Michael Kolganov
Encyclopedia
Michael Kolganov ' onMouseout='HidePop("93149")' href="/topics/Tashkent">Tashkent
, Uzbek SSR
) is a Soviet
-born, Israel
i sprint canoer
and former world champion. Competing in three Summer Olympics, he won the bronze medal in the K-1 500 m event at Sydney in 2000
. He was the flag bearer for Israel
during the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
, he is Jewish, and took up canoeing at the age of 14. "I was a fat young boy," he recalled, "and my parents were looking for a hobby for me that would help me lose weight." Kolganov's older brother Andrei was already a Soviet youth champion in kayaks, and represented the former Soviet Union.
Kolganov was brought to Israel by the Jewish Agency
in 1995. A graduate in Physical Education from the University of Tashkent, he first settled in Haifa
, and after a brief spell with the Hapoel Haifa rowing club, he moved eastwards to join Hapoel Emek HaYarden, living nearby at Kibbutz Degania Bet
.
He has represented Israel in competition since 1997. Kolganov was K-1 200 m world champion in 1998
and 1999
, and earned a K-1 500 m silver in 1998.
He represented Israel at the 2000 Summer Olympics
, winning the K-1 500 m bronze medal and finishing fourth in the K-1 1000 m event. He competed on behalf of Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics
, and finished fourth in the K-1 500 m. He competed on behalf of Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, China, and failed to advance to the final in both the K-1 500 m and K-1 1000 m events.
He has also competed in the K-2. At the 2006 European Championships in Račice
, Czech Republic, he won the K2 200m bronze medal with partner Barak Lufan. At the 2006 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Szeged
, Hungary, Kolganov and Lufan finished fifth in the K-2 200 m and sixth in the K-2 500 m.
Kolganov served in the Israel Defense Forces
within the framework of the IDF's program for sporting excellence. He was stationed near to home so that he could train more easily.
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
, Uzbek SSR
Uzbek SSR
The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Uzbek SSR for short, was one of the republics of the Soviet Union since its creation in 1924...
) is a Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
-born, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i sprint canoer
Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
and former world champion. Competing in three Summer Olympics, he won the bronze medal in the K-1 500 m event at Sydney in 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. He was the flag bearer for Israel
2008 Summer Olympics national flag bearers
During the Parade of Nations portion of the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, athletes from each country participating in the Olympics paraded in the arena, preceded by their flag...
during the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Biography
Born Mikhail Kolganov in the former Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, he is Jewish, and took up canoeing at the age of 14. "I was a fat young boy," he recalled, "and my parents were looking for a hobby for me that would help me lose weight." Kolganov's older brother Andrei was already a Soviet youth champion in kayaks, and represented the former Soviet Union.
Kolganov was brought to Israel by the Jewish Agency
Jewish Agency for Israel
The Jewish Agency for Israel , also known as the Sochnut or JAFI, served as the organization in charge of immigration and absorption of Jews from the Diaspora into the state of Israel.-History:...
in 1995. A graduate in Physical Education from the University of Tashkent, he first settled in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, and after a brief spell with the Hapoel Haifa rowing club, he moved eastwards to join Hapoel Emek HaYarden, living nearby at Kibbutz Degania Bet
Degania Bet
-External links:*...
.
He has represented Israel in competition since 1997. Kolganov was K-1 200 m world champion in 1998
1998 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1998 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Szeged, Hungary.The men's competition consisted of nine Canadian and nine kayak events. Women competed in eight events, all in kayak....
and 1999
1999 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1999 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Milan, Italy at the Idroscalo.The men's competition consisted of nine Canadian and nine kayak events. Women competed in eight events, all kayak....
, and earned a K-1 500 m silver in 1998.
He represented Israel at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Israel at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The delegation of 40 athletes was the biggest until that time, and second-biggest in history after 2008 Olympics.- Bronze:* Michael Kolganov — Canoeing, Men's K1 500m Kayak Singles...
, winning the K-1 500 m bronze medal and finishing fourth in the K-1 1000 m event. He competed on behalf of Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.Israel won its first ever gold medal at these Games.-Athletics:Men's Pole Vault:* Aleksander AverbukhMen's Marathon:* Haile Satayin – 2:17.25...
, and finished fourth in the K-1 500 m. He competed on behalf of Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. This was Israel's 14th participation in the Summer Olympics.43 Israeli athletes competed in Beijing, the largest Israeli delegation in Olympic history, the previous record having been 40 at Sydney 2000...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China, and failed to advance to the final in both the K-1 500 m and K-1 1000 m events.
He has also competed in the K-2. At the 2006 European Championships in Račice
Racice
Račice is a village in Ústí nad Labem Region, Czech Republic. It is located 8 km northeast of Roudnice nad Labem or 41 km north of Prague and has a population of 308. It is the major rowing and flatwater canoeing venue in the Czech Republic. Račice hosted the 1993 World Rowing...
, Czech Republic, he won the K2 200m bronze medal with partner Barak Lufan. At the 2006 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Szeged
Szeged
' is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county town of Csongrád county. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary....
, Hungary, Kolganov and Lufan finished fifth in the K-2 200 m and sixth in the K-2 500 m.
Kolganov served in the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
within the framework of the IDF's program for sporting excellence. He was stationed near to home so that he could train more easily.