Semyon Belits-Geiman
Encyclopedia
Semyon Viktorovich Belits-Geiman (born February 16, 1945) is a former Soviet freestyle
swimmer. He set a world record in the 800-meter freestyle, and won two Olympic medals.
. He attended the Transport Engineering Institute
in Moscow, studied journalism, and worked as a journalist for the magazines Sports Life in Russia and Soviet Sport.
Belits-Geiman competed for the Soviet Union in swimming at the 1964 Olympics
in Tokyo, but did not medal. He was part of the Soviet 4x200-meter freestyle relay which finished seventh, and swam in the 400-meter freestyle, finishing eighth.
At the 1965 University Games swimming competition
, he won the gold medal
in the 400-meter freestyle, and three silver medal
s in the 1,500-meter and relay races. In 1965, his time in the 1,500 meter was the second-fastest in the world (17:01.90).
In 1966, he won the gold medal in a special US-USSR competition in Moscow against the three best American freestyle swimmers. That year at the European Championships, he also won the gold medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle (16:58.5) and was part of the gold-medal-winning Soviet team in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay (8:00.2), where he also won a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle (4:13.2; behind German Frank Wiegand
, and ahead of Frenchman Alain Mosconi
). In 1966, he was ranked number three in the world in the 1,500-meter freestyle.
On March 8, 1966, he set a world record in the 800-meter freestyle
, at 8:47.4, in Budapest
. That broke the former world record of 8:51.5 by 4.1 seconds, set by Australian Murray Rose
in 1962.
At the 1967 University Games swimming competition
in Tokyo, he won a silver medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle, behind American Mike Burton.
He won a silver medal at the 1968 Olympics
in Mexico City
in the 4x100 freestyle team relay (3:34.2), swimming the lead leg, and a bronze medal
in the 4x200 freestyle relay (8:01.6), swimming the second leg. In the 4x200 relay, one of his teammates was Vladimir Bure
. He also swam two individual freestyle events, finishing seventh in the 200-meter freestyle, and ninth in the 400-meter race.
By 1972, he had broken 67 Soviet national freestyle records. At 29 years of age, he became the youngest-ever president of the Moscow Swim Federation and vice president of the Soviet Union Federation.
Beginning in the early 1980s, he developed physical and psychological training programs for figure skaters. He created a special fitness program for skaters to increase their coordination and flexibility, which was used by Australian ice dancing champions Natalie Buck
and Trent Nelson-Bond
in the early 2000s.
.
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
swimmer. He set a world record in the 800-meter freestyle, and won two Olympic medals.
Early life
Belits-Geiman is Jewish, and was born in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. He attended the Transport Engineering Institute
Moscow State University of Railway Engineering
Moscow State University of Railway Engineering is the leading and largest higher education institution in the field of railway transport in Russia with more than 17,000...
in Moscow, studied journalism, and worked as a journalist for the magazines Sports Life in Russia and Soviet Sport.
Swimming career
Belits-Geiman began swimming at the age of eight. He was affiliated with the Moscow club Dynamo Moskva, and became a member of the Soviet National Swim Team in 1962.Belits-Geiman competed for the Soviet Union in swimming at the 1964 Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo, but did not medal. He was part of the Soviet 4x200-meter freestyle relay which finished seventh, and swam in the 400-meter freestyle, finishing eighth.
At the 1965 University Games swimming competition
Swimming at the 1965 Summer Universiade
The swimming competition at the 1965 Summer Universiade took place in Budapest, Hungary.-Men’s events:-Women’s events:-Medal table:-References:**...
, he won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the 400-meter freestyle, and three silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
s in the 1,500-meter and relay races. In 1965, his time in the 1,500 meter was the second-fastest in the world (17:01.90).
In 1966, he won the gold medal in a special US-USSR competition in Moscow against the three best American freestyle swimmers. That year at the European Championships, he also won the gold medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle (16:58.5) and was part of the gold-medal-winning Soviet team in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay (8:00.2), where he also won a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle (4:13.2; behind German Frank Wiegand
Frank Wiegand
Frank Wiegand is a German former swimmer, Olympic medalist and previous world record holder. He was born in Annaberg...
, and ahead of Frenchman Alain Mosconi
Alain Mosconi
Alain Mosconi is a French swimmer, Olympic medalist and previous world record holder. He was born in Puteaux. He participated at the 1968 Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal in the 400 metre freestyle...
). In 1966, he was ranked number three in the world in the 1,500-meter freestyle.
On March 8, 1966, he set a world record in the 800-meter freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, at 8:47.4, in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. That broke the former world record of 8:51.5 by 4.1 seconds, set by Australian Murray Rose
Murray Rose
Iain Murray Rose AM was born on 6 January 1939 in Nairn, Scotland, but he moved to Australia with his family at an early age after World War II. He took up swimming as a boy and was an Olympic Games champion at age 17....
in 1962.
At the 1967 University Games swimming competition
Swimming at the Universiade
Swimming is one of the sports at the biennial Universiade competition. It has been one of the event's competed sports since the inaugural edition. After not being included in 1975.-Editions:-External links:*...
in Tokyo, he won a silver medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle, behind American Mike Burton.
He won a silver medal at the 1968 Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in the 4x100 freestyle team relay (3:34.2), swimming the lead leg, and a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the 4x200 freestyle relay (8:01.6), swimming the second leg. In the 4x200 relay, one of his teammates was Vladimir Bure
Vladimir Bure
Vladimir Valeryevich Bure is a retired Soviet Olympic swimmer and a fitness coach for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. Bure is the father of NHL players Pavel and Valeri Bure.-USSR:...
. He also swam two individual freestyle events, finishing seventh in the 200-meter freestyle, and ninth in the 400-meter race.
By 1972, he had broken 67 Soviet national freestyle records. At 29 years of age, he became the youngest-ever president of the Moscow Swim Federation and vice president of the Soviet Union Federation.
Post-swimming career
Later in his life he became a champion cross-country skier and speed skater, and a Soviet Master of Sport and coach in each of them.Beginning in the early 1980s, he developed physical and psychological training programs for figure skaters. He created a special fitness program for skaters to increase their coordination and flexibility, which was used by Australian ice dancing champions Natalie Buck
Natalie Buck
Natalie Buck is an Australian ice dancer. She competed with Trent Nelson-Bond. They are the 2002–06 Australian national champions. They have competed five times at the World Figure Skating Championships and six times at the Four Continents Championships. Their highest placement was 12th at the...
and Trent Nelson-Bond
Trent Nelson-Bond
Trent Nelson-Bond is an Australian ice dancer. He competed with Natalie Buck. They are the 2002–2006 Australian national champions. They have competed five times at the World Figure Skating Championships and six times at the Four Continents Championships...
in the early 2000s.
Personal
He met his wife, Russian ice dancing coach and former competitive ice dancer Natalia Dubova, when he came to one of her competitions as a sportswriter. In 1999, they moved to Stamford, ConnecticutStamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
.