A strong country begins with a healthy nation: interview with viktor savchenko

In our ‘Interview of the week’ section, we speak with Viktor Savchenko, director of the SEI ‘Prydniprovska State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports’, USUST, an outstanding athlete, scholar, and administrator.

 

His name is well known in the world of sports. A European champion and the first Ukrainian boxer who became a world boxing champion. Savchenko was also the first among Ukrainian boxers to win two consecutive Olympic medals – a bronze medalist at the 1976 Olympic Games and a silver medalist at the 1980 Olympic Games. However, his contribution is far beyond athletic achievements, but decades of work in education, science, and the development of physical culture.

 

This year marks 50 years since his life became closely connected with the academy. In 1976, he entered the institution as a student and remained to help build a comprehensive system for training specialists in the field of sports. After concluding his athletic career, he did not leave the profession but instead moved into its strategic development: he earned both Candidate and Doctoral degrees, became a professor and Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, and went on to lead both an academic department and a higher education institution.

 

It is important that Viktor Savchenko’s sporting career was shaped by constant perseverance. He competed in the welterweight category, traditionally regarded as one of the most competitive categories in boxing. As a young athlete, he suffered a serious leg injury, yet returned to the ring within a year and won the USSR Junior Championship. At the 1980 Olympic Games, Savchenko broke his arm in two places during his opening bout. Nevertheless, he went on to win the next three fights before the final using only his left hand, demonstrating the endurance and tactical mastery that became his ‘signature style’. In the Olympic final, he lost to legendary Cuban boxer Andrés Aldama, one of the strongest fighters in the world at the time. With the dominance of the Cuban boxing school on the international stage during that period, Savchenko’s silver medal is regarded as an achievement of the highest level.

 

Savchenko’s bouts were distinguished by exceptional technical and tactical preparation. He often fought as a counterpuncher, skillfully using distance and counterattacks. His style was frequently described as ‘intellectual boxing’ focused not on force, but on reading the opponent and delivering precise punches. Today, he remains one of the symbols of the Dnipro boxing school.

After retiring from competitive sport, Savchenko worked actively as a coach and scholar in the field of physical culture and sports. His research focused on training methods for high-performance boxers, endurance development, and bout tactics. He also contributed to the design of academic programmes for training coaches and physical education teachers.

 

His public service, however, extends beyond sport. As a people’s deputy  of Ukraine of the 2nd convocation, he worked on issues related to youth policy, physical culture, and sport. He has also served as a member of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and as head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Boxing Federation. Today, he holds the title of Honorary Citizen of the City of Dnipro. At the same time, in personal communication, he remains highly demanding of himself and remarkably open to others.

Today, he actively supports the integration of practical sport and academic education. He heads the SEI ‘Prydniprovska State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports’, USUST –  an institution that trains specialists working in physical development, sport, and rehabilitation. His career represents a complete professional cycle – athlete, coach, scholar, administrator – and clearly illustrates the model of professional training developed at the Academy.

 

– Viktor Hryhorovych, today many prospective students are looking for a profession with real purpose. Why should they consider the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies?

– Because today physical culture, sport, and rehabilitation are no longer only about personal development, they are a national necessity. A country fighting for its freedom particularly needs coaches, physical education teachers, and rehabilitation specialists. We train professionals who, after graduation, go on to work in schools, clubs, rehabilitation centres, national teams, and medical institutions.

 

– Which fields are currently in the highest demand?

– The most popular areas are physical education, physical culture and sport, therapy, and rehabilitation. Physical therapy is especially relevant today, given the scale of the need for health recovery.

– What is the Academy’s greatest strength today?

–  First and foremost, its people. Our staff includes 13 professors, 67 Candidates of Sciences and Associate Professors, honoured coaches, Masters of Sport of international class, as well as Olympic champions and medalists. Among them are Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Olympic medalists Olesia Povkh and Dina Miftakhutdinova, and sailing champions Yevhen Braslavets and Ihor Matviyenko. This is an environment shaped by high-level practitioners.

 

– How important is the Academy’s infrastructure?

– It is critically important. Two academic buildings, seven sports halls, an indoor arena, a swimming pool, a stadium, the ‘Slavutych’ sports complex, and a water sports facility all provide the conditions needed for comprehensive practical training.

 

– Which achievements do you consider the most representative?

– More than 300 world and European champions and medalists, 31 Olympic medalists, and 12 Paralympic champions. Among them are Nataliia Kobzar, Yuliia Shuliar, and Vladyslav Bilyi. This is the result of systematic work.

 

– Is the Paralympic field particularly important to you?

– Yes. Back in 1994, we were the first in Ukraine to open higher education opportunities for people with musculoskeletal disorders. Today, it is of particular significance.

 

– What about research?

– The University offers postgraduate studies. There is a specialised academic council. We publish a professional journal Sports Bulletin of the Prydniprovia, and host international conferences.

 

–  Are there international opportunities for students?

– Yes. The university is integrated into international educational networks and cooperates with universities in Europe and Asia.

 

–  What would you say to prospective students?

– If you want a profession where you can see the real impact of your work, come here. You quickly understand that your work is needed by people. A strong country begins with healthy, resilient, and professionally trained people.

 

This interview is not only about one person’s career. It is about the continuity of a tradition in which personal sporting experience is transformed into a system for training new generations of specialists who will contribute to the recovery and development of the country.