Alexandr Popov Swimmer Date of Birth: 16.11.1972 Country: Russia

Alexander Popov: The Biography of a Russian Swimmer

Alexander Popov is a former Soviet and Russian swimmer who gained international recognition for his achievements in the sport. Born on November 16, 1971, in Sverdlovsk, he grew up in a working-class family. His father, Vladimir Alexandrovich, and mother, Valentina Pavlovna, both worked at a secret factory and had no connection to sports. However, they enrolled their only son in a swimming section to promote his health.

Popov did not achieve significant success in swimming until he moved to Volgograd to study at the university. There, he began training under coach Anatoly Zhdanov and switched to the freestyle style. His mentor, the world-renowned coach Gennady Turetsky, recognized Popov's potential as an exceptional sprinter due to his height, water sense, and powerful elastic muscles.

In 1991, Popov participated in the European Championships in Athens and returned with four gold medals in the individual 50 and 100-meter freestyle events and two relays. This marked the beginning of an unbeaten streak that lasted nearly seven years. Popov became a two-time Olympic champion in Barcelona (1992) and won two more gold medals at the European Championships in 1993. In 1994, he broke the world record in the 100-meter freestyle and won two titles at the World Championships in Rome. He added two more European championship titles in 1995 in Vienna. At the Atlanta Olympics, he repeated the remarkable achievement of winning the 100-meter freestyle at two consecutive Games.

By this point, Popov was considered the most outstanding swimmer in the world. The head coach of the American swimming team, Richard Quick, described him as a formidable opponent, someone who competed not for the money but for the honor of raising the Russian flag after his victories. This quality was fully demonstrated in Atlanta when Popov defeated his main rival, American Gary Hall, who was in better form and expected to win.

In 1993, Popov moved to Australia, where his coach G. Turetsky had relocated after the Barcelona Olympics. In 1996, he suffered a tragic incident during a vacation in Moscow when he was severely injured in a random street fight. He underwent surgery by Moscow surgeon Avtandil Manvelidze, who made a unique incision that preserved Popov's chances of returning to professional sports.

Despite the injury, Popov came back stronger and won two gold medals at the European Championships in Seville in the summer of 1997. The following year, he won another gold medal at the World Championships, solidifying his position as a three-time world champion. In the same year, he received the FINA Prize, which recognized him as the most outstanding swimmer of the decade.

However, Popov's dominance started to wane, and he admitted losing interest in competitions after swimming the same distances for years. He proved that the maximum speed at which a person can move in water is not solely determined by the length of their body per second. His world record in the 100-meter freestyle, set in 1994, was 48.21. In 2000, at the age of 28, he broke the world record again with a time of 21.64 in the 50-meter freestyle (he also holds the world record in the 100-meter freestyle in a 25-meter pool - 46.74).

At the Sydney Olympics, Popov was considered a favorite in both distances but finished second in the 100-meter freestyle and sixth in the 50-meter freestyle. He later admitted that he and his coach had misplanned their preparation, resulting in the inability to reach their peak form and motivation for the competition.

After the Olympics, Popov decided to continue swimming for another four years, aiming to end his career at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He was elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the Sydney Games, becoming one of the youngest members of the organization. Popov's future is closely tied to sports, and he sees his victories and titles as a springboard to a higher quality of life and a wide range of opportunities.

Popov has become extremely popular among Western journalists, known for his kindness, insightful opinions, and excellent command of the English language. In 2001, his autobiographical book in French had a successful presentation in Paris. The famous watch company "Omega" has chosen Popov as its brand ambassador, signing a long-term advertising contract with him, alongside Cindy Crawford.

Alexander Popov currently resides in Canberra, Australia, with his wife, former swimmer Darya Shmeleva, who represented Russia at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. The couple has two sons, Vladimir (born 1997) and Anton (born 2000). Popov has been honored with the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" of the II degree in 1997. While he does not plan to stay in Australia permanently, he has not ruled out the possibility of returning to Moscow in the future.