On March 19-20, 2026, the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation "Training of Athletes of the 21st Century: Scientific Foundations and Structure of Training", Dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of the Birth of Professor V.B. Issurin, took place at the Saint Petersburg Research Institute for Physical Culture (FSBI SPbNIIFK).
Vladimir Issurin’s career path began as a graduate of the Lesgaft Institute, Leningrad, and led him to become a globally recognized specialist in the theory and methodology of sports training. His scientific interests focused on the problems of sports technical mastery in water cyclic sports, and it was under his guidance that a strong scientific school of biomechanics of rowing was formed at FSBI SPbNIIFK.
He managed to provide answers to fundamental questions of sports training: to reveal the patterns of human rowing locomotion, to explain the mechanisms of formation of athletes' motor actions, and to propose new approaches to improving the motor capabilities of rowers. The complex experimental studies initiated by him of the "rower-boat" system became an important stage in the development of scientific and methodical support for water sports.
A special place in Vladimir Issurin’s scientific heritage is occupied by the development of the theory of block periodization of sports training - a concept that significantly changed the understanding of the structure of training for high trained athletes. The concentrated-directed training block model he proposed became an important tool for optimizing the training process in conditions of high competition in modern sports. At the same time, he actively addressed the problem of sports talent – questions of its early diagnosis, forecasting and effective implementation in the system of long-term training. His research in this area contributed to the formation of scientifically justified approaches to the development of sports mastery.
A significant part of his life was devoted to practical work with athletes. Over three Olympic cycles, Vladimir Issurin served as a scientific consultant and head of a comprehensive scientific group for the USSR rowing and canoeing national team, for which he was awarded government honors. Later, continuing his activities in Israel, he actively participated in the preparation of national Olympic teams and was a member of delegations at six Olympic Games.
Vladimir Issurin left a vast scientific legacy: more than two hundred scientific publications, dozens of international reports, fundamental monographs that have become essential reading for specialists. Under his guidance, twenty-one Phd in Pedagogics dissertations were defended, and many of his students continue to develop the scientific directions he initiated.
He was a recognized international expert, a member of scientific academies and editorial boards of leading journals, a consultant and reviewer of authoritative scientific publications. His contribution was marked by awards from Olympic committees in various countries.
At the same time, Vladimir Issurin remained a person sincerely devoted to sports: he continued to actively train and was a multiple champion of Israel in swimming among veterans. His life stance, scientific honesty, energy, and human openness will forever remain in the memory of his colleagues.
The conference became not just a scientific event, but also an act of grateful remembrance. FSBI SPbNIIFK continues his legacy, and the institute’s staff develop his scientific approaches, passing them on to new generations of researchers and coaches. The name of Vladimir Borisovich Issurin will forever remain in the history of world, Soviet, and Russian science. His memory lives on in his works, his students, and in our hearts.
Over two days, leading experts in sports science, honoured coaches, heads of federations and scientific centres from Russia, Belarus, Australia, Israel, and Armenia discussed pressing issues of training high-performance athletes, shared experiences of implementing scientific developments into training practice, and reminisced about the scientific legacy of Vladimir Issurin.
Plenary Session: From Theory to Practice
The conference opened on March 19th with a plenary session. Welcome speeches were delivered by the acting director of FSBI SPbNIIFK, Phd in Economics, Associate Professor Pavel Andreyevich Bulochnikov, Doctor of Pedagogy, Professor Sergey Maksimovich Ashkinazi (Lesgaft University, Saint-Petersburg) and Doctor of Pedagogy, Associate Professor Tatyana Germanovna Fomichenko (FSBI «Federal Science Center of Physical Culture and Sport» (FSC VNIIFK)).
A key theme of the first day was the discussion of the scientific school of Professor V.B. Issurin. Presentations by Phd in Pedagogics, Associate Professor S.A. Pronin, D.Ped.Sc., Professor V.I. Grigoryev, and D.Ped.Sc., Professor S.M. Ashkinazi were dedicated to the scientist’s contribution to the development of rowing sports theory and methodology. Phd in Pedagogics V.D. Timofeev, President of the Regional Foundation for the Development of Sports "Federation of Rowing Sports and Kayak and Canoe in Leningrad Oblast, " Issurin’s graduate student, in his speech, talked about Professor V.B. Issurin's scientific school and research conducted at the Leningrad Scientific Institute for Physical Culture (LNIIFK) in rowing (canoe and kayak).
President of the Regional Physical Culture and Sports Public Organization "Leningrad Region Rowing and Canoeing Federation", Phd in Pedagogics V.D. Timofeev
Among other notable presentations on the first day, it's worth noting:
Vladimir Iosifovich Lyakh (Doctor of Pedagogy, Professor, Moscow State University of Sport and Tourism) presented a report on new discoveries in the field of sports talent.
Mirzoev Oktay Mirza oghly (Phd in Pedagogics, Associate Professor, Russian University of Sport "GTSOLIFK") shared experience in the scientific and methodological support of the Russian national rowing team.
Giving a presentation is O.M.Mirzoev, Phd in Pedagogics, Associate Professor (Russian University of Sport "GTSOLIFK", Moscow)
There were panel discussions featuring legendary coaches: Vasily Fedorovich Kaverin (Chief Coach of the USSR rowing team 1981-1991), Sergei Viktorovich Verlin (Chief Coach of the Russian rowing team), as well as international colleagues - S.V. Kuksa (Australia), V.V. Shantarovich (Belarus) and D.S. Miroshchensky (Israel).
The first day concluded with a rich program with the official opening of a portrait gallery of outstanding figures in sports science, as well as discussions and summary of results.
The second day of the conference, March 20th, was dedicated to the medico-biological, psychological-pedagogical, and organizational aspects of sports training. The work began with a session that focused particularly on winter sports. Deputy Director for Scientific Work, Phd in Pedagogics N.B. Novikova, and Researcher A.N. Belyova (FSBI SPbNIIFK) presented reports on modern approaches to periodization of training in cross-country skiing and on managing sports training in Nordic combined. Colleagues from Kazan, Omsk and Smolensk shared the results of their research in an online format, focusing on minimizing the fear of sliding among young cross-country skiers, the characteristics of energy supply in cross-country skiers and controlling psychophysiological capabilities in basketball. A.I. Grebennikov (Senior Researcher, Phd in Pedagogics) presented current research on factors that enhance athlete performance.
Giving a presentation is Deputy Director for Scientific Work, Phd in Pedagogics N.B. Novikova (FSBI SPbNIIFK)
Giving a presentation is Researcher A.N. Belyova (FSBI SPbNIIFK)
“Problems of applied science, scientific and methodological support, and training of athletes in canoeing and kayaking: history and prospects” (moderators: Phd in Pedagogics S.V. Verlin and Phd in Pedagogics V.D. Timofeev).
“The current state and prospects for the development of academic rowing in Russia” (moderator: Phd in Pedagogics V.V. Kleshnev).
Participants in the round table discussion “The current state and prospects for the development of academic rowing in Russia”
Acting director of FSBI SPbNIIFK, Phd in Economics P.A. Bulochinkov chats with participants in the round table discussion “The current state and prospects for the development of academic rowing in Russia”
Discussion at the round table discussion “The current state and prospects for the development of academic rowing in Russia”
Participants in the round table discussions discussed pressing issues in the development of rowing sports, exchanged opinions on ways to integrate scientific developments into the training of national teams, and determined vectors for the further development of the industry science.
The main problems raised during the round table discussions were the following:
- mass exodus of athletes from sports after junior successes due to burnout, early specialization, and lack of support;
- a lack of modern scientific and practical seminars, low coach motivation, the use of outdated training methods, dependence of salaries on the number of athletes, rather than the quality;
- a shortage of training waters (especially in Saint-Petersburg), difficulties with navigation and boats;
- despite the growth of mass participation (the emergence of school and student leagues), there is a decline in professional sports and on the international stage;
- the need to transition to modern learning formats (webinars, social media, simple language to explain science), as well as the creation of a new, relevant textbook.
Doctor of.Pedagogy, Professor V.I. Lyakh (Moscow State University of Sport and Tourism) speaks before participants in the round table discussion “Problems of applied science, scientific and methodological support, and training of athletes in canoeing and kayaking: history and prospects”
At the round table discussion “Problems of applied science, scientific and methodological support, and training of athletes in canoeing and kayaking: history and prospects”
A particularly touching part of the program was a memorial meeting of friends, students, and colleagues of Vladimir Borisovich Issurin. Participants shared memories of the scientist, his role in the development of sports science and pedagogy, emphasizing that his legacy continues to live on in the works of his followers and the successes of modern athletes.
Conference Results
Summarizing the two days of work, the organizers and participants noted the high level of the presented papers, the productive exchange of experience between representatives of different countries and scientific schools. The conference once again confirmed the importance of intergenerational continuity in science and sport, as well as the need for close interaction between researchers, coaches and athletes to achieve results on the international stage.
Professor S.M. Ashkinazi (Lesgaft University, Saint-Petersburg), V.F. Kaverin, Chief Coach of the USSR kayaking and canoeing team 1981-1991, Acting Director of FSBI SPbNIIFK, Phd in Economics, Associate Professor P.A. Bulochnikov, Chief Coach of the Russian kayaking and canoeing team, Honored Coach of Russia, Honored Master of Sports, Phd in Pedagogics S.V. Verlin, Deputy Director of FSBI SPbNIIFK for Scientific Work, Phd in Pedagogics N.B. Novikova
Gallery of outstanding domestic sports science specialists - employees of the Leningrad Research Institute for Physical Culture (LNIIFK) - SPbNIIFK
Phd in Biology, Associate Professor N.B. Lukmanova, Doctor of Pedagogy, Associate Professor S.I. Dorokhov, Phd in Biology T.V. Krasnoperova, Phd in Pedagogics A.I. Grebennikov, Phd in Economics A.V. Tsareva (FSBI SPbNIIFK), Phd in Pedagogics, Associate Professor Mirzoev Oktay Mirza ogly (Russian University of Sport "GTSOLIFK", Moscow)
