In 2024, the Volga Region University of Sports and Tourism will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

In the run-up to this event we are launching a new rubric: Legendary jubilees for the university's anniversary.

The first swallow will be the renowned Nailya Gilyazova.

On 2 January the best athlete of the 20th century in Tatarstan, Olympic champion in foil fencing celebrates her 70th anniversary.

Nailya Fayzrakhmanovna Gilyazova is a native of Kazan. She started fencing in 1967 under the guidance of Alexander Kislyunin. As she recollected: "I came to the Palace of Pioneers to enrol in basketball section and there they were taking fencing only. I didn't even know what that was. And three years later I already accomplished the standard of the USSR Master of Sport and continued training under the guidance of Vladimir Zhitlov.

Her first serious result was silver at the 1973 World Team Sport Championship as a member of the USSR national team. At the same time, Nailya Gilyazova continued her studies at Kazan Pedagogical Institute at the Physical Training and Sports Department which she successfully completed in 1975.

Twice Nailya Faizrakhmanovna has been placed on the Olympic podium. In 1976 in Montreal she won gold and in 1980 in Moscow she won silver in the team event.

She was 12 times USSR Champion, and also 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979 World Champion in team competitions and 1982 World Champion in individual competitions. As a member of the USSR team she was the winner of the European Cup from 1975 to 1977. She acted for the USSR national team from 1974 to 1985. In 1976 she was awarded the title "Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR".

At the end of her sports career she worked as a coach at the Republican Specialized Children and Youth Sports School of Olympic Reserve.

"Any defeat for me is an experience that leads to victory," Nailya Gilyazova said.

The management and staff of Volga Region University of Sports and Tourism wish you, Nailya Faizrakhmanovna, good health!

May the experience gained by you during your years of playing for the glory of our country serve as a great launching pad for new victories of young Russian athletes!