World Champion is a 1954 Soviet sports drama film directed by Vladimir Gonchukov.

Plot

Young blacksmith Ilya Gromov, from the White Springs collective farm, earns the title of regional wrestling champion among kolkhoz workers. Impressed by his talent, local authorities decide to transfer him to the city for further development. A determined local Komsomol organizer argues for Gromov to train at the kolkhoz instead. Witnessing the discussion, Fyodor Bessonov, a seasoned coach and world champion of 1932 who trained under Poddubny, decides to dedicate time to training rural athletes. Meanwhile, Gromov arrives in the city, where officials find him a job. Dissatisfied with this arrangement, Bessonov watches as a master wrestler, Eliseev, defeats Gromov in a match. Disheartened, Gromov contemplates quitting, but Bessonov convinces him to persevere.