The BSUPC stadium hosted a large-scale celebration, "Montreal, 1976 - Minsk, 2026: Meeting of Generations," dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the XXI Olympic Games
On July 18, the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture and Sport (BSUPhK) stadium hosted a large-scale celebration, "Montreal, 1976 – Minsk, 202026: Meeting of Generations," dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the XXI Olympic Games.
The event brought together sports veterans, Olympic champions, their coaches, and the younger generation of athletes to commemorate the legendary victories of Belarusian athletes at the Montreal Olympics.
The XXI Olympic Games opened on July 17, 1976. Vladimir Kaminsky took first place in the 100 km team road race, earning Belarusian cycling its first gold medal. At the meeting of generations, cyclists were able to participate in the race, ask the champion questions during a personal meeting, and even get an autograph.
During his acceptance speech, the Olympic champion thanked his parents for their life: almost his entire family were cyclists and inspired him to win from childhood. His wife and children also share Vladimir Kaminsky's active lifestyle: his wife is a candidate master of sport in swimming, as is his youngest daughter. Their son is a master of sport in diving, and their youngest daughter is a candidate master of sport in competitive swimming.
Vladimir Kaminsky led the race not only with adult cyclists but also with children. He used a pedalless bicycle—the first registered model of this type.
In 1976, the legendary team's lineup was truly multinational: alongside the Belarusian, the Ukrainian Anatoly Chukanov, the Estonian Aavo Pikkuus, and the Russian Valery Chaplygin all competed. It was precisely this moment that they attempted to recreate today during one of the races at the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture and Sport stadium.
On that hot day, the NOC chairman personally gave the team his pep talk. His instructions were brief: "Only forward!" Everything seemed to be going according to plan, but events unfolded rapidly and dramatically. Two minutes before the race, the judge declared that the team's uniforms did not match the declared ones. The situation was critical—the coach was in the technical area, out of sight. Years of preparation were destroyed in seconds, but the riders had the savvy to roll up the sleeves and collars of their striped uniforms. "We didn't even have time to fasten our straps; everything was decided just seconds before the start," recalled Vladimir Kaminsky.
"The selection process for the team was incredibly tough back then. At the end of the year, lists of candidates for Olympic training were released. In 1976, there were no Belarusian cyclists competing on the track, but I was chosen from among several on the road. I had to climb many steps to earn the honor of making the team. The Olympic Games are the pinnacle of all sports. Our Belarusian coaches, most of whom are BSUPC graduates, trained many USSR and world champions. There were over 2,500 coaches in the USSR who trained cyclists, which helped pass on their skills and abilities to future generations," Vladimir Kaminsky emphasized.
Honored Coach of the USSR and the Byelorussian SSR Leonid Korbut was also present at the meeting. He was the one who believed in the future champion and motivated him. "When training athletes, the most important things are the right attitude, high-level demands, and constant participation in competitions. I always tried to be a second father to the guys, treated them very well, and never scolded them. It's also important to build a proper training plan, then everything will be great," he believes.
Leonid Korbut also recalled Vladimir Kaminsky's journey to victory. "Back then, I was very pleased that he made the team; I sincerely believed he would become a champion. Vladimir always listened, carried out instructions, and there were no disagreements between us. The only issue was that he didn't eat meat. Because of this, they didn't include him in the team; they were skeptical. I asked them to pay attention to how he rode during training, after which they included him in the lineup and began training him, and the results started coming in. He was placed on the second team, not the first, which surprised everyone. When the start was given, a tire punctured after five kilometers; it took 43 seconds to change it. Later, he caught up with the first team, and at the finish, they won by 23 seconds," the coach recounted that day.
Vladimir Klinov, First Vice-Rector of BSUPC, noted that the participants gathered today to commemorate the anniversary of an event that made world history, and he recalled that Vladimir Kaminsky is an important member of the university's teaching staff.
"We are very pleased that he is working with us, sharing his experience, skills, and abilities with his students. Vladimir Vladimirovich is an example of determination, hard work, and achieving one's goals," Vladimir Klinov emphasized.
Mikhail Dvoryakov, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Cycling Federation, noted: "I want to thank everyone who came from all over the country. I hope the next generation will continue these traditions; Belarusian cycling definitely has a future," the expert said.
As the event organizers noted, Olympic victories are not just pages of history; they represent living people who are there and willing to share their experiences with future champions.
