“He is forever in my heart”: how Oleg Sorokanyuk was remembered in Chita

World champion in grappling, multiple champion of Russia and regions in various types of martial arts, president of the Federation of Pankration of the Trans-Baikal Territory Oleg Sorokanyuk died November 10 in Chita. We talked with his father, friends and pupils, who told us what their loved one, comrade, mentor was like.

Alexei M. has been studying with Oleg since childhood. The coach trained his pupil for 10 years and did a lot for him.

“He is a very good and responsive mentor who will always point out mistakes and help correct them. I think if parents decide to send their child to mixed martial arts, then they should have an idea that there will be 100% bruises, broken fingers, and so on, since these are martial arts. Oleg Vyacheslavovich replaced my father.

Oleg was friends and worked with Zhanna Shipunova for many years. She remembered him as a kind and sympathetic, real person.

“Everyone adored him: children, athletes, parents. Oleg did so much for each of his wards, and he never offended anyone or deprived anyone of attention. I will forever leave only good and warm memories of him in my heart.

For Elena Permyakova, Oleg was a coach and mentor, and later a real friend and even a “brother”. Thanks to him, the girl became the absolute champion of Transbaikalia in powerlifting.

“The key to my victories is his efforts! Oleg has always been wings and a special person for me. He is one of those who completely invested his soul in work and children, wholly belonged to the sport and was ready to help at the right moment. Oleg gave an incentive to me and my son to get better. He is a real example of courage, strength, dedication and diligence! When grief happened in my family, he did not stand aside: he called, wrote, asked questions and was always in touch. There are very few coaches like this. Oleg will forever be in my heart!

Oleg’s activities were inextricably linked with the Ministry of Sports of Transbaikalia. Its head Andrey Seredkin said that together they were going to open a branch of pankration in Krasnokamensk and further develop this area in the region.

“If I share kind words about Oleg, then I am angry with him that he did this – he stopped fighting and decided to die – you can’t do this, there are no hopeless situations. I remember Oleg as a responsible person who loves sports and rooting for him. There are few of them. I don’t know how his family will survive. It’s hard on my soul from this, I empathize with the loss along with my family and friends, because all of us, athletes, are one big family. And now there is one less of us.”

The head coach of the Pankration Federation of the Trans-Baikal Territory, Aisen Ivanov, was a close friend of Oleg and worked side by side with him for many years.

“It was not weakness on his part, it was a protest. We were friends and were close to each other people. Oleg is a very strong, decent and reliable person. I have not come across a better one. And these are not big words. He brought up and trained children, brought up youth. Thanks to him, a lot of people found their way. There was never anything wrong with him.”

Of course, Oleg was best known to his father, Vyacheslav Sorokanyuk. Together with him, still a five-year-old boy, the future champion began to train in the gym, and after that he went to the training camp at the Zhemchuzhina camp. At the age of 11, Oleg knocked out an opponent for the first time. Then there were many more victories.

“This is a man who couldn’t hurt a fly. That’s how he was brought up, that’s right. The students hung directly on Oleg, and he doted on them. He treated him like his own children. We are not only to victories, we lead them through life. He himself was a loving son, very loving. Recently, his personal goal has been to complete the master of sports in the bench press. Prepared for weightlifting competitions. And he wanted new heights for the Trans-Baikal sports. When he became the president of the federation, he took it actively, he saw himself in this work. He did a lot for the development of pankration in the region, he wanted to open a large hall for athletes. The plans were grandiose … “.

Oleg died at the age of 32.

“If you are a champion, you are obliged to help all your pupils,” the fighter used to say.

Farewell to the President of the Pankration Federation of the Trans-Baikal Territory, mentor, coach, friend of many Transbaikalians Oleg Sorokanyuk will take place on November 13 in the ritual hall on Matveeva street, 62 in Chita from 14:00 to 15:00.