Leonid Tyagachev marks 80th birthday in Shukolovo

Leonid Tyagachev, honorary president of the Russian Olympic Committee, turned 80 on October 10, marking the occasion in the Shukolovo hills where his skiing career began.

In an NTV profile, Tyagachev recalled training alpine skiers and emphasised physical conditioning. Strength, coordination and a broad range of movement skills were central to his approach. His team trained on Elbrus and in Kamchatka, incorporating techniques drawn from hockey.

Tyagachev established a ski training base in Shukolovo, a children's sports school with 350 pupils and a boarding facility where athletes from across Russia train throughout the year. He described developing an athlete as a lengthy process that depends on a child's ability to understand and carry out coaching instructions.

He met his wife, Svetlana, in their home village, where they attended the same school. Their daughters and granddaughters grew up there, and the family also helped restore a convent.

The Russian Fencing Federation and Russian Wrestling Federation published birthday greetings. The Russian Olympic Committee recalled that Tyagachev headed the organisation from 2001 to 2010.