Mark Rakita
Encyclopedia
Mark Semenovich Rakita is a famed Russia
n sabreur
and coach from the Soviet era.
Rakita was also the world champion in individual sabre in 1967, and finished second in 1970.http://sports123.com/fen/mw-sa.html
s for the Soviet Union.
At the 1964 Tokyo
Games, he competed in both the individual and team events, and helped the Soviets capture the gold medal in the team competition (one of his teammates was Yakov Rylsky
). In the individual sabre, Rakita was eliminated from the competition in the 3rd round by eventual gold medalist Tibor Pezsa (10–6).
Four years later at the 1968 Mexico City
Games, Rakita returned to the Olympics and again competed in the individual and team sabre events. In the individual competition he captured the silver medal. In the team competition, the Soviets repeated as champions by defeating the Italians for the gold medal.
Rakita's final Olympic appearance occurred in 1972 at the Munich
Games when he won his 4th Olympic medal. Competing exclusively in the team event, Rakita took the silver medal; one of his teammates in 1968 and 1972 was Eduard Vinokurov
.
.
. Rakita: "As far as I'm concerned, he no longer exists!" Interview (in Russian)
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n sabreur
Sabre (fencing)
The sabre is one of the three weapons of modern sport fencing, and is alternatively spelled saber in American English. The sabre differs from the other modern fencing weapons, the épée and foil, in that it is possible to score with the edge of the blade; for this reason, sabreur movements and...
and coach from the Soviet era.
Fencing career
Rakita started fencing at 14. He practiced daily for between three – six hours a day.http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:g1bCCYevvnMJ:www.totallyjewish.com/sport/%3Fcontent_id%3D4601+mark+rakita+sabre&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=38&gl=us A 1969 graduate of The Daghestan State Pedagogical Institute, Rakita earned the title of Master of the Sport (Fencing) in 1964. He trained at the Armed Forces sports society.World championships
Rakita was one of the Soviet Union's top sabre fencers in the 1960s. As a member of the Soviet National team, he won the world championship in the team sabre in 1965, 1967, 1969, and 1971.Rakita was also the world champion in individual sabre in 1967, and finished second in 1970.http://sports123.com/fen/mw-sa.html
Olympics
One of the best sabre fencers in the world in the 1960s, Rakita competed in 3 OlympiadOlympiad
An Olympiad is a period of four years, associated with the Olympic Games of Classical Greece. In the Hellenistic period, beginning with Ephorus, Olympiads were used as calendar epoch....
s for the Soviet Union.
At the 1964 Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
Games, he competed in both the individual and team events, and helped the Soviets capture the gold medal in the team competition (one of his teammates was Yakov Rylsky
Yakov Rylsky
Yakov Anufrievich Rylsky was a Jewish sabre fencer of the Soviet Union. He competed in three Olympiads, and won two medals for the Soviet Union's fencing team.-Fencing career:Rylsky began fencing in 1950...
). In the individual sabre, Rakita was eliminated from the competition in the 3rd round by eventual gold medalist Tibor Pezsa (10–6).
Four years later at the 1968 Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
Games, Rakita returned to the Olympics and again competed in the individual and team sabre events. In the individual competition he captured the silver medal. In the team competition, the Soviets repeated as champions by defeating the Italians for the gold medal.
Rakita's final Olympic appearance occurred in 1972 at the Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
Games when he won his 4th Olympic medal. Competing exclusively in the team event, Rakita took the silver medal; one of his teammates in 1968 and 1972 was Eduard Vinokurov
Eduard Vinokurov
Eduard Teodorovich Vinokurov was a Soviet Russian sabre fencer. He was born in the village of Baizhansai, South Kazakhstan Province, Kazakh SSR.-Fencing career:Vinokurov began fencing in 1956.He trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Leningrad....
.
World championships
- 1967 Individual Sabre (Gold)
- 1967 Team Sabre (Gold)
- 1971 Individual Sabre (Silver)
Coaching career
After he stopped fencing, he spent 17 years coaching the country’s up-and-coming talent, helping four Russians to Olympic medals.http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:g1bCCYevvnMJ:www.totallyjewish.com/sport/%3Fcontent_id%3D4601+mark+rakita+sabre&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=38&gl=usHall of Fame
In 1988 Rakita, who is Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of FameInternational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
.
Feud with Vladimir Nazlymov
In an interview in New York, Mark Rakita discussed his long time feud with former friend/teammate turned nemesis Vladimir NazlymovVladimir Nazlymov
Vladimir Nazlymov - Sabre fencer and coach for USSR and later United States. Born in Makhachkala, Daghestan. A 1970 graduate of The Daghestan State Pedagogical Institute, Nazlymov earned a bachelor's and master's degree in physical education...
. Rakita: "As far as I'm concerned, he no longer exists!" Interview (in Russian)