In the sports world, feats happen quite often and are remembered for a long time. Unfortunately, nowadays more attention is paid to various scandals related, for example, to the use of doping. However, one should not forget about real heroes-athletes who can serve as role models for both their contemporaries and for many generations.
One of these heroes is the Soviet stayer Hubert Pärnakivi. This athlete did not participate in the Olympics, he did not set records in races, but he made a memorable act, which, unfortunately, was officially recognized only twelve years later .... By his act, striving for victory, Hubert jeopardized his health and even his life. About what exactly this runner became famous for - read this article.
Biography of H. Pärnakivi
This famous athlete born on October 16, 1932 in Estonia.
He died in Tartu in autumn 1993. He was 61 years old.
"Match of the Giants" and the first victory
The first "Match of the Giants" (USSR and USA) competition was held in 1958 in Moscow. At that time, the team of Soviet track and field athletes lost a multiple prize-winner of the last Olympics, held in Melbourne, the famous athlete Vladimir Kuts.
To replace the legendary long-distance runner, two youth runners were elected - they are Bolotnikov Peter and Hubert Pärnakivi. Prior to that, these athletes showed the best results during the championship of the Soviet Union. So, in particular, H. Pärnakivi finished second during the national championship, losing only a second to the winner.
However, during the competition between the national teams of the USSR and the USA, he improved his result and eventually won the race, leaving behind both P. Bolotnikov and the representative of the United States of America Bill Dellinger (future medalist of the 1964 Olympic Games). The American lost a split second to the Soviet runner. Thus, Hubert brought victory to our team in a difficult struggle, and, moreover, became known all over the world. Then the Soviet team won with a minimum gap: 172: 170.
Hot summer in Philadelphia at the second "Match of the Giants"
The second "Match of the Giants" was decided to be held a year later, in 1959, in the American Philadelphia, at the Franklin Field stadium.
Historians say that there was a terrible heat wave that month, in July. The thermometer in the shade showed plus 33 degrees, high humidity was also observed - almost 90%.
It was so humid all around that the washed clothes of the athletes could dry for more than a day, and many fans left the venue because they got heatstroke. In such incredible heat our athletes had to compete.
On the very first day, July 18, the start of the 10-kilometer race took place, which, given such heat, became very exhausting.
1959 Giants Match. "Dance of Death"
The national team of the Soviet Union at this distance included Alexei Desyatchikov and Hubert Pärnakivi. The national team of their American rivals was represented by Robert Soth and MaxTruex. And the representatives of the United States hoped to win this competition, gaining the maximum number of points. The local press unanimously predicted a simple victory for their athletes at this distance.
At first, the athletes from the USSR took the lead, walking at a uniform pace first for seven kilometers. Then the American Sot went ahead, followed by Pärnakivi, not paying attention to the utter heat.
However, at some point, the American, broken by the heat, fell - a Soviet physician came to his aid, giving him a heart massage right on the treadmill.
By that time, A. Desyatchikov had taken the lead, running at a uniform run. Competent load distribution and endurance, as well as a correctly chosen running pace, allowed Alexey to finish first. At the same time, he ran a circle more at the request of the judges.
Pärnakivi, on the last hundred meters of the distance, began to "dance the dance of death." According to eyewitnesses, he ran in different directions, but found the strength to move, not fall to the ground and run to the finish line. After overcoming the home stretch, Hubert fell unconscious.
Later, everyone learned that the athlete covered the last hundred meters of the distance within a whole minute. As it turned out, at that moment he experienced clinical death, but found the strength to run to the end.
Finishing, he whispered: "We must ... Run ... Until the end ...".
By the way, American Truex, who finished third, also fell unconscious - these are the consequences of the intense heat.
Recognition after 12 years
After this race, Hubert's career, like the American Sot, in high-profile competitions was completed. Having overcome himself in an unthinkable and difficult situation, the Soviet runner began to compete only in local competitions.
It is interesting that after the Philadelphia "Giants Match" for a long time no one in the Soviet Union knew about Hubert's outstanding act. Everyone knew: he finished the race second, but at what cost he succeeded - Soviet citizens had no idea about this.
The world-wide known about the runner's feat only in 1970, after the release of the documentary film “Sport. Sport. Sport". In this picture, the race of the second "Match of the Giants" was shown. Only after that H.Pärnakivi received the title of Honored Master of Sports.
In addition, in Estonia, in the homeland of the athlete, a monument was erected to him in the area of Lake Viljandi. This happened during the life of the athlete.
The example of H. Pärnakivi can be a motivating one for many - both professional athletes and amateur runners. After all, this is a feat about the triumph of fortitude, an excellent life illustration of how you can gather your will into a fist and fight with your last strength, go to the finish line in order to show an excellent result and win a victory for your country.
