Russian journalist and sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev, in a conversation with socialbites.ca, called the late three-time Olympic champion Anfisa Reztsova the greatest athlete in both skiing and biathlon. He also noted that Reztsova became one of the leaders of the ski team and later became a phenomenon in biathlon.
“He exploded like a comet in 1985 and became world champion for the first time under the name Romanov. He was the face of the team and one of the team leaders, he was a world champion, then he went to Calgary, won the gold medal there, and also came second in cross-country skiing, I think twice. A man who received training from the best mentors in the world. Then he made such a sharp turn that he entered biathlon. Biathlon became an Olympic sport for women, and Reztsova gave the impression of being some kind of phenomenon, because she had once won a World Cup medal by making six errors in the sprint. At that time, there was no way of competing on skis in biathlon. Two World Cups, two Olympic gold medals. Reztsova was the brightest star. In this process, she realized that she was a woman, a mother. She married the famous athlete trainer Leonid Reztsov and gave birth to four daughters. Two of his four daughters became outstanding biathletes: Dasha Virolainen and Kristina Reztsova. At the end of his sports career, he returned to skiing after somersaulting and became the world ski champion. “Of course, it was phenomenal in the late ’90s,” he said.
Guberniev called the athlete’s death an early loss and expressed his condolences to his family. He noted that in sports, Reztsova is an example of hard work and farming.
“He was a self-defense, sharp-tongued person. I had many different moments with him, but in any case, of course, I respected his sports background. I offer my deepest condolences to the family. An early loss, for sure. We all mourn, this is a great loss for the world and for Russian skiing and biathlon, because there is no one like Reztsova and there will never be, she is the only one. “It was an example of change in sports, hard work and dedication in sports,” he explained.
The journalist also recalled that he met Anfisa Reztsova on the train while going to the Institute of Physical Education in 1995.
“I approached him, introduced myself, he and I walked to the institute, and when we entered the classroom for state exams, almost everyone fell over. Afterwards we talked like old friends. “I undoubtedly had different moments with him, but it is still a great bitter loss for me, as it is for everyone involved in sports in some way,” he said.
On October 20, the press service of the Russian Biathlon Union reported that three-time Olympic champion in biathlon and cross-country skiing Anfisa Reztsova died at the age of 58.
Reztsova spent her last days in the intensive care unit of a hospital in the Moscow region and was hospitalized unconscious on October 15. On October 20, the athlete had to be transferred to another hospital, but he died before regaining consciousness.
Reztsova in April reportedHe said he received a blood transfusion after having a heart attack.