The classification was established in 1935 and was based on separate classifications, which existed for several sports disciplines before. Starting in 1949, it was revised every four years, the period, which corresponded to the
Olympic cycle, to reflect new standards for the physical training. The document contained test standards, principles and conditions, necessary for the conferment of sports ranks and titles, for all sports, cultivated in the
USSR. As of the 1970s, there were following ranks for athletes of the USSR (listed in descending order of value): •
Merited Master of Sport of the USSR, (, abbreviated as "змс", sometimes translated as
Honoured Master of Sport of the USSR), equates to international champion who has made valuable contributions to the sport •
Master of Sport of the USSR, International Class (; abbreviated as "мсмк"), equates to international champion •
Master of Sport of the USSR (; abbreviated as "мс"), equates to national champion •
Candidate for Master of Sport of the USSR (; abbreviated as "кмс"), equates to nationally ranked player •
First-Class Sportsman (), equates to regional champion •
Second-Class Sportsman (), equates to state champion •
Third-Class Sportsman (), equates to city champion •
First-Class Junior Sportsman () •
Second-Class Junior Sportsman () •
Third-Class Junior Sportsman () Each of these titles was awarded only for results on the official competitions. Athletes who qualified for the rank were awarded a badge with serial number. ''' title This system was popular among Soviet satellite states and was used in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Poland, and Romania until the breakup of the USSR in 1991. Russia continued the system, and former
Soviet republics Belarus,
Moldova,
Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan,
Ukraine and
Uzbekistan also maintain a similar or identical ranking system. In
Mongolia,
Honored Athletes (
Mongolian:
гавьяат тамирчин) have been recognized since 1960. In
Albania, the
Sports titles system was established in 1967.
Non-Soviet Masters of Sport The title of
Merited Master of Sport of the USSR was awarded to a select number of foreigners. On 30 January 1952, the title
Merited Master of Sport of the USSR was awarded to
Agustín Gómez Pagóla, who was born in
Spain and started to play
football there, but moved to the USSR during the
Spanish Civil War in 1937, and played for
Torpedo Moscow in 1947–1954, being the
team captain in 1951–1953. In 1972, to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Soviet Union, this title was awarded to the following prominent athletes from Soviet-aligned nations: •
Maria Gigova (world champion in
rhythmic gymnastics) •
András Balczó (
modern pentathlon,
Hungarian Sportsman of the Year in 1966, 1968, 1969) •
Karin Janz (1972 Olympic champion in
artistic gymnastics) •
Ri Ho-jun (1972 Olympic champion in
shooting) •
Teófilo Stevenson (1972 Olympic champion in
boxing) (he later won in 1976 and 1980 also) •
Khorloogiin Bayanmönkh (1972 world champion in
freestyle wrestling) •
Włodzimierz Lubański (1972 Olympic champion in
football) •
Nicolae Martinescu (1972 Olympic champion in
wrestling) •
Ondrej Nepela (1972 Olympic champion in
figure skating) ==Coaches==