Basketball player Ilona Korstin is an outstanding Russian athlete who has counted a huge number of different trophies, including victories at the European Championships, medals of world championships and the Olympic Games, as well as victories in numerous club tournaments. She combined outstanding sportsmanship with a spectacular appearance, thanks to which she was recognized as the “Face of Women's Basketball” in 2006. The legendary Ilona Korstin completed her career several years ago. Now holds the position of CEO of VTB Basketball United League.
From gymnastics to basketball
Ilona Kalyuvna Korstin was born in 1980 in Leningrad. The first few months she bore the name Julia, but her grandmother from Tallinn arranged a stormy scene for the baby’s parents, and those, saving the Baltic lady before the pressure, renamed her daughter, giving her an Estonian name.
Ilona Korstin, whose height is 182 cm, from childhood was an object of hunting for volleyball and basketball coaches, but for the time being she was indifferent to these games. Nevertheless, she was actively involved in sports - gymnastics, tennis, athletics, having achieved certain successes.
In 1990, a decisive turning point occurred in the girl’s life. The famous basketball coach Kira Trzheskal discerned huge talent in a ten-year-old girl and managed to persuade her parents to send her daughter to the famous 86th school, where the future stars of Russian women's basketball - Svetlana Abrosimova, Elena Karpova and Tatyana Schegoleva, already played in her group. A year later, Maria Stepanova joined this glorious company , who later grew up at a world-class center.
In 1996, Ilona Korstin began to play in the Triumph club, created on the basis of the children's team of Kira Trzeskal. The financial situation of the newly formed club was not easy, the girls received money only in the first two months, but Ilona gratefully recalls those years, because then, still being a sixteen-year-old girl, she got a chance to play against the best basketball players of Russia.
French voyage
The fate of minor athletes sometimes depends on their parents, and in 1997 Ilona Korstin moved to France with her mother, who married a native of this country. Here she faced a choice - what to do next. She had the option of leaving for an American college after graduation, but her family advised her to opt for Europe. Fortunately, the famous Russian coach Vadim Kapranov worked in France, who invited her to the Bourges.
Already in 1998, Ilona Korstin managed to gain a foothold in the new team, often enhancing the game from the bench. “Bourges” in those years was one of the strongest clubs in Europe, won the national championship for several years in a row, won the Euroleague. By the age of twenty, Ilona had already begun to play in the top five of the French super club, and in 2001 she took an active part in winning the main trophy of the Euroleague. Also on the account of Ilona are two titles of the champion of France.
Russian choice
After moving to France, a native of Leningrad received the citizenship of this country and the potential opportunity to play for the national team. However, Ilona was already involved in matches for the youth teams of Russia and, according to international rules, FIBA had to withstand a kind of quarantine period in order to be able to change basketball citizenship.
At this time, the girl was actively learning French, playing for Bourges and even received a diploma from a commercial college - in general, she was actively integrating into European society. The personal life of Ilona Korstin also improved - it was here that she met the man of her dreams.
Nevertheless, after these three years, the girl did not wait for a call from the coaches of the French team and decided to accept the offer to play for the Russian team, since the head coach of the team was a well-known friend Vadim Kapranov.
The first international medals
At the 2001 European Championships, Ilona made her debut for the Russian national team in major tournaments. The team then went through a difficult process of generational change, then many of Ilona’s friends in the “Triumph” and the children's group Kira Trzeskal joined the composition. Nevertheless, the young team with some interspersed veterans confidently went to the finals, beating the strong Spanish squad with a score of 74:59 during the tournament.
The decisive match of the championship of the continent, the Russians played with the mistresses of the tournament - the French. Despite the opposition of the stands, rooting for their girls, Ilona and her friends fought with dignity and were defeated with a minimum margin.
Korstin herself began most of the matches on the bench, however, she always strengthened the game very well, and in the semifinals Vadim Kapranov even released it in the starting five.
Ilona Korstin went to the 2002 World Cup in the status of one of the team’s main stars, already having experience of playing in the women's NBA, where she played for the Phoenix team in 2001. It is not surprising that it was the Russian Frenchwoman who became the best in the match between the national teams of Russia and the USA, who met in the final of the world championship. Ilona acted very confidently and scored 27 points, becoming the most productive in both teams. However, her efforts were not enough to win, and the Russians were content with silver.
Homecoming
Vadim Kapranov was a happy coach for Ilona, and she after seven seasons for “Bourges” unexpectedly easily accepted his offer to go to Samara VBM SSAU. However, while the girl was traveling from France to Russia, her favorite was replaced by Igor Grudin. Nevertheless, he also found a common language with the uneasy and obstinate athlete, and she, without any problems, took upon herself the burden of the team leader. In 2003, VBM SSAU with the active participation of Ilona won the World Cup, a year later gold medals of the national championship were obtained.
The Samara club achieved the main victory in 2005. In the Euroleague final with the active participation of Ilona Korstin, the Czech Gambrinus was defeated, and she won the main European club tournament for the second time.
While in Samara, the girl continued to storm educational institutions, having studied at the Samara Aerospace University.
First gold
In 2003, Ilona Korstin won her first trophy with the Russian national team. By the European Championships of that year, a whole generation of star basketball players had grown in the country, among which the leader of the Samara VBM SSAU was considered the main star. In addition to her, such girls as Svetlana Abrosimova, Tatyana Schegoleva, Maria Stepanova stood out.
“Dream Team” was the main favorite of the tournament and confidently reached the final, where Czech bewitches were waiting for Russian beauties. After the first half of the match, the Russian team was in the lead, but Czech athletes seized the initiative in emotional women's basketball and took the lead a couple of minutes before the end. It was time for the team leaders to take the game upon themselves, and Ilona took up the matter, who made bold individual passes to the ring, gaining decisive victory points.
Series of failures
In 2004, the Russian women's team for the first time in its modern history managed to get the Olympic Games medals. In the semifinals of the tournament, the girls played with dignity with the Americans, losing in the end only two throws. In the match for third place, they were expected by the Brazilians, who lost to the Australians. Luxurious South American beauties imposed stubborn resistance on the Russians, long-range shots from the national team snipers did not go at all.
Toward a long break, the teams scored an equal number of points, but in the third quarter, inspired by the successful passes of Ilona Korstin, the Russian girls made a daring breakthrough and brought the matter to a final victory.
Least of all, Ilona Korstin likes to remember the 2005 European Championship. The Russian team at that time was considered the undisputed leader of continental women's basketball. In the final, the Russians beat the Czech basketball players with a difference of 14 points after the first half of the match.
However, the girls too early relaxed and received a fierce blow to their pride from rivals. Those stubbornly and methodically won back a huge advantage and eight seconds before the end of the match pulled ahead. Stunned Russians could not do anything and lost the won match.
Sportswoman and just beautiful
In 2006, the photos of Ilona Korstin did not leave the covers of world sports publications. The fact is that FIBA has officially selected a Russian athlete for the presentation of the program “Year of Women's Basketball”. This program was a series of events aimed at promoting women's basketball in Europe.
According to Ilona, the candidate for this honorable position had to meet a number of criteria: a high level of basketball skill, credibility among fans and specialists, sociability, but for the sweet - beauty.
A girl with Estonian roots, a Russian soul and a French passport met the highest requirements in the best way possible and worthily fulfilled her mission throughout the year.
Golden years
Of particular importance to Ilona Korstin was the 2006 World Basketball Championship. Here, the Russian team for the first time in their modern history defeated the invincible American women. The main role in the victory was played by the main star - Ilona Korstin. In the first quarter, the girl scored 11 points, so the segment was won with an indecent score of 25:13.
Crazy from such impudence, the Americans recovered for a long time, but by the beginning of the decisive quarter they woke up and made a seven-point spurt. A magnificent breakthrough was stopped by the magnificent Ilona, taking away a heavy selection. She acted in cold blood and at the very last moments of the match confidently implemented both free throws, scoring the final victory with a score of 75:68.
However, a crazy surge of adrenaline in the semifinal emotionally devastated the girls from the Russian team, and in the decisive game they looked rather pale against the strong Australian team, losing by a wide margin.
In 2007, Ilona Korstin again led her teammates and helped her get another victory at the European Championships. The girl herself scored 18 points in the decisive game against the Spaniards and made 7 rebounds, becoming the most useful player in the match. Interestingly, Ilona's father also took part in the victory. Kalju Korstin, a fitness trainer, helped the team build physical fitness while preparing for the tournament.
Her farewell bow
According to the established tradition of alternating gold and silver medals at continental championships, the Russian team in 2009 lost to the French in the final of the European Championship. Not the last role in this defeat was played by the injury of the team leader - Ilona Korstin. However, two years later she took revenge and won the gold medals of the continental championships for the third time.
By that time, the girl left CSKA Moscow (into which the Samara VBM SSAU was transformed) and transferred to Sparta, Moscow Region. Her new club was conceived as an ambitious project and aimed to win in all tournaments. The ambitions of Sparta and Ilona coincided favorably, and in the 2009/2010 season the Moscow Region team won the women's Euroleague. So Korstin won the main European club tournament for the third time in his life.
The last few years the legendary basketball player spent in various foreign clubs - Besiktas, Avenida. She finished in Dynamo Moscow, announcing in 2013 the completion of a player’s career.
Off site
Since 2013, the three-time European champion has worked as Deputy General Director of VTB United League. At the same time, Ilona Korstin and Roman Skvortsov commented on basketball matches on Russian federal channels. According to the commentator, it was difficult for him to concentrate on the game during the presence of such a girl.
As often happens, a real flame flared up from a spark. Many gossips began to talk about the upcoming wedding of Roman Skvortsov and Ilona Korstin, but there is no official confirmation of these rumors.
Ilona continues to make a great career as a sports manager and not so long ago became the general director of VTB United League.