So in Europe (especially in Germany) and North America, the surname Klitschko is primarily associated with the word “Ukraine.” And are there people, even those not interested in sports, who have never heard of these athletes? No matter how you look at it, the Klitschko brothers are a unique phenomenon. It cannot be confined to any framework - Vitali and Vladimir are not only magnificent athletes, but also very educated and well-mannered people who can freely communicate with journalists and fans in both Russian and German. But let's take things in order.
The elder of the brothers - Vitali - was born on July 19, 1971 in the village of Belovodsk (Kyrgyzstan). The younger - Vladimir - on March 25, 1976 in Semipalatinsk (Kazakhstan). Such expanded geography is explained simply: the father of the future athletes, Vladimir Rodionovich Klitschko, was a military man, so young Vitali and Vladimir had the chance to visit many corners of the former Soviet Union.
From childhood, the boys were accustomed to standing up for each other and doing almost everything together. This has remained with the Klitschkos to this day - Vitali and Vladimir are the standard of brotherly friendship. No one has ever seen even the slightest quarrel between them, especially in public. As expected, the elder brother was the first to take up sports. Vitali was particularly interested in martial arts. The younger one tried to follow the elder in everything and also became interested in sports. But while Vitali focused on kickboxing, Vladimir was always closer to boxing. Endowed with excellent physical attributes, the boys trained a lot, and the first serious successes were not long in coming. Over a short period of time, Vitali became a six-time world champion in kickboxing (four times among professionals and twice among amateurs), as well as a three-time champion of Ukraine in boxing, champion of the 1st World Military Games in the super heavyweight category (Italy, 1995) and silver medalist of the world championship of the same year.
Vladimir was not lagging behind either. At just 17, he won the title of European champion among juniors, then became champion of Ukraine in boxing five times, champion of the 1st World Military Games in the heavyweight category (Italy, 1995), silver medalist of the European Boxing Championship (1996). His greatest achievement on the amateur boxing ring is the gold medal and the title of boxing champion in the super heavyweight division at the Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996).
A rather interesting story is connected with the Olympics. According to one version, Vitali was supposed to go to the USA, but could not, and the Ukrainian side decided to resort to a trick, replacing one brother with the other. In the event of exposure, the athlete would have been disqualified. But this did not happen - the substitution was not noticed, since the guys really look very similar, and the difference in names could be attributed to a mistake. In short, it was Vladimir who became the Olympic champion, but whether it was really so or not is an open question.
The boxing brothers became the talk of the world. Offers poured in from various professional boxing clubs. An invitation to perform in his team even came from Don King, considered the number one promoter in the boxing world.
Having decided that it was time to leave the amateur level and move up a step, Vitali and Vladimir, after thinking it over, chose a new “place of work” - the German club Universum box-promotion, located in Hamburg. And the rather well-known figure in the boxing world, Klaus-Peter Kohl, acted as promoter and manager of the brothers. This happened in the autumn of 1996.
The professional boxing world was shaken - two very strong boxers from unknown Ukraine entered the ring at once, and recognized authorities had to reckon with them. And already six months after signing the contract, Vitali and Vladimir were spoken of as the most likely contenders for the European champion title and for a fight with the scandalous Mike Tyson.
The German public immediately took a liking to the Ukrainian super heavyweights, and Vitali also received the nickname King of Knockouts. Interestingly, it was provoked not only by the number of Klitschko Sr.’s wins by knockout, but also by the fact that the brothers’ surname is translated from German as nothing other than “knockout blow” (klych - “blow,” and the letters K.O. in boxing terminology denote a win by knockout).
Over the course of three years, the brothers fought a total of 59 bouts (27 for Vitali and 32 for Vladimir) and rose in the world rankings from the 200th line to leading positions. Vitali won the titles of European champion, intercontinental champion, and world champion according to the WBO. Vladimir - the title of European champion and intercontinental champion according to the WBA. On October 23, 1998, the World Boxing Organization recognized Vitali as the best intercontinental champion of 1998. On November 11, 1999, Vitali Klitschko’s name was entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the first world champion in the super heavyweight division to win 26 bouts by knockout, spending the fewest number of rounds on this. With this achievement, he even surpassed Iron Mike - Tyson.
There is no point in stopping at all of Klitschko's achievements, since describing all the fights the brothers fought would take more than one page. Let us recall only the last, highly resonant fight of Vitali. On June 21, 2003, in Los Angeles, the main fight of Klitschko Sr.'s career took place to date. He met in the ring with the WBC world champion, British boxer Lennox Lewis. Everyone was waiting for the bout of the two super heavyweights, because talk about the Klitschko-Lewis fight had been going on for quite some time.
Both boxers seriously prepared for the confrontation, but, apparently, Lennox slightly underestimated his opponent, which was visible to the naked eye. However, the Briton's experience still made itself felt when Lennox managed to inflict a very unpleasant injury on Vitali - a cut on his left brow - he constantly aimed there, and after three rounds the doctor stopped the fight, thus giving the victory by technical knockout to the Briton. Vitali, naturally, was against such a decision (as were the spectators), and he was ahead on points, but... Lewis remained the champion.
To date, Vitali has fought 34 professional bouts, winning 32 of them (16 by knockout, 15 by technical knockout), Vladimir has fought 42 bouts, winning 40 (20 by knockout, 17 by technical knockout).
Such a serious career abroad could have made the Klitschkos completely forget their native land, but that did not happen. Being true patriots (this can be stated with complete confidence), Vitali and Vladimir do not forget their roots, visiting Ukraine quite often. Their social and scientific activities deserve a separate mention.
Back in the autumn of 1997, the Klitschkos organized the International Foundation for Promotion of Sports Development "Sport - XXI Century" and are its leaders. The foundation supports talented athletes, experienced coaches, and veterans of sports who need help. And for young athletes it is truly a great joy to communicate with world-famous boxers; perhaps someday, following the example of the Klitschko brothers, they too will become outstanding sportsmen.
It is also interesting that the Klitschkos often represent Ukraine at various socio-political events, such as official events where representatives of European countries are introduced to our country.
Fluently speaking German and Russian, Vitali and Vladimir do not speak Ukrainian, which is often held against them. To this the Klitschkos respond: if you cannot do something well, it is better not to do it at all. Undeniably, a reasonable remark.
To all the above, one can also add the degree of Candidate of Philosophical Sciences for Vitali and Candidate of Sciences in Physical Education and Sports for Vladimir, obtained by the brothers at the Kiev State University of Physical Education and Sports. The joking expression about two sons, one of whom is smart and the other an athlete, does not work here.
The Klitschko brothers are talented in everything. And Vitali's and Vladimir's hobbies are so diverse that you cannot list them all - music, politics, foreign languages, reading, theater, and much more. Now Vitali has also added family cares - he is married and is the father of two children - Yegor-Daniel and Elizabeth-Victoria. Vladimir, however, is not married yet.
And we can say without doubt that Vladimir and Vitali Klitschko can be role models in many spheres of life, but first and foremost they are professional athletes who, it is hoped, will bring more than one victory to Ukraine.
* Simply the best - to the musical accompaniment of this Tina Turner hit, the Klitschko brothers usually enter the ring.