The words that real men play hockey have been known for a long time and remain relevant in our time. This catch phrase is confirmed by the history of Soviet hockey, of which Valery Kharlamov was a prominent representative.
Starting conditions
In the current chronological period, ice hockey is one of the most popular sports, which has become widespread in Europe and the American continent. Experts have long noticed that Canadians, at every opportunity, emphasize that it was they who invented this simple, tough and spectacular game. No one disputes this fact, but the USSR national team in all respects claims the title of the strongest in the world. At the same time, the name of Valery Borisovich Kharlamov is always mentioned among the stars.
One of the star players of the Soviet Union national team was born on January 14, 1948 in an ordinary Soviet family. Parents lived in Moscow. My father worked as a foreman at a tool factory. The mother was born in Spain and was brought to the Union to save her from death in the civil war that raged there in the mid-30s. Here she worked as a bookkeeper in the procurement shop. It is interesting to note that Valery developed a heart disease in his childhood. The doctors forbade him to exercise. However, the father took responsibility for himself and began to take his son with him to the rink.
Sports career
Kharlamov was enrolled in the hockey section of the CSKA youth club when he was 13 years old. A year later, he began to demonstrate a high level of play and the coaches drew attention to him. However, the coaching staff doubted the boy's appearance. He looked thin, and even differed in small stature. And only after Valery gained sufficient muscle mass, he was accepted into the youth team of army men. Since the mid-60s, the USSR national ice hockey team was formed on the basis of the CSKA team.
As one of the leading players of the club, Kharlamov got into the national team. The coaches have been looking for a place in the lineup for Valery for a long time. And the best option was found. The legendary attack troika Petrov-Mikhailov-Kharlamov became the main "weapon" with which the team achieved brilliant results. The USSR national team won the world title eight times. She became an Olympic champion twice. And Kharlamov also has nine gold medals of the European championship.
Hockey player's personal life
Almost everything is known about Valery Kharlamov's personal life. Before his marriage, he spent all his free time at the rink, in the gym or at regular training camps. The moment came and the famous hockey player met a girl he liked. Irina Smirnova was eight years younger than her fiancé, but this fact did not become an obstacle to the wedding.
The Kharlamovs had two children in the house - a son and a daughter. Everyday life developed without scandals and mutual claims. The tragic incident crossed out everything. Valery Kharlamov, his wife Irina and her brother Sergei were killed in a car accident. The tragedy took place on August 27, 1981.
