Shishova (by marriage Zinkova) Lyudmila Nikolaevna (June 1, 1940 — February 21, 2003) was a Nizhny Novgorod athlete and fencing coach, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR. Olympic champion of 1960 and silver medalist of the 1964 Olympic Games in the team foil event, honorary citizen of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.[1][2]

Sporting career

Lyudmila Shishova began fencing in 1952 under the guidance of coach Yuri Aleksandrovich Kazandzhyan.[2] Alongside her sporting career she worked as a physical education instructor at the Oblast Council of the Spartak society.[2] In 1956 she enrolled at the Smolensk State Institute of Physical Culture, but returned to Gorky for family reasons. In 1958 she received the title of Master of Sports of the USSR in fencing.[2]

At the Olympic Games in Rome (1960), Shishova, as part of the Soviet national team, won a gold medal in the team foil event, and at the Olympics in Tokyo (1964) — a silver medal.[2] In 1963 she became champion of the Russian Federation in the final of the 3rd Summer Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR.[2] Her international appearances included competitions in Belgium, Hungary, Italy, the 1968 Universiade, and the World Fencing Championship.[2]

Education, medical work, and coaching career

In 1960 Shishova enrolled at the Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, which she graduated from with honors in 1969.[2] For several years she worked as an obstetrician-gynecologist at a women's clinic, after which she moved into coaching work at a sports school. Her coaching career continued for 18 years at the Children's and Youth Sports School of the Olympic Reserve (SDYuSShOR).[3][1][2] Over her years of coaching she trained 7 Masters of Sport and 25 Candidate Masters of Sport.[2] She also headed the Fora health camp.[1]

Lyudmila Shishova's husband was Vitaly Zinkov, a Master of Sport in sabre fencing. Their daughter Elvira Vitalyevna Karachevskaya (née Zinkova, born 1972) is a Master of Sport, silver medalist of the World Championship and winner of All-Union fencing competitions.[1]

Recognition

For her sporting achievements, Lyudmila Shishova was awarded the medal "For Labor Distinction" in 1960.[2] She was granted the title of Honorary Citizen of Nizhny Novgorod Region. In the Dzerzhinsk, an all-Russian "Oka Blades" fencing tournament is held annually, dedicated to the memory of Olympic champions Herman Sveshnikov and Lyudmila Shishova.[4] Lyudmila Shishova is buried at Novo-Sormovskoye Cemetery in Nizhny Novgorod.[3][1][2]

Sources

  1. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — Following in their mothers' footsteps — Nizhny Novgorod sporting dynasties in which children followed in their mothers' footsteps, December 23, 2022… (archive)
  2. history.nizhgma.ru — Museum of the History of NizhSMA — View Person
  3. names52.ru — Shishova Lyudmila Nikolaevna — Shishova's coaching career continued for 18 years at the Children's and Youth Sports School of the Olympic Reserve (SDYuSShOR). (archive)
  4. pomnim.online — Shishova Lyudmila Nikolaevna, 06/01/1940 — 02/21/2003, cemetery — Novo-Sormovskoye — In the city of Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, an all-Russian fencing tournament is held annually… (archive)