Sovetsky Sport. August 11, 1987. Dear Editors! For almost two years, nothing has been heard about gymnast Dmitry Bilozerchev. I know that he was in a car accident and suffered a broken leg. How did his fate turn out? Is Dima training, and will he surprise us on the platform?
Almost all gymnastics competitions produce their own sensations, big and small. The 1983 world championships, held in Budapest, were no exception. Such a sensation was the victory of 16-year-old Muscovite, CSKA graduate Dmitry Bilozerchev.
I'm going to Leningradsky Prospekt. To the familiar CSKA gym. Dima and his coach Alexander Alexandrov were already waiting for me. Where to start the conversation? Maybe, from the most pleasant memory for Bilozerchev? By the way, he looks great, as if just yesterday he was celebrating his victory on the platform.
Dima, you are the youngest world champion in the history of men's gymnastics...
I don't want to brag, but this is probably not surprising. Since my parents brought me to the CSKA section, gymnastics has become the meaning of my life. Each workout is a discovery, a comprehension of the world of beauty and courage.
Were you not upset when, instead of the usual boyish games with your peers, you had to go to the gym and train until you worked up a sweat?
No. It was interesting to me. My coach Alexander Sergeevich Alexandrov, when composing routines, always included elements of increased difficulty in them, sometimes ones that no one had ever done before. Learning something new is exciting, and in gymnastics it also comes with a certain amount of risk, so it was doubly interesting for me. I like to take risks.
"For a boy, the goal that stands before him is very important. And Dmitry's character showed up right away," A. Alexandrov entered the conversation. "He always strived only to win, and at any competition, be it at a school sports championship, an Armed Forces championship, or a world championship. This is why I really like him. We have always been and remain allies and help each other. The path to Budapest was long and difficult, but we managed to prove our priority to represent our country at the world championship. Why did Dima win? I'll answer simply: for his performance we composed the most modern routines, and Dima performed them cleanly, without blemishes."
In general, Dmitry isn't very talkative. But I try to touch on a disturbing topic.
We remember how, before the world championships in Montreal, Bilozerchev got into a car accident, in which he was alone. He got some wine and went to the sports center. Rain, darkness. He crashed into a pole. A complex leg fracture and a year-long disqualification which resulted in him being withdrawn from the national team.
Obviously, everyone can make mistakes and have breakdowns. But a leader who is relied upon not only by his personal coach, but also by thousands of sports-loving fans, a leader who must defend the honor of the flag at major sports competitions, especially has no right to be irresponsible. Perhaps the fame that has descended on the young athlete is the reason for his misconduct?
I asked Alexandrov how he reacted then to everything that happened.
"I in no way relieve Dmitry of responsibility, although it was juvenile. I saw how worried and tormented he was. Dima suffered severe punishment along the Komsomol line. But the main thing in this story is that they did not turn away from him, they did not give up on him, as a gymnast and a person. Having realized his guilt, everyone can prove that he stumbled accidently and foolishly. His teammates here at CSKA did everything they could to help Bilozerchev recover from his injury and return to intensive training. When he returned to the gym after coming out of TsITO, the attitude towards him was the most friendly. He felt it and believed in himself again..."
Bilozerchev was already actively training in July 1986, preparing to compete at the end of the season. But more bad luck awaited him. He seriously injured his leg on floor exercise. Another operation, and again months of agonizing waiting.
Almost another year was lost. During this time, new names appeared in gymnastics, and those who previously competed with Bilozerchev grew stronger and matured. Will we see the same brilliant leader on the platform? After all, now the 'kings' of the platform are Korolev, Lyukin, and Mogilny.
"I'm training now, and in September I'll be competing in Rostov-on-Don at the USSR Cup. I don't want to predict the results. The competition will show everything. But I'm not going to lose. I'm ready to compete and I think I'm ready to win!"
At the European Championships, Alma-Ata resident Valery Lyukin showed phenomenally difficult elements...
But not on all events! His floor exercises are the strongest by far, and here it is really difficult to beat him. I am not yet able to peform a triple somersault. The leg injury still reminds me of itself. But in the all-around I intend to fight for the Cup.
Next season is the Olympic season. Do you take this element into account in your training?
It's probably too early to talk about this. Let's wait for the USSR Cup and the world championships, which will be held in Rotterdam in October. I really want to get into the team.
Who do you consider to be your most serious rivals?
Valery Lyukin and Valentin Mogilny - they are our guys. But I can compete with them, which means I can win. And among the foreign gymnasts, the first ones to be reckoned with are the athletes from the People's Republic of China. But in principle, there are no competitors you cannot win against. Otherwise, why go on the platform at all?
Do you have any hobbies besides gymnastics? How do you spend your free time?
I have only one hobby: gymnastics. There are no others. There is no free time either. I entered my fourth year at the Leningrad Military Institute of Physical Culture. Of course, the teachers, knowing how much time sport takes, give me some concessions. But to be honest, it's a shame when you come to take an exam and don't know the material. I'm really questioned in the gym. I've had some retakes of exams. But in general I try to be no worse than the others. I try to spend the rare free days from training and study at home with my parents and my wife Svetlana.
How does your family feel about sports?
They miss me and look forward to seeing me, and they worry about my injuries. Especially my wife. She threatens that she won't let me into the gym anymore. But that's just talk. She is an athlete herself, a figure skater, so she understands everything perfectly. I'm sad without them, too, but without sports it would be even worse. Whenever I'm at home, I try to help Svetlana. I even learned to cook.
Dima, your future speciality, as I understand it, is related to sports pedagogy. Do you somehow help the younger ones master the basics of the craft?
To be honest, I don't have the time. My own training is very interesting. There are still a whole lot of competitions ahead...
So, will the European champion and the 1983 all-around world champion regain his leadership? The question remains open for now. Dmitry himself and his coach really hope for this, but now we will wait until September.
N. KALUGINA