The book Team Sambo was written by VFS President Sergey Eliseev, left, Yulia Shamanaeva, centre, and Alena Koroleva, right ©VFS

A book Team Sambo commissioned by the All-Russian Sambo Federation (VFS) has been launched in Moscow showcasing famous practitioners of the sport.

It has been written by VFS and European Sambo Federation President Sergey Eliseev, Yulia Shamanaeva and Alena Koroleva, and features testimony from renowned scientists, doctors, actors, cosmonauts and politicians of how sambo has helped them with their professions.

A second part of the book is due to be released by November 16 sharing stories of legendary sambo athletes and coaches, along with a film The Legend of Sambo celebrating one of the sport's founders Viktor Spiridonov.

These publications coincide with sambo celebrating the sport's 85th anniversary this year.

Eliseev explained the purpose of Team Sambo at its launch.

Team Sambo shares stories of how the sprot has helped renowned scientists, doctors, actors, cosmonauts and politicians ©VFS
Team Sambo shares stories of how the sprot has helped renowned scientists, doctors, actors, cosmonauts and politicians ©VFS

"This book is about people," he said.

"We have shown that sambo is a school of life.

"This book is no longer even for sambists, but for parents.

"So that they can, after seeing who went through the sambo school, who he became in the future, consciously send their children to our sport."

Sambo's 85th anniversary is being celebrated this year, including with the launch of a film and a book ©Getty Images
Sambo's 85th anniversary is being celebrated this year, including with the launch of a film and a book ©Getty Images

First Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Rashid Nurgaliyev delivered a video message in which he praised the book for "vivid examples that allow us to be proud of our great martial arts".

Sambo originated in the Soviet Union and has historically been heavily Russian dominated, but the country's competitors are competing neutrally on the international stage because of sanctions imposed in response to the war in Ukraine.