Jean Beliveau: photo, biography of the traveler. Captain of life, jean beliveau, who circled the globe

(years of life 1931-2014) was one of those rare athletes whose personal reputation surpassed popularity and sports achivments... Thanks to his amazing playing technique and professionalism, he has become a true legend and role model for millions of people.

Jean retired at the end of the 1970-1971 season, winning nearly every individual and collective prize. More than four decades later strong character and generous morale continued to inspire many aspiring players.

Along with (Rocket), he is one of the two most iconic hockey players to ever wear the Montreal Canadiens uniform.

Jean Beliveau: biography

Jean Arthur Beliveau was born in the early 1930s in Trois Riviera, Canada. He was the eldest of eight siblings. He began playing hockey at the age of 6 in the courtyard of his home in the city of Victoriaville. Was not a member of an organized team until the age of 12. His athletic ability attracted the attention of the Montreal Canadiens in 1947 (when he turned 15). Even then, the famous club tried to sign a contract with him, but the deal was postponed until the coming of age.

At the age of 16, Jean was offered a place on the baseball team that took part in the junior league. It is important to note that Jean Beliveau was a rather tall guy for his age - his height was 190 cm.However, he was quite dexterous, brave and strong. Thanks to these qualities, he began to play baseball superbly.

He soon joined the Citadels Quebec youth hockey team and immediately became a real sensation. It attracted so much attention: when the Quebec Colosseum was built, it became known as the "house that Beliveau built." In total, the athlete played for four years in the minor league with the Citadels of Quebec.

And finally, the momentous day comes in 1953 when Jean Beliveau becomes a member of the Montreal Canadiens team.

NHL career

Before the start of the 1953-1954 season. Jean signs a $ 105,000 contract with the Montreal Canadiens. At that time, this was considered a huge amount.

Over the next 18 seasons, including 10 as captain, he scored 507 goals and 1219 points. He was considered the best player on the team, even being the leading playoff scorer of the National Hockey League when he retired.

Jean Beliveau is a legendary hockey player. He won 17 times as a team player and 7 as vice president (1971-1993). Among his many awards and titles are: NHL Champion, Hart Trophy Award as Most Valuable Player in the League, Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player in the Playoffs, entered the list of 10 best players NHL.

Grace and humility

Beliveau was such an experienced and wonderful hockey player that even his opponents admired him. Chicago Black Hawks superstar Bobby Hull said Jean's performance could be described as "Goes where your instinct tells you." He added that every hockey player respected him for his strong character and self-confidence.

He became an idol for his compatriots and a public figure, whose contribution to hockey was difficult to overestimate. Jean Beliveau is a sports hero who was considered the ambassador of Canadian ice hockey all over the world.

Retirement

After retirement, his name was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame at number 4. He soon joined the front office of the Montreal Canadiens as vice president. He held this position until 1993, after which he retired.

During his tenure, Jean mainly consulted young hockey players. In 1971 he founded charitable foundation assistance to Canadian children with disabilities. It is noteworthy that most of the money went to the account from his salary.

Despite his fame, he always easily communicated with fans and never refused them, he was happy to leave an autograph. Former NHL player Bob Gainey noted that Beliveau is a masterful combination of "royal dignity" and "affordability." Not everyone famous people you can do it!

Awards

Since retirement, Jean Beliveau's collection of awards and honors has continued to grow. In 1994, Prime Minister Jean Crestienne offered him the post of Governor General, but Jean turned it down for family reasons.

Among his numerous achievements worth highlighting:

• Commander of the Order of Canada (1998);
• in 2001, his name appeared on the Walk of Fame and on postage stamps;
• in 2009, the National Hockey League presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Evord award;
• the title of Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec (2010).

Death and legacy

Jean Beliveau died on December 2, 2014 in Montreal. His body was brought to the Bell Center arena so that everyone could say goodbye to the legendary athlete. His wife Elise Beliveau (née Couture) personally thanked all the visitors.

Jean's funeral was broadcast on the national Canadian channel. Even the Prime Minister and his two predecessors, Jean Crestien and Brian Mulroney, attended. V last way hosted by Beliveau and many hockey celebrities, including his teammates Guy Lefleur, Phil Goyette, Serge Savard, Bobby Russo and Jean-Guy Talbot. Despite the deep-seated rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs, former opponents goalkeeper Johnny Bower also expressed his condolences to the great ice hockey's family.

Jean Beliveau (the photo of the athlete is presented in the article), playing for his famous team, always wore a sweater with number four. At the end of the 2014/15 season, during the Montreal Canadiens v Vancouver Canucks match, the team put Jean's jersey on the spot where he always sat and pointed a spotlight at him. So, every hockey player felt that their mentor and cheerleader was next to them.

A black streak can happen in the life of any of us. Only one begins to drink bitter, another plunges into depression, and the third goes all out. Canadian Jean Beliveau was doubly lucky: the midlife crisis was added to the financial turmoil. The man decided to overcome all the problems in one fell swoop in an original way - to go around the world on foot.

DANGEROUS AGE

By the age of 45, Jean Beliveau from Montreal realized that his life had lost all meaning. On the eve of the anniversary, he went bankrupt. The work to which he devoted many years ceased to bring satisfaction and joy, and in Lately- and income. The children grew up, and their feelings with their wife dulled, lost their former acuteness. It began to seem to him that there would never be anything bright and interesting in his life. One of the November days in 1999, he was walking along the Jacques Cartier bridge, and suddenly it dawned on him: there is only one life, the second is not given, and if he continues to drag out a miserable existence, then it will be just as mediocre as everyone else. last years... It is necessary to discard those conventions that society imposes, and do what the soul lies with. Jean listened to himself and realized: he would like to see the world.

After sitting over the map, Jean planned the route. It was a bold plan - to go around the whole world without a little. To begin with, he practiced a little, because for such a serious trip you need to be at least in good shape. Already in the process of preparation, Jean realized that not a trace remained of his depression - now he had a dream, a plan that required implementation. According to preliminary calculations, his campaign was supposed to last 10 years. When Jean initiated his family, his wife, son and daughter, into his plans, they supported him. And when he announced to his friends and acquaintances about the desire to go on a walking trip around the world, they, to put it mildly, did not understand.

However, before that Beliveau had never burned with a passion for travel. He only flew on vacation to Florida once. And then suddenly walking around the world. There was something to be surprised at!

In the early morning of August 18, 2000, Jean Beliveau rolled out his three-wheeled cart with a tent, sleeping bag, first aid kit and small margin food in the yard. “We waited until 9 in the morning, when friends came, and still could not understand whether it was a happy day or a sad one,” Jean recalled. - My father, my pregnant daughter, my wife Lucy - everyone was there. Lucy sent invitations to reporters, but no one eventually showed up. At the beginning of the tenth Lucy said: "I think you have to go." We hugged, I just turned the corner, and the next time we saw each other only after many months. "

YOU ARE A HOLY

Jean walked to the side. When he reached the American border, he was such a pitiful sight that he seriously feared whether he would be allowed into the country or mistaken for a vagabond. “I didn’t speak English very well then,” says Jean, “and when the border guard asked what the purpose of my visit to the United States was, he replied:“ I’ll go to Mexico and America, walk. ” The border guard paused and asked sympathetically: "Maybe you should at least bring some water?"

At first, Jean walked from the north to the south of the United States along Atlantic coast... Then he crossed the country and moved along the coast The Pacific... I got to, and from there I got into South America. , - it is hard to believe, but all these countries Jean went on foot. In Argentina I got back to east coast from where he planned to sail to Africa. But, as always unexpectedly, the traveler ran out of money. However, he spent his small amount a long time ago - back in Central America. The wife came to the rescue, announcing the collection of funds from charitable organizations and just people of sympathies. But there was still not enough for a ticket to Africa. And suddenly a miracle happened. The local airline, having learned about the unusual wanderer, presented him with a plane ticket. So Jean got over to South Africa and from there went on foot again.

He tried to avoid the countries in which he was fighting, there were wars, the population was aggressively opposed to foreigners. Jean did not dare to go to Russia because of the cold weather. He was not allowed into Libya, and he had to go around through. There a police escort was waiting for him. It was the same in, and later in. But in Egypt, Beliveau realized his lifelong dream - he saw the pyramids with his own eyes. I was also lucky - a meeting with Nelson Mandela himself. It lasted only a few minutes, but it became a kind of protective halo that saved him throughout the entire African continent. It was enough for Beliveau to tell the blacks that he had seen the idol of the Africans, and he immediately became his friend in any company. “The meeting, which I have been trying unsuccessfully for several weeks, was due to my very useful acquaintance with Elmar Nietling, the mayor of Durban, a city in northwestern South Africa. It took place in October, as part of the grand opening of a new city center for youth and adolescents. An excess of emotion caught my throat, and I only managed to tell this great politician how inspired I am by his example and that I devote my march to the principles of "peace and non-violence for the benefit of all children on the planet." He shook my hand with a smile:

- The world needs guys like you!

No matter how funny it sounded, but with joy during the meeting, I blushed like an innocent girl, and my heart was beating wildly!

A few days later, when I passed through the lands of the Zulu, some old man literally threw himself on my neck:

- Have you touched Nelson Mandela? You are a saint! "

THE WORLD IS NOT WITHOUT GOOD PEOPLE

From Africa, Jean moved to Europe, briefly glanced at England. On January 6, 2007, it reached 40,000 kilometers, it was in. In Budapest, a huge crowd of young people joined Beliveau and walked with him through the city center, thus trying to draw the attention of the authorities to their problems.

In, and according to the traveler, he met the friendliest people in the world. Then he passed through, crossed Malaysia, Australia and finally ended up in New Zealand, from where he returned back to Canada.

His journey lasted 11 years. All this time, they met with his wife once a year - at Christmas. Jean himself admits that he was very lucky with his wife, who not only did not discourage him from a crazy undertaking, but also supported him in everything. All this time Lucy was running his website on the Internet, looking for sponsors.

Money was sorely lacking. Jean did not show off, spent the night wherever he could, saved on food. But the long journey demanded large expenses. So, only shoes for 11 years, he demolished 54 pairs. I had to beg. Sometimes people gave him money and food themselves without any requests. “When they heard that I was going to cross the world on foot, people would just put $ 20 or $ 50 in my pocket. I saved on everything, and this money was enough for me for a long time. You know, in Africa you can have a great meal for one dollar! " It was more difficult with an overnight stay. In the 4,000 nights he spent on the road, it was not always easy for him to find shelter. “Most of the time I found a place to sleep: I walked 3-4 kilometers until I found a safe corner where I could put up a tent. And he also asked to let me in for the night. But this is not always easy. In America, for example, it happened that I knocked on seven houses in a row before finding a place to sleep. Sometimes, because of the constant walking, I felt so tired that I could no longer smile and explain to people in detail that I was looking for an overnight stay. Then I slept on the streets or in parks, next to the homeless. "

During the trip, Beliveau sheltered 1,600 families, he spent about the same number of nights in a tent, the rest - in fire departments, police stations, churches, shelters for the homeless, hospitals and schools. Kind people are everywhere - the traveler is now convinced.

In Egypt, Jean cured his teeth for free, in India he received it as a gift Sunglasses, but underwent surgery and spent two weeks in the hospital for free. And in South Africa he was allowed to spend the night in an empty prison cell, and the guard from the morning shift by mistake refused to let him out.

Having reached the age of 45, the owner of a small business in Montreal, Jean Beliveau, began to think about his life, about its meaning, about his role in this world. To unwind, he began to take walks around the city. Day by day they became longer and longer, and one day Jean decided on a 600-kilometer hike to New York. But if it is possible to go this way, why stop? “Better to be eaten by a lion in Africa than society,” Jean thought, and set off on the road. By separating from family budget 4,000 Canadian dollars (3,000 US dollars), his wife approved of his idea. Jean took a three-wheeled cart with him, in which he put some food and clothes, a first aid kit, a small tent and a sleeping bag. Thus began a journey that is now officially recognized as the longest known to mankind. Jean devoted his trip to the struggle for peace and the protection of children. For 11 years, he walked 75,500 kilometers across 64 countries of the world, crossed six deserts, wore 54 pairs of shoes and experienced many exciting adventures. In Guatemala and Ecuador, local criminal groups took him under "patronage" and even supported him with money as a sign of respect for his unusual act. In Sudan, he had to wear a long beard, in Africa - to feed on insects. In South Africa, the police helped Jean with an overnight stay, placing him in a cell - however, after leaving home, they forgot to tell their colleagues about this, and the new shift did not want to release the traveler. During the years of his wanderings, Beliveau had to spend the night in the houses of local residents, in monasteries, temples, schools, parks and in many other places. In total, Jean met 1,600 families around the world. In some countries (for example, Libya) he was unable to obtain a visa; others, such as India or Ethiopia, have greatly upset the citizen of a prosperous Canada with their poverty. But almost everywhere people greeted him friendly and helped with all their might. Jean needed money mainly for the part of the journey that cannot be done on foot (from continent to continent). Even new shoes instead of the worn-out one, people from different countries donated to it. Enriched with new knowledge, Jean, meanwhile, lost his family hearth. Despite the fact that for 11 years his wife sometimes came to those places where he could be met, and also supported his official website, the marriage still did not survive. I missed Beliveau and many events from the life of his children. He left Montreal when his daughter was 18 years old and his son was 20. Then Jean became a grandfather, but for the first time he could see his granddaughter only when she was 5 years old. Nevertheless, Beliveau does not regret anything. From August 2000 to October 2011, he visited almost all parts of the planet; countries visited include Brazil, Colombia, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, China, Japan, Indonesia and Australia. Jean told the Daily Mail about his adventures from the deep forests of Canada, where he is now building "his dream home." Earlier Beliveau published the book "In Search of Myself", and now he does not exclude that one day he will go on a new journey.

"On the eve of his 45th birthday, Canadian Jean Beliveau went bankrupt. To cope with the depression that was prevailing, Jean decided to travel around the world. On foot. Without money. He left the house and hit the road. Earth took him 11 years.

The idea of ​​the trip came to Jean when he wandered down the street and painfully thought about his financial problems... How many of us have not thought that if you just walk and don't stop, you can go around the globe and come back to where you started? The difference is that Jean didn’t just think about it, but he did exactly that. He decided to walk away from his problems and depression.

On a trip around the world, Jean took with him a comfortable three-wheeled cart, a tent, a sleeping bag and a first aid kit. Mobile phone he did not take it.

Early in the morning of August 18, 2000, his birthday, Jean, with the help of his son, rolled his cart out into the street.

“We waited until 9 in the morning, when friends came, and still could not understand whether it was a happy day or a sad day,” says Jean. - My father, my pregnant daughter, my wife Lucy - everyone was there. Lucy sent invitations to reporters, but no one eventually showed up. At the beginning of the tenth Lucy said to me: "I think you have to go." We hugged, I just turned the corner - and the next time we saw each other only after many months. "

Turning the corner, Jean headed south towards the United States. By the time he reached the American border, he was already in such a form that he was afraid that he would be mistaken for a homeless person and would not be allowed into the country.
“I didn’t speak English very well then,” Jean says, “and when the border guard asked what the purpose of my visit to the United States was, he replied:“ I’ll go to Mexico and America, walk. ” The border guard paused and asked sympathetically: "Maybe you should at least bring some water?"

Entering the United States from the north, Jean reached South America, there he took to the right and moved further along the Pacific coast. Alone he crossed the Chilean Atacama Desert, in Argentina turned left and crossed to the other side of the mainland. Here a water barrier appeared in front of Jean. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean on foot was clearly not possible.

Jean stumbled on the shore for a while, lost in thought. And then a miracle happened. The local airline, having learned about his journey, presented him with a plane ticket to the opposite shore. So Jean got over to South Africa and from there went on foot again.

Jean was not allowed into Libya, and he had to go around Morocco. Then Jean went to Europe and briefly glanced at England. He did not dare to go to Russia because of the cold weather and instead went to India, China and South Korea where, according to him, he met some of the friendliest people in the world. Then he passed through the Philippines, crossed Malaysia, Australia and finally ended up in New Zealand, from where he returned back to Canada.

His journey lasted 11 years. All this time, they met with his wife once a year - at Christmas.
Despite the fact that Jean tried to save as best he could, he ran out of money at the very beginning of his journey - in Central America.

“I’m not very good at begging, but it came naturally,” he laughs. "I'm actually pretty shy, but it turns out that it only helps, because in a way it fascinates people." However, people usually gave him money and food themselves without any requests.

“When they heard that I was going to cross the world on foot, people would just put $ 20 or $ 50 in my pocket. I saved on everything, and this money was enough for me for a long time. You know, in Indonesia and Africa you can have a great meal for $ 1! " - says Jean. It was more difficult with an overnight stay. For four thousand nights spent on the road, it was not always easy for him to find shelter.

“Most of the time I found a place to sleep: I walked 3-4 kilometers until I found a safe corner where I could put up a tent. And he also asked to let me in for the night. But this is not always easy. In America, for example, it happened that I knocked on seven houses in a row until I found a place to sleep. Sometimes, because of the constant walking, I felt so tired that I could no longer smile and explain to people in detail that I was looking for an overnight stay. Then I slept on the streets or in parks, next to the homeless. "

Jean calculated that during the trip, 1,600 families took him in, he spent about the same number of nights in a tent, the rest in fire departments, police stations, churches, shelters for the homeless, hospitals and schools.
In Egypt, Jean cured his teeth for free, in India he received sunglasses as a gift, and in Algeria he underwent an operation and spent two weeks in a hospital for free. In the Philippines, while crossing a dangerous section on the island of Mindanao, he was accompanied by a whole army of thirty soldiers, who together with him chanted: "We want peace." In the Chilean Atacama Desert, Jean was nearly bitten by a cougar. And in South Africa he was allowed to spend the night in an empty prison cell, and the guard from the morning shift by mistake refused to let him out.

But the main thing that happened to Jean during his journey was not even the adventures, but the changes that happened to him. For 11 years, Jean did not earn a cent, and, nevertheless, these were, according to him, the brightest and happiest years of his life. Today he is sure that material success is not at all a prerequisite happy life.

“I'm not the guy who hit the road anymore,” says Jean. - I have the same personality, but now I feel like a rich man. We are all blinded by money - there are so many "buy this and you will be happy" traps around. I don’t want to play these games anymore - during my journey I have met many happy people who had no money at all. "

Jean returned home to Canada in January of this year at the age of 56. He walked around the Earth on foot, covered a total of 76 thousand kilometers, carried 49 pairs of shoes and crossed 64 countries. His journey was not only around the world, but also absolutely the first in his life. Prior to that, Jean had never traveled anywhere, unless, of course, he took a tour to Florida.

Jean returned home, as at the beginning of the trip, bankrupt. Only it didn't bother him anymore. “The experience and knowledge that I now have is much more valuable than money,” he is sure.

Now Jean has one goal: not to disrupt the deadline set by the publisher for the publication of the book about his journey. "

Here is such interesting story... It is a pity that this is practically impossible to do with a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.