Alexander Melnikov, one of the best Russian sambo coaches, passes away

The Sambo Federation of Sverdlovsk region is sad to announce the death of Alexander N. Melnikov, a remarkable person and a lovely mentor and coach, Russia’s Merited Coach, who created a good many Russian national, European and world champions.

Alexander N. Melnikov was born on May 9, 1957, in the village of Shishadeevo, Gorky region. He first got into sambo in Kurgan, in 1972. He emerged victorious at the city and regional tournaments and became a winner and medalist of the All-Russian and All-Soviet youth & adult competitions. He finished school in 1975 and earned the USSR’s candidate master. While doing his military service, he won the Soviet Airborne Forces Sambo Championship.

After graduation from the Kurgan State Pedagogical University, Alexander started work as a coach/instructor in the Children’s and Youth Sports Club No.2 in 1982, and moved to the city Sports School of High Sportsmanship.

Since 2000, he had worked in UMMC Sambo Club (Verkhnyaya Pyshma). Alongside Valeriy Stennikov, he made it to one of the best and high-performing coaching tandem in these days’ sambo. Led by these coaches, sambo athletes from Sverdlovsk region kicked it up a notch by winning at the most prestigious All-Russian and international tournaments. Alexander Melnikov took care, in particular, of one of key focus areas – he was on the lookout for talented youth sambists across the entire Sverdlovsk and neighboring regions. Which is why, many also knew him as a coach of the regional Olympic Sports School.

He was endlessly loved by his trainees, and admired as a true professional by his fellows. He was a real man, exemplary husband, farther and grandfather. His demise is a big and irreplaceable loss. We cherish the memory of Alexander Melnikov. He will be sorely missed…