#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Doctor, athlete, sports journalist, trainer Iskander Fayzullin took over the swimming pool in Norilsk immediately after its opening in 1959. His first Norilsk jubilee, the 50th anniversary, coincided with the organization of the Zapolyarnik sports club in the city. Perhaps that is why he celebrated his round dates not in March, when he was born, but in April, on the Zapolyarnik’s birthday.
In 1945, the participant of the Great Patriotic War, Iskander Fayzullin, sailed 100 kilometers along the Danube from Czechoslovakia to Hungary in honor of the Victory. That swim of the former brigadier doctor of the 4th Guards Airborne Brigade, the senior doctor of the 347th Guards Vienna Regiment was dedicated to the soldiers-guards, with whom he walked the combat path to Prague.
In Norilsk, the honored master of sports admired the boys, whom he taught to swim, when he swam for 35 meter under water. The world record holder also completed marathon heats on Dolgoye and Yenisey.
Having passed the baton to young coaches, Iskander Fayzullin continued working in the pool as a doctor almost until his death in 1986. He wrote books in which he convinced readers to swim, for more than a quarter of a century he participated in athletes’ parades at the head of the veteran’ column.
On his 70th birthday, Iskander Fayzullin presented prizes to the winners of the swim organized in his honor.
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Text: Varvara Sosnovskaya, Photo: Nornickel polar division archive
