For ages now I’ve wanted to do a programme about Russia’s most famous hockey player, the world-famous sportsman Vladislav Tretyak. So I was really pleased when we managed to arrange an interview. Tretyak is not only a living legend, but the pride of our country and international sport. He was the first European to be featured in Toronto’s Hockey Hall of Fame, in 1977. And in 2000, the International Hockey Federation named him best hockey player of the 20th century. So Vladislav Tretyak is someone who took not so much “steps” as great strides towards success.
It all began with a little boy who really loved the hockey strip. But strips were in short supply, even in the sports schools. And there was also a shortage of goalkeepers. So then Vladik, who was playing as a striker, said to his trainer that he was willing to become a goalkeeper in exchange for a strip. And that was probably one of the most successful “contracts” in the history of sport – no price and just one clause headed “devotion to the cause”.
Being devoted to hockey, by the way, requires enormous physical labour. And of course I was interested to find out how such a tough profession demanding iron discipline and involving so many restrictions and colossal strains was unable to subdue the spirit of this gentle, calm and very sensitive man. Absolute devotion to one’s profession, to one’s cause, to one’s principles, and to one’s understanding of life – perhaps in this rare combination lies the most vital secret of success.
You can find out all about it in “Steps towards Success” at 1100 on Sunday 4th April, on Channel 5. As always, the programme will be repeated on Monday 5th April at 0015.