Balashov, Andrey Vasilyevich

Father Balashov Vasily Stepanovich (1907–1966) was one of the leading experts in light industry, had scientific discoveries and copyright certificates. Unfortunately, the father did not approve of the desire of his son to sailing. Mother Balashov (Zhukova) Elena Semenovna (1911-1953) worked as a chief accountant. The family lived on Vasilyevsky Island of Leningrad.

From the age of 15, Andrey worked at the Nevsky Marine Plant as a ship electrician-fitter, and in the evening after work he worked at the Trud yacht club. Since 1964, trained under the direction of Moskvina I. B. Vladimir Vasilyevich Vasilyev and Anatoly Stepanovich Konovalov played a huge role in its formation. The first significant success came in 1967 in Leningrad at the Games of the Peoples of the USSR - a bronze medal ^[2] .

In 1970 he moved to Moscow in the TsSK Navy. In Moscow, the coaches of Andrei Balashov were Elena Sokolova, Valery Nikolin , Rafael Nuger (in Sevastopol) and Oleg Ivanovich Shilov ^[3] (since 1974). Certain obstacles in traveling abroad prevented at that time from winning gold medals at the European Championships, World Championships and the Olympic Games. Although there were victories in the Baltic regattas, World regattas in the GDR, the Kiel regatta .

At the 1976 Olympic Games, Andrei won the silver medal in the Finn class , losing only in the last race to the athlete from the GDR, J. Schumann.

From 1978 to 1980, he trained under Yuri Larin , as a senior Finn class coach. At the same time, in 1974, Oleg Shilov remained the personal trainer of Balashov in the team of the Central Navy Sports Club (CSK Navy) ^[4] . In 1977, due to the conflict, the athlete became not visiting and could not qualify to participate in the Olympics in 1980. This situation was helped by the coach Yuri Larin, who personally vouched for him, to correct it - this is how the athlete began to be let out for competitions abroad. When he failed in the early days of the 1980 Olympics, Yury Larin and Oleg Shilov discussed with the ward all possible outcomes and advice they received helped him to coordinate and show the good result that brought the athlete a medal. Yuri Larin often conducted research, measured performance using different devices, so that athletes could achieve optimal results. Easier all such studies were conducted with Andrei Balashov. After receiving the Olympic medal, the athlete left an inscription to his coach, in which he thanked for everything he could do for him ^{[5] [6]} .

In the Olympic regatta of 1980 in Tallinn, Balashov was the third in the same class ^[7] . And the struggle in this class was dramatic. Balashov very badly started the regatta and after two races was at the end of the standings. However, he was able to mobilize and, coming in the last race, the first after a deep false start, won his second Olympic medal ^[8] . Valery Zakovorotny was one of the coaches who prepared him for the Olympics ^[9] .

Won silver and bronze at the European Championship.

Seven-time champion of the USSR in the Finn class . After the Moscow Olympics, he moved to the “Star” class , but due to the non-participation of the USSR national team in the 1984 Olympics, Balashov was forced to end his sports career ^[10] . He had to leave to serve as an officer, head of the physical training service to Kamchatka, to the Pacific Fleet.

After serving in the Navy in the rank of captain of the third rank, Andrei returned to Moscow in 1991 and participated in the work of the America's Cup program . Engaged in towing testing of the yacht model in the experimental pool of the Central Research Institute of them. Krylov . Twice worked as a coach in China. He submitted the tender documents for the position of the Head Coach of the Russian National Team, but was not elected.

In 2008 and 2009, Andrey Vasilyevich joined the work of the Moscow Finn Class Association - participated in training, preparing athletes, helped with advice, and in 2009 joined the training of the national team in the Finn class and even sat on Finn again. by taking part in a number of Moscow regattas - including the Russian Championship in the Finn class ^[11] .

He was buried at Bogorodskoye cemetery .

Since 2010, the Andrey Balashov Cup , the competition of yachtsmen in the Finn class, has been held annually ^[12] .

Forever sail number RUS 2 is assigned to Andrey Vasilievich Balashov. From now on, no Russian “Finist” can perform at this sail number under this number. ^[12]

• Portrait
• Andrei Balashov Cup
• Andrey Vasilievich Balashov - Olympic statistics on the website Sports-Reference.com (English)
• In memory of Andrey Vasilievich Balashov. Sketch by Valentina Danilova
• Obituary on the website
• A word about an outstanding yachtsman
• Balashov memorial evening at the Olympic Committee November 20, 2009