14 | FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2012 Sports X-tra THE LEGEND A SHO TING LIVES ON STAR The Olympic movement has seen some amazing feats by some amazing athletes. Some of them are long dead and gone, some are still considered as living legends. Here’s a look at some of their feats

Bob Beamon (US, 1968, Mexico): Dawn Fraser (Australia, 1956, 1960, This US athlete shook the world with a 1964): Dawn Fraser won eight world record leap of 8.90m in Mexico Olympic medals, including four gold City. His record stood for 23 years, medals. She also had 39 records until Mike Powel of the US broke it in against her name. The 100 metres 1991, the second among the most freestyle record was hers for 15 years long-standing records. Jesse Owens from December 1, 1956 to January 8, leap in 1936 in Berlin remained intact 1972. She is the first of only two for 25 years. Officials had to bring out swimmers in Olympic history an extra measuring tape to find out (Krisztina Egerszegi of Hungary being the distance of Beamon’s leap. The the other) to win individual gold electronic device did not have a measurement capability beyond medals for the same event at three successive Olympics (100 nly17, she is a ders with stalwarts like Anjali Shriyanka believes India has a 8.50m as no human being had ever managed to break that barri- metres freestyle – 1956, 1960, 1964). In October 1962, she became We have very er. The word ‘Beamonesque’ came into use after his feat to the first woman to swim 100 metres freestyle in less than one ‘shooting star’ on Bhagwat, and good marks- good contingent of female describe spectacular sporting achievements. minute. It was not until 1973, eight years after Fraser retired, Oplanet Earth. With in two senior shooters who have never lagged that her 100m record of 58.9 seconds was broken. a rifle in hand, an eye fixed competitions. women who have behind. “We have very good (, 1972, 1976): At on the target Shriyanka won laurels across markswomen who have done the 1972 Olympics, her acrobatics and Kipchoge Keino (Kenya, 1968, Sadangi is a sight to savour. well at the Asian level. Heena open display of emotion—notably, she 1972): Keino can easily be called the A crack and she finds the globe for India Sidhu, Annu Raj Singh, Sonia wiped tears from her face after a disas- father of African middle and long-dis- the bull’s eye! Rai and Rahi Sarnobat have all trous routine—in contrast tance of running. He was instrumen- Born in Sambalpur, I am an Oriya at won laurels for the country to the stereotypically cold eastern bloc tal in making African nations a force and raised in the north- around the world,” she asserted. athlete, captivated the Munich audi- to reckon with in both the middle and ern cantonments of heart and I dream of A teenager who has toured ences. There she became one of the first long-distance races. Keino won the India, Shriyanka is al- the day I will win many parts of the globe, Shriyanka persons ever to do a backward somer- gold in 1,500 metres in Mexico City ready being hailed as medals for is of the opinion that training fa- sault on the in competi- and then four years later won the a key member of the cilities abroad are still better even tion. She was also the first to do a stand- 3000m steeplechase in Munich. shooting contingent my State in though India is slowly catching ing backward somersault on bars, and a back somersault to swing- Currently Keino is the Chairman of the that will carry India the national up. “In , Germany and the down (Korbut Flip) on beam. Her bars move is no longer seen in Kenyan Olympic Committee. ahead in the future. of America you high level , but the tuck back and Korbut Flip are still With her father, in the tournaments have better infrastructure. They very popular (2003 world beam champion performed both in Vitaly Scherbo (1992, 1996): This defence forces, Shriyanka have more coaches and have made her routine). This excellence in technical skills overthrew the sport’s Belarus gymnast became the first never had a dearth of en- Shriyanka’s idol. tremendous advancement in the traditional emphasis on artistry. She won four gold medals in 1972 male sportsperson to win six gold couragement or facilities. In “I think Col. field of technology. But the National before being eclipsed by Nadia Comaneci in Montreal in 1976. medals in one Olympics, a feat However, she managed to win two silvers that year. never achived before. He did so in fact, it was an Olympic hunt Rathore inspired me to Rifle Association of India (NRAI) Barcelona and the record still organised by the Indian take up the sport. I have is doing its best,” she said. (Russia, 1956, 1960, stands. Four years later at Atlanta Army in 2006 that attracted talked to him on a few occa- Like every sportsperson, 1964): Larisa is former Soviet gym- he added four more bronze to have the 11-year old. sions and it has been a real Shriyanka dreams of repre- nast who was the only female athlete an imposing 10 medals from the two “In 2006, the Army was learning experience. Even at senting India at the Olympics to win nine Olympic gold medals. She Olympics. Victimised in his own conducting ‘Mission the academy whenever I talk but has not set any timeframe. has won 18 medals, more than any country, Scherbo moved to the Olympics’ which aimed to to Gagan Sir he gives me “I indeed want to be at the other competitor in any sport, and United States and settled in train young shooters for the Shriyanka has made some invaluable tips,” Olympics, but have no specific was responsible for establishing the Pennsylvania. The charismatic gymnast became the darling of future. It was exclusively India proud with her Shriyanka stated. Games in mind. If I perform con- as the dominant force in the media and struck many endorsement deals becoming the meant Army children and I achievements But someone who trains at sistently at the international gymnastics. She also holds the record first Soviet athlete to successfully market himself in the West. happened to participate in Pune and occasionally visits New level I can well be on the plane for most individual medals (14 outside that. It was then I took a lik- Shriyanka’s associa- Delhi for exams, has there been to Brazil in 2016,” she stated. of team events) in Olympic history. Daley Thomson (1980, 1984): Decathlete Daley Thompson of ing for the sport,” she said. tion with Narang has been fruit- any detachment from her home- Always yearning to hear the Great Britain won successive gold medals in Moscow and Los Her liking brought her glory. ful with her training at ‘Gun land Orissa? Shriyanka replies national anthem after every Marie-Jose Perec (1992, 1996): Even Angeles. He also broke the world Shriyanka has so far won seven for Glory’ in Pune under the su- with an emphatic ‘NO’. “I am an event, Shriyanka believes the though Marie now lives in Sydney, she record for the event four times. With international medals, the latest pervision of Russian coach Iurii Oriya very much at heart. I visit Indian contingent will return participated in the 1992 Barcelona and four world records, two Olympic being a gold last June in Germany Mikhalkin. But it is not just a my grandparents every year. We with a rich haul of gold medals the 1996 Atlanta games representing gold medals, three Commonwealth where she shot a personal best of training regime that makes a speak Oriya at home and there is from the London Olympics. “I France. She won the 200m in Barcelona titles, and wins in the World and 398/400. Besides this, medals shooter sharp. Shriyanka be- no sense of separation at all,” she am very sure that we will win a and followed it up with a double (200m European Championships, came from various international lieves in role models and inter- said before adding that she is lot of gold medals in London. and 400m) in Atlanta. On the way to Thompson is considered by many to the unique double she created a world be the greatest decathlete of all junior level competitions in Czech acting with them. As a kid she yearning to represent Orissa in Abhinav Bindra’s triumph in record in the 400m by clocking a time time. Robert Chalmers described Republic and Kuwait. And it is had seen Colonel Rajyavardhan national level competitions provided has opened the floodgates of 48.25 seconds. However, the 1996 him as ‘the greatest all-round ath- not just in the junior category that Singh Rathore win silver in the certain formalities are completed. and now it is India’s turn to titles were her last international victo- lete this country (Great Britain) has Shriyanka has represented India. 2004 Athens Olympics and With male shooters hogging gun for glory,” Orissa’s shooting ries as she gradually eased herself out of competitive athletics. ever produced’. The Oriya girl has rubbed shoul- since then Rathore has been the limelight most of the time, star signed off. Nurturing budding The WAGS hey are a peculiar lot. The dergoing a ‘paternity test’ to find he -based SAIL The players are trained in mod- WAGS (wives and girl- out whether he really is the fa- Hockey Academy (SHA) ern techniques and tactics; phys- Tfriends society). For, fame, ther of the child, Fico is carrying. Thas got reasons to cele- ical and psychological related in- TALENTS money and being in the limelight French model Vanessa Perroncel brate. One of its cadets has puts are also provided to develop they can do anything. Even if is another case in example. She earned the ‘Olympian’ tag. them into quality players. that means swapping boyfriends went around a few days with Birendra Lakra, a product of SHA has a provision for train- or husbands. The latest to join Ashley Cole but the moment SHA, has put probably the best ing 32 cadets. The budding tal- the list is Mario Balotelli’s for- she found John Terry’s roving at- feather on the cap of an acad- ents are scouted from all over mer yet trying- to-be-present tention she fell for him hook, emy which has many small the country in the age group of girlfriend Raffaella Fico. line and sinker. Even though achievements in its name. Lakra 14 to 16 years. Once enrolled She was the one who once be- there is no official confirmation, is a part of the Indian team se- they are trained for three years. friended Cristiano Ronaldo, three she gave birth to a boy way back lected to play in the London To provide an ideal ambience for years ago. After a turbulent af- in 2003 during her brief tumul- Games and has become a source the players the SHA complex has fair with the Real Madrid star, Fico tuous relation with Zinedine of inspiration and pride to been built on spacious area of fell in love with Balotelli. This year Zidane. But then she likes to trainees at the academy. over 15 acres of land with an in- around January while giving an knock around footballers, the Like another steel-making vestment of Rs 4.3 crore. In interview to an Italian television same way they do the footballs. major in the country, SAIL can 2005 an exclusive synthetic turf, channel, Fico went to the ex- Ronaldo’s present girlfriend now say ‘We also produce was added to the stadium which tent of saying, “Mario in every Russian model Irna Shayk has Olympians’. SAIL set up the has been named after Biju respect is a better lover than no objections to the footballers academy in Rourkela in 1992 Patnaik. It has a sitting capac- Ronaldo. Even on the bed.” But surrogate son who was born keeping in mind that sports are ity of 30,000. in spite of such a comment, during the Euro Cup. Currently the best way to keep the young Initially SHA had a tie-up Balotelli and Fico broke up April the three are spending time to- minds healthy. With the tribal pop- with SAI for coaches. SAI trained 29 and in May the latter dis- gether on a boat off the island ulation of Sundergarh having a coaches were deputed to train covered that she was pregnant. of St. Tropez. “Famous men great affinity for India’s national the boys. But from 2005 onwards So now she is trying to get back will have link-ups. I live for the game, the academy has become RSP’s own NIS trained coach into the mercurial striker’s life. moment,” she has recently stated a nurturing institution for play- Rajukant Saini took over the But will she be able to do that. when questioned about Ronaldo’s ers keen to take up the game. responsibility of coaching and On his part, Balotelli son. But that is the The SHA follows a simply pol- success started to flow. Former will be un- way they are. PNN icy. ‘To catch young talents and in-charge of SHA Olympian provide them the best of facil- and India captain Michael Kindo ities both off and on the field. is satisfied with the way the Former hockey Olympian being introduced to the trainees at the SAIL Hockey Academy in Rourkela OP PHOTO

academy is functioning. lection. “This no doubt will is cation. The fully residential Public Sector Banks, CRPF MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS “Birendra’s (Lakra) inclusion one of the biggest achievements training programme includes and the BSF. In the recently con- (1997): Judev Singh Memorial Tournament Tikamgarh): Winner in Olympic squad has changed of the academy and will go a long free boarding and lodging, cluded World Series Hockey (1998, ’99): Raja Sarweswar Das Memorial (Rajnandgaon ): Winner the face of SHA,” said Kindo. way in inspiring the inmates monthly stipend, free kits, com- League organised by IHF four (1998): Nehru Memorial (Raipur): Winner However, he is quick to point and enhancing the image of the prehensive medical care, free Cadets of SHA represented out that the academy fails to institution,” stated Rajukant. education, a group insurance different teams. (2003): Mandeep Saini Memorial (Faridkot): Winner attract talent on a regular basis However, he also informed that scheme and other benefits. In 2007, two cadets of SHA (2003): Albert Ekka memorial (Ranchi): Winner from all parts of the country few more incentives are required After the training period, –Birendra and Jerom Lakra Balotelli sharing (2004): Junior National (U-21) Hockey (Jabalpur): Runners-up because of its location. “Boys pre- at the SHA to attract players. “We the players are given the chance were selected in Junior India a cosy moment (2007): U-18 National Hockey Championship (Guntur): Winner fer to train in their own zones. also need to upgrade the train- of pursuing hockey as a career. team to play a tournament at with Fico (2008): U-18 National Hockey Championship (Hyderabad): Winner That leads to a paucity of prom- ing facilities,” he added. So far 160 of the 206 students Singapore. Later Sushil Xalxo (2010, ‘11, ‘12): Inter-district hockey championship: Winner ising talent,” he adds. The academy not only pro- have been recruited by organ- earned the distinction of be- (2010, ’11, 12): Inter-Steel Plant hockey championship: Winner Academy chief coach Rajukant vides intensive training but also isations like Railways, Indian coming third international is also elated at Birendra’s se- opportunities for formal edu- Army, Indian Navy, various from SHA.