Alexander Kharlamov's son. Alexander Kharlamov: I was compared to my father
The surname “Kharlamov” in the 60-70s of the last century was known not only to every resident of our country, but also to thousands of hockey fans abroad. Thanks to the film "Legend No. 17", released in 2013, about famous athlete, who passed away early, was also recognized by young people who, due to their age, did not have the chance to see him on the ice. The producer of the film is Alexander Valerievich Kharlamov, the son of a famous hockey player, who faced many trials in childhood. Thanks to the support of his father's friends and personal perseverance, he managed to overcome all difficulties and become a successful sports manager.
Parents
Alexander Valerievich Kharlamov, whose biography is presented below, was born in 1975 in Moscow. At that time, his parents were not yet officially married, and his mother Irina Smirnova was barely 18 years old. As for Valery Kharlamov, at the age of 27 he was already a recognized star of world hockey and had no shortage of fans who were ready to do anything for him. However, the athlete immediately fell in love with Irina and realized that he only wanted to be with her.
In 1976, the couple registered their marriage at the registry office and settled in the house of Irina’s mother. In 1977, their daughter Begonita was born, and later the young family was given an apartment on Prospekt Mira.
Alexander Valerievich Kharlamov: early years
Like the children of most other famous athletes, little Sasha and Begonita rarely saw their father, who spent most of his time traveling and training day and night. But the days that Valery Kharlamov spent with his family were a real holiday for his brother and sister. According to Alexander’s recollections, his father tried to do everything to give his beloved children joy and compensate for the constant absences. Among the few vivid memories of his childhood, Alexander notes visits to the attractions at VDNKh, where he loved in free time Valery Kharlamov took the children, as well as several trips with his father to meet “with workers” and to military units.
In addition, his team friends often gathered at the hockey player’s house, and sometimes Kobzon, Leshchenko and Vinokur came to visit, so Sasha was familiar with many celebrities from childhood.
Tragedy
Sasha's happy childhood ended on August 27, 1981. On this day, on the Leningradskoye Highway, returning home from their dacha, Valery Kharlamov, Irina and their relative Sergei Ivanov had an accident. The car was being driven and lost control on a road slippery from the rain. The car washed out onto oncoming lane, where there was a collision with a ZIL truck. All three died from their injuries before help arrived.
After the death of parents
Kharlamov Alexander Valerievich and his sister Begonita were left complete orphans at the age of 6 and 4 years. The upbringing of the children was taken over by their grandmother Nina Vasilievna Smirnova, who was helped by their father’s mother Begonia Carmen Orive-Abad. Unfortunately, the woman could not come to terms with the loss and died 5 years after the death of her beloved son Valery.
Kasatonov, Krutov and Fetisov took over the patronage of their friend’s children. In addition, Joseph Kobzon provided effective assistance with the installation of the monument on the hockey player’s grave.
Hockey career
Kharlamov Alexander Valerievich, whose photo is presented below, back in adolescence decided to devote himself to a hockey career. All doors were open to a boy with that name in sports. At first he played at the CSKA youth school, where he made his debut at the age of 17. In memory of his father, he was given number 17. Before Alexander's first season, all the main players left the team. Thus, the most experienced were V. Butsaev and A. Kovalenko, who were both 22 years old. Soon they decided to leave the club. Although to young player They treated him leniently, but he still made a good debut, scoring 8 goals.
IN THE USA
In 1999, Alexander Valerievich Kharlamov was invited to the United States. He lived there for about 6 years and performed quite successfully as part of the Washington Capitals team. However, when the contract ended, the athlete decided not to renew it and returned home. In his homeland, Kharlamov Jr. became a player in the capital's Dynamo, then played for CSKA, and later for Novokuznetsk Metallurg.
Coaching and management activities
After finishing his career as a hockey player, Alexander Valerievich Kharlamov tried himself as a manager and coach. In particular, for several years he worked in Vilnius at the local club “Vetra”.
In March 2006, Alexander Valerievich took the post of chairman of the executive committee of the Trade Union of Hockey Players and Coaches. In parallel with this, he coached Chekhov’s club “Vityaz”.
Since September 12, 2012, Kharlamov has been the Deputy Sports Director of the CSKA hockey club (Moscow).
Alexander Valerievich Kharlamov: personal life
The athlete started a family quite early, at the age of 22. This was preceded by several years of communication with his future wife Vika, with whom they regularly met at parties hosted by mutual friends. At the time of the wedding, which took place in 1997, the bride was 22 years old. In 1998, Alexander Valerievich Kharlamov, whose wife became his reliable support and comrade, became a father. The hockey player had a son, named Valery by his parents in honor of his grandfather.
The young man did not continue hockey dynasty Kharlamov, but his father instilled in him a love of sports from childhood. Valery Kharlamov Jr. graduated from music school and plays the guitar well. According to Alexander, his father also loved music very much and was very sorry that he did not have time to study, since his whole life from a young age was devoted to hockey.
Attitude to films about Valery Kharlamov
In 2008, a new film by Yu. Staal was released on Russian cinema screens. It was called “Valery Kharlamov. Additional time". Olga Krasko, Dmitry Kharatyan and
Alexander did not like this work of director Yuri Staal at all, and in the spring of 2009, in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda, he denied the autobiographical nature of the film and even announced his intention to sue its copyright holder. It must be said that it was during this period that Kharlamov the son worked on a film dedicated to his father at Nikita Mikhalkov’s studio, so many saw in his behavior a personal interest in the success of his own production project.
"The fight of extrasensories"
In 2008, Alexander Kharlamov became a participant in one of the popular TNT projects. During the 13th episode of the show “Battle of Psychics,” the participants were asked to try to find out the details of the death of his parents and uncle during a fatal accident, using all their superhuman abilities. The program aroused great interest, which was largely due to the release of the film “Extra Time,” which reminded viewers of the legendary hockey player, whose life was suddenly cut short at a fairly young age.
"Legend No. 17"
The film, based on the script by Mikhail Mestetsky and Nikolai Kulikov, was released in 2013 and received recognition from experts as the best domestic feature film of the year. Alexander Valerievich Kharlamov worked on its creation both as a consultant and as one of the producers. In addition, he even performed in one of the cameo roles.
The audience also liked the picture about Valery Kharlamov. According to critics, it filled a long-standing gap in films about a hero who is “one of us.” The main role in “Legend No. 17” was played by Danila Kozlovsky, who in some scenes appeared on the screen wearing a real jacket of the famous hockey player. In addition, the work of the always magnificent Oleg Menshikov was noted, who, according to Tatyana Tarasova, masterfully coped with the task of recreating on the screen the image of her father, one of the greatest coaches in the history of Soviet hockey.
Sister
Begonita Kharlamova is very attached to her brother, since in childhood they had to stick together to survive the death of their parents. She has been involved in rhythmic gymnastics since childhood and received the title of Master of Sports. After graduating from school, Begonita continued her education in sports university, where she qualified as a trainer. She is married and is the mother of two daughters.
Now you know who Alexander Valerievich Kharlamov is. Of course, he has not become as popular as his star father, but he is doing everything in his power to popularize sports and hockey in our country.
Soon the legendary Soviet hockey player, two-time Olympic and eight-time world champion Valery Kharlamov would have turned 65 years old. This date sports world will be celebrated widely; the children of the great striker, Alexander and Begonita Kharlamov, will, of course, be invited to the ceremony. The son of a famous athlete told our reporter how their fate turned out, who helped the children orphaned in early childhood and who took up their upbringing.
Alexander Valerievich agreed to the meeting immediately, although he warned that he had few childhood memories associated with his parents. After all, fate gave him only five happy years with his mom and dad. Alexander’s voice on the telephone seems calm, but even today, 32 years later, it is difficult for him to remember the tragedy that turned his whole life upside down.
We agreed with Alexander Valerievich to meet in a cafe. As soon as he entered, I recognized him: an athletic figure, a confident step, only athletes can walk like that. He smiled and became even more like his father, Valery Kharlamov. Three years ago Alexander left coaching work into business, but still finds time for his favorite game of hockey.
– Nowadays, charity games of veterans’ teams are often held. For example, in the summer there was a series of traditional games where they play famous hockey players Kovalchuk, Malkin, this year Morozov. Of the pop stars, the brightest hockey fan is Butman. During breaks, Igor even plays the saxophone. Politicians also speak: Shoigu, Kudrin, Dvorkovich. We all communicate calmly in the locker room - everyone is equal on the ice. At first I thought that Alexey Kudrin was a private person, but as we talked closer, I saw that he was cheerful and very wonderful. This was not the first time we played, so we even became friends.
My father was also friends with artists and singers, for example, I have known Joseph Davydovich Kobzon all my adult life. Sometimes we call each other and meet. I recently congratulated him on his anniversary: we agreed, met in his office, and talked. My grandmother said that when my parents died, there were a lot of organizational problems. The 80s were a time of shortage, and Joseph Davydovich helped erect a monument to his father and mother. Now there is a kind of monument to his father in Toronto.
In May 2005, I was presented with a Hall of Fame club jacket because my dad, Valery Kharlamov, was inducted into the National hockey league. Only six Russians received this honor. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place over three days and is reminiscent of the Oscars; Begonita’s husband Dmitry and I were in tails, my wife Victoria and Begonita were in evening dresses. Solemn and beautiful. At the stand dedicated to my father, we gave away several of my father’s personal belongings - his jersey, gloves, helmet, photographs.
– Alexander Valerievich, the famous Kharlamov is the idol of millions today, he is known and remembered as a great hockey player. What kind of person was he, a father?
– Dad, like all athletes, spent more time at training camps: he had to train a lot, improve, and keep in shape. At the base they had a strict regime and special food. Sports, especially ones like hockey, require a lot of effort, perseverance, and time. And when dad came home for the weekend, it was a holiday for the family! Begonita and I ran out into the corridor to meet him, he threw me up to the ceiling, and took my little sister in his arms.
Dad raised us differently. Me as a future man. He treated Begonita more tenderly, she is a girl. By the way, dad chose his sister’s name himself. When I was born, my grandmother gave me a name. And the father said that he would name the girl himself. Do you know there is such a flower - begonia? So he chose such an unusual Spanish name for his daughter, because his grandmother was from Spain, she was brought here in 1937, and that’s how she met her grandfather.
In general, I don’t remember much about my father; he was little. On the ice he was the star and pride of Soviet hockey, but in life he was ordinary - very cheerful. From childhood I remember summer holidays more. Dad had a vacation in July, we all went to the dacha together. And on weekends we went for a walk. We often walked at VDNKh, fortunately we lived nearby, at the Shcherbakovskaya metro station, which is now called Alekseevskaya. My mother and I also went to my father’s home games, because after the match, until the hockey players left for the base again, there was one of the few opportunities to approach my father and talk. So we didn’t miss the games that took place in Moscow. Then dad left for work, and my mother, grandmother and sister and I went home. And so on until the next game.
All international games we watched on TV. True, my father often called my mother (there were no mobile phones then, but at the base there was landline phone), and the parents talked for a long time, dad was aware of all the events at home. At home there was always my father’s uniform, skates, and hockey sticks, which aroused my special interest, and at the age of three I got my first skates.
My sister also fell in love with hockey, Begonita and I organized our own home competitions at home - with a puck, sticks, everything as it should be. We lived on Mira Avenue, and in our yard there was hockey box, boys were constantly hanging around there, playing hockey. And then one day friends from the team came to visit my father, and the world-famous athletes went out to play in the yard. What started here!
A huge crowd of people gathered, adults and children ran home to get their skates, because not everyone gets the chance to shoot the puck with such legendary hockey players as Kharlamov and Krutov! My father never had star fever; he always communicated as equals. For example, in the summer, on Saturday and Sunday, ordinary men played football, and my father also got ready and went to the field.
Many of our neighbors still remember our father with kind words. When he was at home, a lot of people always came to us. My father loved to cook himself, cooked meat perfectly, and often treated guests. In our house there were not only famous athletes, but also popular artists - Kobzon, Vinokur, Leshchenko. My father met them when there were international games and Soviet pop stars supported the national team.
Now this practice also exists; a support group representing the “Russian House” travels with the Olympians. I think even now athletes and artists meet there and become strong friends. So dad was friends with Joseph Davydovich, Lev Valerianovich. We even sometimes went on vacation somewhere to the south together. It was always fun and noisy in our house, dad and mom loved to receive guests...
Trouble came to the house on Thursday, August 27, 1981. Then it will become known that the accident, which claimed the lives of three people, happened at seven o’clock in the morning on the 74th km of Leningradskoye Highway. The Kharlamovs were returning from the dacha; Irina, Valery’s wife, was driving the Volga. On a road slippery from the rain, the car drifted into the oncoming lane, the car crashed into a truck and rolled into a ditch. Irina, Valery and Irina’s cousin Sergei Ivanov died on the spot. They say that the day before the accident, the asphalt in this area was changed. Where the new coating ended, a five-centimeter high protrusion formed, which became the cause of the tragedy.
The memorial service was held on August 31 at the CSKA Weightlifting Palace. Thousands of people came to say goodbye to the dead. The players of the USSR national team were not able to attend the funeral: the team was in Winnipeg. In memory of their friend, the hockey players decided to win the Canada Cup at all costs. The athletes kept this promise, beating the Canadians 8:1 in the final.
But no victories could return the parents to the Kharlamovs’ young children. The kids didn’t even understand that they were orphaned...
– At that time I was five years old, run three. When our parents died, our grandmother, my mother’s mother, Nina Vasilievna Smirnova, began to raise us, her sisters helped her. And of course, the entire CSKA team took part, but due to the busy schedule of games, the athletes, of course, could not educate us.
Sometimes Alexey Kasatonov, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Krutov came to visit. They also helped financially, bringing things from trips; at that time it was difficult to find children’s clothing. And the entire burden of responsibility fell on the shoulders of the grandmothers. And then another tragedy happened - five years after the death of our parents, our beloved grandmother, my father’s mother, also died. She could not cope with the loss of her son, and it was as if we were orphaned for the second time. And Nina Vasilievna still lives with Begonita, and I wish her health with all my heart. They are still in the same apartment where my sister and I spent our childhood, where we once lived, in that happy place far away, our Friendly family.
– Your love for hockey has lasted throughout your life. Where did you play?
– First in the children's and youth department sports school CSKA, then I was invited to play in America. I went, lived there for about six years, played in the NHL with the Washington Capitals. But when the contract ended, he did not renew it and returned home. He was a player in the capital Dynamo, CSKA, and also in Novokuznetsk Metallurg. Then he tried himself as the general manager of the Vetra hockey club in Vilnius. He was also a coach at the Vityaz club in Chekhov. And two years ago he became chairman of the executive committee of the trade union of hockey players and coaches.
Begonita was a sickly child since childhood, so she figure skating did not work out. And her grandmother took her to rhythmic gymnastics, where my sister became a master of sports and competed in small competitions. After school, she entered a sports institute and studied to be a coach. When I was in America, my sister came to visit me on vacation. We were bored, and I wanted to see that Begonita was okay. One time my grandmother also visited me. By the way, my sister didn’t just sit at home, but even studied at a language school for some time.
– Athletes have absolutely no time to organize their personal lives.
– Our Begonita is beautiful, bright, just like her mother, she has always been a success. And one fine day she married Dmitry and gave birth to two beautiful girls - Daria and Anna. And she devoted herself entirely to her family. I really love coming to their hospitable home and, of course, I enjoy communicating with my nieces. I love them very much.
I was also lucky, I managed to meet my future wife in my youth. We knew Vika for a long time, but did not communicate closely. We have a mutual friend whose birthday party we met every summer. This happened for several years, and then somehow it happened that Vika and I noticed each other. And so, slowly, little by little, we got to the wedding. I was 22, my bride was 19 years old. And a year later we had a son, whose name we didn’t even think about; he was named after his father - Valery. He is now 14 years old, he doesn’t play professional hockey, but he goes to the gym, goes swimming, and this year he graduates from music school in guitar class.
By the way, my dad also really loved music, but he didn’t play, he listened. He brought back vinyl records from every trip, and his large collection is still completely intact. My father listened to his favorite tunes both at home and in the car. He didn’t play himself, but he wanted to, he just didn’t have time to study. After all, dad dedicated his entire life to hockey.
His grandfather is legend No. 17, world-famous, two-time Olympic and eight-time world champion, the best hockey player in the USSR Valery Kharlamov. Father - former hockey player and sports manager Alexander Kharlamov (42). And he is a 19-year-old student at the Higher School of Cultural Policy and Management in the Humanities of Moscow State University. Valera (19) is studying sports management and, in general, also plans to connect her life with sports. Just not with hockey, but with football.
T-shirt, sweatshirt, Topman
“I have a dream - to leave Russia, try myself in a managerial position in the system of some English club", says Valera. But there are other options. The main alternative is music. After all, I have five years of music school and courses at a DJ academy behind me. Now he is setting up a home music studio. “I like making music more than playing. I wrote electronic music, dubstep (on tin), and once even went on Radio Record. Lit up!”
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True, he listens to hip-hop - Boulevard Depo (27) and Scryptonite (28) (“I dream of sitting with him in the studio”), and his main idol (and I understand him) is Tyler, The Creator (27). “It's simplicity and style. I have downloaded all his albums. The only thing was that it was a shame when I found out that he performed in Russia in 2015 and 2016, and I had never heard about it. I'm looking forward to seeing him with Flower Boy because it's one of his best albums. It has a completely different sound, a lot of instrumentals, violins...”
Jacket, shirt, T-shirt, jeans, Topman; sneakers, Adidas
His parents never limited him in anything. There was no such thing: “You should become a hockey player, follow in our footsteps.” He was always given freedom of choice. And only in such freedom can an intelligent, well-mannered and educated young man grow up, who never boasts about his surname. “I am very modest in this regard. If they ask me: “Are you by any chance a relative?”, then I will say: “Yes.” Some guys will only find out in a few years that I am the grandson of that same legendary Kharlamov. But of course, I feel proud of my family. I want to achieve no less heights than my relatives. Than grandfather, than father. They're both legendary."
“I have friendly relations with my parents. I don’t hide anything from them, not even the most terrible sins. From the category: with dad - about chicks, with mom - about love,” laughs Valera. “On weekends we can all get together and go somewhere, but otherwise everyone is at home in the evenings, because I have a little sister, the other day she will turn two years old. His name is Zhenya.”
Bomber, Umbro (lcon Street); shirt, bow tie, Topman
A big surprise for me was that Valera is also a citizen of Spain. According to the law, if even a drop of Spanish blood flows in you, you have every right to citizenship of this country. Yes, if you watched Legend No. 17, you probably remember that Legend’s mother was from Spain. “And even all my children and grandchildren will be Spanish citizens. We go there every summer with our family to relax in Marbella.”
But at the Russia-Spain match, of course, he was rooting for Russia. In general, he really likes what is happening in the country during the World Cup. “I’ve never seen anything like this and it’s definitely something I’ll tell my kids about. I think that this will never happen again (in our lifetime).”
T-shirt, sports trousers, sneakers, Topman
He also loves hockey. I even went to the Pittsburgh vs. New York match in the USA. “And these are two different cultures. Even if it's a mediocre match, it's still full stands, people in identical jerseys, like a team, and every match is like a show. Very different from Russia. Therefore, if you manage sports, then do it either in America or in England.”
Now about the personal. Valera is an open, sentimental and very cheerful guy: “I love people very much. Everyone is very different, from each you get your own experience, your own opinion, your own vision, you begin to look at things differently. I believe that there are no bad people, all people are good. There are bad actions, but there are no bad people. People are unhappy, that’s why they do these things.”
Bomber, Umbro (Icon Street); shirt, trousers, bow tie, sneakers, Topman
But you're unlucky in love. “Now I’ll lie down, look at the ceiling and tell you about my problems,” Valera jokes. – But in fact, I really loved one girl, but, you know, when nothing moves forward for more than a year... I’m generally quite patient in this regard. Although it seems to me that here I rather came out as “tolerant.” ( Laughs.) He also has more girlfriends than friends - it’s easier to communicate with girls. “Maybe this is the problem? I never thought..."
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The outstanding Soviet hockey player Valery Kharlamov achieved many unforgettable victories at various tournaments - it was his goals and assists that were decisive in the game of the legendary Soviet team. His brilliant career and a happy life was cut short by an accident in which the hockey player crashed along with his wife Irina. They lived together for only five years, and during this time they managed to be born children of Valery Kharlamov- son Alexander and daughter Begonita, named after Valery’s mother. They hardly remembered their parents - Alexander was only five years old when they died, and Begonita was even younger.
In the photo - Valery Kharlamov with children
And even during his lifetime, they hardly saw their father at all - he was almost always at training camps, but when he came home on the weekend, it was a real holiday for his family, especially for the children of Valery Kharlamov. The hockey player’s eldest son was born before Valery and Irina’s wedding. When she found out that she was pregnant - she dropped out of her studies at the Moscow Energy Institute, they got married after Sasha was born - then Valery moved from his bachelor one-room apartment to Irina, and then they got married. Kharlamov raised his son and daughter differently. He treated Begonita very tenderly, and Alexander as a future man.
In the photo are the children of Valery Kharlamov
After the death of their parents, the children of Valery Kharlamov were raised by their grandmother, mother Irina Nina Vasilievna, and five years later another grandmother died - she never managed to recover from the death of her son, according to Alexander, it was as if they were orphaned for the second time. CSKA players Vyacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Krutov and Alexey Kasatonov took the patronage of Alexander. When Alexander grew up, he also became an athlete - he received additional education at the CSKA Children's and Youth Sports School, then graduated from university, and in 1999 he went to America, where he lived for six years, playing for various clubs in the lower leagues.
In the photo - Kharlamov’s son Alexander and his wife
In 2016, it will be 35 years since the terrible accident near Solnechnogorsk, which claimed the life of a two-time Olympic champion, one of the legendary Soviet hockey players the times of the “Red Machine” by Valery Kharlamov and his wife Irina. The accident occurred a month before their son, Alexander, turned six years old.
It is known that Valery did not want to send Alexander to hockey. But after the accident, the son still went to the CSKA school, was drafted by the NHL club Washington Capitals and played several years in the minor leagues North America, ending his career in St. Petersburg SKA. Now Alexander Kharlamov, who looks painfully reminiscent of his father, is the deputy sports director in his native CSKA.
The Kharlamov Cup is quite enough for memory
- After “Legend No. 17” died down, interest in the name of Kharlamov somehow faded away. Isn't it offensive?
It’s not offensive at all, it was clear right away. It’s always like this with us: first there is some kind of outbreak, and then everything gradually fades away. On the contrary, it is a huge plus that the film gave a very serious impetus... and not in the popularization of my father, but of hockey in general. All over the country, children watched the film and flocked to the sections.
- Russian films, indeed, rarely receive so much praise.
The main thing is that he achieved his goals. People looked and it had a certain effect. It is clear that the film is fiction; there was enough fiction there. But the main thing is that people liked it. They appreciated it and everyone was satisfied. It’s so rare for us that our films resonate with the viewer in such a way.
- Are you being recognized more on the street? Visually, you look so much like your father.
Ha, but whoever needs it, they found out before the film. But people are really into last years they started coming up and asking to take pictures. But I'm okay with this. They know about Kharlamov, that’s good.
A couple of years ago you decided to create the Kharlamov brand so that it wouldn’t just be used. Has anyone else contacted you? Should we hold some kind of tournament, for example?
Peace and quiet in this regard. But now they are holding the Kharlamov Cup in the MHL, this is a great tournament, a priori the strongest that could be thought of in such a situation. I hope the MHL will continue to exist, and with it the Kharlamov Cup. But if someone wants to hold some small tournaments there and dedicate them to their father, then for God’s sake, let them do it.
I have never been to Chebarkul
- What are you doing now at CSKA?
The position of sports director assumes that we are interested in sports (smiles). That is, we are concerned with everything that is directly related to sports in hockey club. There are three adult teams: in the KHL, VHL (Zvezda) and MHL (Red Star). Plus a children's school. We have a wide range of responsibilities, often routine, but also very necessary for organizing the club.
I have long wanted to ask, didn’t you suggest the name “Star” for the “tower” club? I immediately have an association with Chebarkul.
- (Smiles) No, of course not. It’s just that in CSKA everything is built around a star. We agreed on it with our leaders. This is more of a collegial decision. Yes, there are such associations with Chebarkul, it’s nice.
- Were you there at all?
Honestly? Never. I’ve been invited there for several years now, and I think it’s finally time to fly there. They wanted to coincide with something or hold some kind of tournament at the amateur level as part of the Night Hockey League. It’s very interesting to go and see where my father played. I have many friends in Chebarkul, and I would like to finally visit the museum.
It’s strange that there is no Kharlamov Street either there or in Moscow. Although it somehow suggests itself. Didn't you come up with such a proposal?
There are a lot of delays with this, it’s not easy... This should be a fundamental decision at the level of city authorities, an initiative from us would look somehow strange. No one came to us with such a proposal.
Kharlamov's grandson became a DJ
- I read a lot of your interviews, but I never found the story of how you were put on skates. Wasn't it your father?
No, my father only brought skates of the right size. I walked around the apartment in them, didn’t even go outside. But it was actually my grandmother who put me on the ice - she walked with me into the yard and helped me at first. Father was almost never at home; they didn’t like to let them go back to their family after training camp. Either training camps or games. Seen more often on TV than at home.
- Is it true that Valery did not see a career in hockey for you?
Is it true. In family conversations, he said that he did not want to send me to hockey, but rather to football. But this is very difficult when the whole apartment is covered in hockey paraphernalia - leggings here, sticks there. My sister and I played hockey right in the apartment. She stood on goal, and I scored goals for her. And when the accident happened... My grandmother simply took me by the hand and took me to the CSKA school.
- But you sent your son, Valery, to football.
Yes, but due to his health, he finished early and didn’t even really play. As a result, he had to move away from sports altogether, and he chose the musical path. He graduated from a specialized guitar school, but now studies modern, electronic music. DJ, or what do young people call it?
- Exactly. What's the nickname?
Oh, I know, but I won’t tell you now, I forgot.
The fact that I am perceived as “Kharlamov’s son” is normal
- Do you remember much about your father? You've probably been told stories all your life by those who knew him closely.
It so happened that I was sitting in this very office with Boris Moiseevich Chagas and Vladimir Fedorovich Popov, who, to put it mildly, knew my father well. Popov lived with him in Arkhangelskoye for nine years. Even now, our conversation often turns to those times, although I’ve already heard a lot of different stories from them (laughs). There's enough material for one more film, at least. I wonder what hockey was like back then. After these stories, I thoroughly updated the story.
- Do you keep a lot of your father’s things?
In fact, there are still a lot of things left. Sticks, skates, pucks, other paraphernalia. If you dig around, you can find a lot of things. We donated some of the things to the CSKA museum, mostly large ones. And in the apartment on Prospekt Mira, where my sister now lives, there were small medals and cups left. Some kind of crystal vase was preserved as a prize at one of the tournaments.
- And all this is worth it, they didn’t hide it in the garage?
You know, nothing much has changed in the apartment, we tried not to touch anything. True, my sister has two children, so some certificates had to be hidden, otherwise there wouldn’t be enough space. But basically, everything was the same as it was under my father, and it still is. Every thing there is a whole story.
Are you not at all offended that all your life you have been perceived not as an independent figure, but as “the son of that same Kharlamov”?
How else should I be perceived? I think this applies to all children of famous parents. And Kharlamov, and (Egor) Mikhailov, and (Mikhail) Anisin... These are our fathers, even if everyone thinks so, it’s only better. My father is an inseparable part of my life. Whatever I do, whatever I achieve, this is his merit.
