on the TV show "No Insurance". The honored trainer is also involved in social activities. Irina Aleksandrovna admits that work gives her the strength to move on.
