Helmut Gunarovich Balderis is a legend of Soviet sports. It is considered to be the best hockey player in the history of Latvia. Multiple world champion, as well as an honorary holder of state-level awards.
early years
Helmut was born in the summer of 1952 in the capital of the Latvian SSR. Like many Soviet children, he loved to play sports. As a child, he played hockey, football and basketball outdoors. No matter how surprising it may sound, but at an early age he decided that he wants to devote himself to hockey. Parents fully supported their son and sent him to the section. Initially, he absolutely did not stand out against his peers, but after a while it became clear that Helmut Balderis could grow into a very strong athlete. Coaches began to pay him a little more attention and, as it turned out, not in vain. The young man worked hard in training and dreamed of one day going out on the ice as a professional hockey player.
Already at the age of sixteen, he begins to regularly play for the Car Builder from Riga. He showed himself great in games, and very soon a really adult career begins for him.
The main stage of a career
Season 1969-1970 he begins as a player of the Dynamo club (Riga). Who would have thought that a young striker would instantly fit into the team’s scheme and from the first matches would begin to show a phenomenal level of play? For eight years, he will shine on the ice, and from an unknown guy he will turn into one of the most powerful extreme forwards in the world.
At that time it was established that all the strongest athletes were moving to Moscow. Naturally, such a fate could not pass him. In 1977, Helmut transferred to CSKA, where he became the main player for three years. Here he performed in a link with such legendary personalities as Zhlutkov and Kapustin. Over the years, he still scored a lot of goals, but everything just did not live up to his expectations. The leadership of the “army” decides that Helmut Balderis should return to his native Dynamo.
Season 1980-1981 he starts in Riga, where he again becomes a key player. At that time he was only twenty-eight years old, and until thirty-three he showed an incredible level of play. And in his last season for his native team he became the champion of the Soviet Union.
In 1989, he decided to resume Balderis' sports career. The hockey player at that time was already not young, but spent one year overseas. His team was Minnesota North Stars. Despite an impressive age, he will take part in twenty-six fights, throw three goals and give six assists.
Speeches for the USSR national team
Balderis is one of the most titled players in the national team. In 1976, the hockey player became the silver medalist of the world championship. A year later, the team won only bronze medals.
In 1978 Helmut for the first time in his career will become a world champion. This tournament was held in Czechoslovakia. In 1979, the competition took place directly in Moscow. Naturally, the Soviet team was not entitled to lose here. As a result, first place. Four years later, the allied team will again be the best national team in the world, and the Latvian hockey player will become a triple winner of gold.
As for the Olympic Games, the athlete participated in them only once. This happened in the United States in 1980. The USSR team then stopped a step before the gold, losing only to the hosts of the tournament in the final.
Balderis also has fifty-four fights and thirty-three abandoned goals for the national team. He spent several games for the national team of Latvia.
Coaching
After the athlete became the winner of the 1984-1985 Union Championship. As part of Dynamo (Riga), he decided to try himself as a coach. For four years, he was in Japan and worked as an assistant professor at Oji Seishi. For four seasons here Balderis replenished his collection of awards with three national titles.
After the season in America, he returned to Latvia and did not work long in the Pardaugava system. In the mid-nineties for some time he became the head coach of the Latvian team, but failed to achieve anything. At this, the coaching career of the legendary hockey player ended and was no longer resumed.
Awards and Achievements
Among state awards, it is necessary to highlight the presence of the Order of Friendship of Peoples, which he received after winning the world championship in 1978. Helmut Balderis is also an honored master of sports of the Soviet Union.
After Latvia became an independent state, the government could not help but mention the hockey player. He was awarded the Order of Three Stars. It is worth noting that this is the highest award of the home country of Helmut.
Life outside of sports
Balderis is an exemplary family man. Has a wife and two adult daughters. Immediately after he left the sport, for some time was the head of the Sports Palace, which is located in Riga. In 1996, he took the post of vice president of the hockey federation, and in 1998 his name was entered in the IIHF Hall of Fame.
In the 2000s, Balderis moved away a bit from sports and went into business. In 2009, a former hockey player became the head of a pharmaceutical company.
Helmut Balderis will go down in the history of world sports as a person who independently managed to achieve everything. His name is forever inscribed in the history of Soviet and Latvian hockey. He is still an idol and role model for many young athletes.