Alexander Pushnitsa
Started at nineteen, became the Soviet team's captain
- Born
- November 1, 1949, Korenovo, Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia
- Died
- January 27, 2023 (aged 73)
- Nationality
- Soviet Union
- Height
- 184 cm (6′0″)
- Style
- Fast two-sided attacker
- Weight
- 90 kg, 100 kg
- Active
- 1968–1988
The medals
3 world titles and a silver at 90 kg (1974–1983)
The story
lexander Pushnitsa grew up in a Siberian village wrestling his twin brother Vladimir, but did not take up sambo until he was 19, during army service in Frunze. He made up for lost time. Based in Omsk, where he worked as a criminal-investigation inspector, he won nine Soviet titles between 1974 and 1984, world titles in 1974, 1979 and 1983 and European titles in 1976 and 1984, almost all at 90 kg. His club says he went seven years without losing a bout and was known for lightning-fast attacks to both sides, endurance and tactical flexibility. He captained the Soviet team for well over a decade and competed until he was 39, then coached and ran a club in Omsk, which has hosted a national tournament in his name since 2000. He died in 2023.
- World champion, 90 kg (1974, 1979, 1983)
- European champion, 90 kg (1976, 1984)
- USSR champion 9 times (1974–1980, 1983, 1984)
- World Cup winner (1977, 1980)
- European veterans' champion (1997)
- Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR (1980)
- Honorary Citizen of Omsk (2000) and of Omsk Oblast (2013)
- All-Russian sambo tournament held in his name in Omsk since 2000
Defining matches
- 1974Gold World Championships, Ulaanbaatar (90 kg, first world title)
- 1979Gold World Championships, Madrid (90 kg; Dambajavyn Tsend-Ayuush of Mongolia took silver)
- 1981Silver World Championships, Madrid (90 kg; Dambajavyn Tsend-Ayuush took gold)
- 1983Gold World Championships, Kyiv (90 kg, third world title; Michael Gatling of the United States took silver)
Drill your main throw on both sides until you can enter either way at full speed; Pushnitsa's fast attacks in both directions meant opponents could not simply defend one side. Build the endurance to keep attacking late in the bout.
2008–2023
