Raikov, Valentin Fedorovich

Even at the junction of the 50s and 60s of the 20th century, young Valentin Raikov made sports Samara speak of himself as a very talented skier, becoming the winner of the famous ski race for the prizes of the Volzhskaya Kommuna newspaper, following the standard of the USSR Master of Sports.

Comprehending coaching science at the Institute. Lesgaft, he became the champion of Leningrad among students, participated in the USSR championships.

The development of Raikov's sports career was prevented by a serious illness - asthma .

Valentin Raikov arrived in Togliatti in 1965 in the direction of the regional committee, worked at the VTsM as a coach in skiing and athletics, and from 1972 he took the post of chairman of the city council of the Trud volunteer sports society.

During these years his first great coaching success came - Pavel Sysoev won the bronze medal at the European Championship in the 3000m hurdles, becoming the master of sports of international class.

One of the first Togliatti masters and candidates for the master of sports Evgeny Novichkov, Ivan Harunov, Nikolai Kulik, Nikolai Romanov, Zhanna Malkova are also students of Raykov.

Since 1976, Valentin Fedorovich became a track and field athletics coach at VAZ Training Complex, coached the champion and record holder of the USSR, the participant of the 80th Olympiad Vladimir Malozemlin.

Raikov was one of the coaches of the USSR national athletics team.

In 1979, the national team prepared by him, consisting of Viktor Podolyako, Nikolai Kirov, Vladimir Malozemlin, Anatoly Reshetnyak, became the world record holder in the 4x800 m relay.

Valentin Raikov also stood at the origins of the creation of the Lada run lovers club of the Volga Automobile Plant, not shunning coaching and age runners, many of whom became champions of Russia and even prize-winners of the European championship among veterans.

And the patriarch of athletics and skiing himself did not eschew physical exertion, having chosen the most difficult discipline as specialization - 400 meters running with barriers.

In 1991 , Raikov became the last USSR record holder among veterans (55-59 years old) in this kind of program. The USSR broke up, but the record remained.

It should be noted that for four years, Valentin Fyodorovich headed the city council of sports veterans.

But few people know about his contribution to the development of sports infrastructure in Togliatti.

40 years ago, under his direct supervision, a cinder track was laid at the “Builder” stadium .

Now the stadium meets all international standards, but the track, note, has never been shifted ever since!

Raykovsky invented a unique “cold” method for filling a cinder track. True, a rubber-bitumin coating was invented shortly thereafter.

Raikov put his hand to the preparation of the illuminated ski slope in the Central region, laid a synthetic track in the track and field arena at the Olymp Olymp, later converted to a handball arena.

For many years, the master of the coaching department has been retired, but does not leave the sport.

Almost every day, you can catch him at the VAZ ski complex, where he works as an instructor in recreational sports in one of the divisions of AVTOVAZ OJSC.

Many factory workers, thanks to Raikov's powerful campaign work, are addicted to regular skiing.

In general, in his 73 years old, Valentin Fedorovich Raikov is pleased with the way his life has developed. He regrets only that in due time his request for the expansion of an apartment of 37 m² remained unanswered. And with the change of the social formation such an opportunity disappeared altogether.

But one cannot say that the local authorities have forgotten about the deserved coach of Russia - he is paid extra for his pension, and occasionally they are given vouchers to health facilities, Raikov is an honored guest of many sporting events.

Raikov has a great many students - runners and skiers. All of them, as before, lead an active lifestyle, taking an example from their teacher, are very happy to meet with him, ready to listen to his advice. And with his most famous pupil Vladimir Malozemlin Raikov is seen quite often - both cottages are located in the neighborhood near the village of Piskaly.

He still cannot be in a state of complete peace of mind - worries about the fate of VAZ and Togliatti sports, is not afraid to give harsh assessments of the actions of some sports leaders, considers the transfer from the city-forming enterprise to the municipality of children's sports schools and the unique sports infrastructure to be a big mistake.

• Master of Sports of the USSR . ^[one]
• Honored coach of Russia .

• Article about Raikov V.F. in the newspaper “Sports Review” (inaccessible link)
• The best athletes and coaches Tolyatti
• Olympian is forever