Bazhukov, Nikolay Serafimovich

Born in a large family, was the youngest child.

After the sisters left for the city to study, he began to perform basic household work: harvesting hay and firewood, labor in the garden and in the collective farm. At the same time began to engage in skiing, developing skills in school.

After graduating from school, he got a job as a car mechanic, continued to seriously engage in skiing in his free time.

In the season of 1972-73 he develops his training system: in the summer from early morning on haymaking, and in the evening jogging for 10-15 km. In December 1972, at the All-Union competitions of adult skiers in Perm, on his wooden skis, he took 2nd place, ahead of his closest opponent by two minutes.

The first serious competition is the Junior European Championship in Kavgolovo (Leningrad). At a distance of 15 km N. Bazhukov took third place, losing 1 second to E. Belyaev from Leningrad (the first was a German athlete).

At the winter Games of the peoples of the USSR in Sverdlovsk, at a distance of 15 km on wooden skis, when he was selected for the Olympic team, Nikolai won a bronze medal, losing to his compatriot V. Rocheva. Bazhukov is taken as a candidate for the Olympic team of the country, they give out plastic skis and provide training under the guidance of the official coach-mentor.

Successful performance in competitions in Bakuriani, at the Union Cup in the Olympics of friendly armies (1975), confirmed the correctness of the chosen methods and tactics in preparation for responsible competitions.

Olympic Games in Innsbruck (1976)

In Innsbruck, Nikolay took part in three issues of the ski program: in a race for 30 and 15 km and in relay race 4x10 km.

At the first distance of 30 km, after 20 km, he won against the strongest skiers who followed him, 10-15 seconds. At the finish, he was fifth. Won the Soviet skier Sergey Saveliev. Nicholas believes - miscalculation in the selection of ski ointment. He was preparing skis himself, did not calculate possible changes in temperature.

At a distance of 15 km, he started in the group of the strongest at number 55. The participants who started under the first numbers were in a better position. Among them was our Evgeny Belyaev. Nikolay passed the first third of the distance, losing to E. Belyaev and Finnish racer Koivisto, and 3 km before the finish he was already ahead of his rivals. As a result, Bazhukova was divided for two seconds with a silver medal winner E. Belyaev.

The 4x10 km relay race was dramatic for the Soviet team. At the first stage, E. Belyaev, a silver medalist, ran. He immediately broke away from the group and led the race. However, a plastic toe of his boot broke off halfway. Then such models of shoes and mounts only mastered, including in big-time sports. Fans who watched the race on TV, even a little bit versed in skiing, immediately understood the cause of the catastrophe. Evgeny Belyaev showed the highest courage, continuing to move on one ski, because the coaches could not provide a replacement shoe for a long time due to the large size of the legs. Nevertheless, he managed to keep his head in the race and his loss was not too big. However, he was only the eleventh to set off the Olympic champion. Nikolay Bazhukov outdid several opponents at a distance and passed the baton to another Olympic champion Sergey Savelyev to the third. Unsuccessful lubrication did not allow Savelyev to hold the position, he moved to sixth place. And only experienced Ivan Garanin incredible efforts led the USSR national team to the third prize. Bronze Olympic medal for the baton has expanded the collection of awards Bazhukova.

Lake Placid Olympics (1980)

In 1980, Bazhukov took part in a 30 km race, took 14th place.

At its crown distance of 15 km is not declared. His participation in the relay race was also questionable; at the insistence of V. Rochev, E. Belyaev, S. Saveliev, he was included in the team and became the champion of the Olympic Games together with the team.

The relay race at first developed for the USSR national team is not entirely successful. In the starting clearing, the rival pushes V.Rocheva, who falls and leaves last, but leads the team to the 1st place. In the course of the race, he understood that there was a miscalculation in the selection of ski lubricant. At one of the segments of the distance, the coaches shouted about the need to muddle the skis of N. Bazhukov, who took the baton from him, but did not have time. Despite the return, N. Bazhukov lasted all 10 km behind the Norwegian athlete. At one of the sites he tried to circumvent the Norwegian skier. Apparently, at the moment of overtaking in the heat of the struggle, N. Bazhukov received a blow with the tip of a stick in the foot. However, overcoming the pain in the finish town, he did not give a second. E. Belyaev creates a gap at his stage and already at the fourth stage N. Zimyatov leads the USSR team to victory.

Life after sports

In 1977 he graduated from the school of coaches at the Leningrad Military Institute of Physical Education, in 1984 - the Leningrad Military Institute of Physical Education.

In 1984 he transferred to coaching, preparing the men's national team of the Republic of Komi, as well as the national team of skiers of the armed forces.

Since 1991, he resigned from coaching and engaged in private business. Retired Major .

Member of the party "United Russia".

In 2005 he was appointed a freelance adviser to the Head of Komi on issues of physical culture and sports ^[1] .

He is a member of the Public Chamber of the Republic of Komi. Organizer of skiing competitions in the Komi Republic.

• Champion of the 1976 Winter Olympics in a 15 km race
• Champion of the 1980 Winter Olympics in the 4x10 km relay
• Bronze medalist of the 1976 Winter Olympics in the 4x10 km relay
• USSR champion 1974 , 1977 , 1978 , 1979 , 1981 in the 4x10 km relay
• USSR Champion 1976 , 1983 in the race for 15 km

• Awarded two orders "Badge of Honor" (1976, 04/09/1980) ^[2]
• Honored Worker of Culture of the Komi ASSR 1976
• "Honorary Citizen of Syktyvkar" (April 19, 2000)

Wife, daughter.

• Bazhukov Nikolai Serafimovich - article from the Big Olympic Encyclopedia ( M. , 2006)
• Nikolay Bazhukov - Olympic statistics on the website Sports-Reference.com (eng.)
• Biography on www.peoples.ru
• Bazhukov Nikolay Serafimovich