Nikolay Nikolaevich
Ozerov
1922-1997
Nikolay Nikolaevich Ozerov was a Soviet tennis player, actor, and sports commentator. He was honored as a People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1973) and was a laureate of the USSR State Prize (1982). He held the title of Honored Master of Sports of the USSR and was a 24-time USSR tennis champion. Ozerov was also a member of the Russian Hockey Hall of Fame. He was born on December 11, 1922, in Moscow. He had an older brother, Yuri, born a year earlier. The family was artistic: their father, Nikolay Nikolaevich, was a well-known opera singer, and their mother, Nadezhda Ivanovna, studied at the theater faculty but left her studies after giving birth to her children. From childhood, Nikolay dreamed of the stage, but, according to him, he did not have the necessary vocal abilities. Instead, his sporting talents became apparent: at the age of nine, he began playing tennis. When the brothers gained access to large courts, Nikolay started spending almost all his free time there. By the age of 12, he was among the strongest players on the Zagoryanka children’s team and in 1934 became the Moscow champion. Seven years later, he earned the title of Master of Sports. At the same time, he enrolled in the acting faculty of GITIS. After completing his studies, Ozerov started working at the Moscow Art Theatre (MHAT), where over three decades he performed more than 20 roles. He also appeared in films, often playing the role of a sports commentator. For example, in the film «Hockey Players» (1964), he commentated a game; among the spectators in the stands, Yuri Gagarin can be seen. Another notable work was his participation in the movie «The Move of the White Queen» (1972), based on a book by Lev Kassil. Director Viktor Sadovsky received the Gold Medal of the Italian Olympic Committee for this film. Despite his acting career, Ozerov continued to compete in tennis tournaments. His distinctive feature on the court was a tubeteika (a traditional cap), which gave his image a special focus. In total, he won 170 titles in various categories, including 24 gold medals at national tournaments. In August 1953, he ended his sports career. In 1950, Ozerov began working as a sports commentator. This happened after Viktor Dubin, the previous commentator, was appointed coach of Dynamo. Nikolay conducted his first broadcast covering the Dynamo vs. CDKA match on the initiative of Vadim Sinyavsky. After his debut, he was temporarily suspended to gather audience feedback, and 37 out of 40 letters were positive. Later, he became one of the most recognizable sports voices in the country. He worked at 15 Olympic Games, 30 Hockey World Championships, and commentated the legendary USSR vs. Canada match on September 2, 1972, where he uttered the now-famous phrase: «We don’t need such bad hockey!» The match ended with a victory for the team led by Vsevolod Bobrov with a score of 7:3. Nikolay Nikolaevich Ozerov, with his memorable voice, became a symbol of Soviet sports broadcasting. He reported many sporting victories to the nation and accompanied broadcasts, leaving a significant mark in the history of domestic television. In honor of this outstanding sports commentator and member of the Russian Hockey Hall of Fame, a memorial plaque was installed in Moscow at the address: 50, Ozerskaya Embankment, building 1.
Address: Moscow, Ozerkovskaya embankment, 50, building 1
