Vladimir Salnikov
Encyclopedia
Vladimir Valeryevich Salnikov is a Russia
n former swimmer who competed for the USSR
and set 12 world records in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1,500-meter freestyle
. Nicknamed a "monster in the waves", he was the first man to swim under fifteen minutes in the 1500-meter freestyle. He was named the Male World Swimmer of the Year
in 1982 by Swimming World magazine
.
and later at the Armed Forces sports society
.
Salnikov made his debut in the Olympic games in 1976
in Montreal
, at the age of 16. He broke the European record in the 1,500-meter race freestyle, but finished fifth.
His long sequence of international victories began at the 1977 European Championship where he won the gold medal in his favourite race, the 1,500 m freestyle.
In the 1978 World Championship in Berlin
, Salnikov won gold medals in the 400 and 1,500-meter freestyle. He established a new world record in the 400 meters. One year later he set another world record, this time in the 800-meter freestyle, becoming the first man to complete the distance in less than eight minutes.
The USA boycotted the 1980 Olympics
in Moscow
, but Salnikov demonstrated that he was far superior to everybody stunning the world as he won the gold medal in the 1500 finishing in 14:58.27, first man to swim the distance under 15 minutes. He won two more gold medals in the 4×200 m relay and in the 400 m, both freestyle.
In the early 1980s Salinikov was the absolute ruler of the freestyle races on the longer distances: in 1982 he retained his world titles, and one year later, at the European Championship, he set a new world record in the 1,500 m with the time of 14:54.76: the record lasted until 1991, when it was beaten by the German Jörg Hoffmann
.
The USSR boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics
, so Salnikov could not defend his title.
Salnikov went back to Seoul
in 1988, at the age of 28. He was not one of the favorites, at 28 he was considered too old. He had set a world record in 1986 in the 800 m, but since then he never returned to his levels and two years later he was considered in decline. Salnikov, however, won the 1,500 meters race. That night when entering in the Olympic Village
restaurant he was awarded a standing ovation by the other athletes.
His titles also include four World Championship gold medals, four European Championship gold medals and one European Championship silver medal.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n former swimmer who competed for the USSR
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....
and set 12 world records in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1,500-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...
. Nicknamed a "monster in the waves", he was the first man to swim under fifteen minutes in the 1500-meter freestyle. He was named the Male World Swimmer of the Year
Swimming World Swimmers of the Year
The Swimming World Magazine Swimmers of the Year, awarded by the American-based Swimming World Magazine, are a set of awards which are often regarded as being the most prestigious in the sport of swimming...
in 1982 by Swimming World magazine
Swimming World magazine
Swimming World Magazine is an American-based monthly swimming magazine, that was first published in a magazine format as Junior Swimmer in January of 1960...
.
Biography
Born in Leningrad, Salnikov was the son of a sea captain. When he was seven years old, his mother took him to a swimming pool to join a swimming team. One year later he began to train regularly under the lead of coach. Salnikov trained at ZenitZenit (sports society)
Zenit was the All-Union Voluntary Sports Society for workers of arms industry, established in 1936. Due to reorganization of sports societies, between 1957 and 1966 physical culture collectives of Zenit were a part of VSS Trud from the Russian SFSR, and other republican sports societies. In 1966...
and later at the Armed Forces sports society
Armed Forces (sports society)
Central Sports Klub of the Army or is the Russian sports society and the successor of the Soviet CSKA.-Overview:The society was one of the largest sports societies in the USSR. In the Soviet era all CSKA and SKA teams that resided in the Soviet Union belonged to the Armed Forces sports society...
.
Salnikov made his debut in the Olympic games in 1976
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, at the age of 16. He broke the European record in the 1,500-meter race freestyle, but finished fifth.
His long sequence of international victories began at the 1977 European Championship where he won the gold medal in his favourite race, the 1,500 m freestyle.
In the 1978 World Championship in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Salnikov won gold medals in the 400 and 1,500-meter freestyle. He established a new world record in the 400 meters. One year later he set another world record, this time in the 800-meter freestyle, becoming the first man to complete the distance in less than eight minutes.
The USA boycotted the 1980 Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow
Moscow
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...
, but Salnikov demonstrated that he was far superior to everybody stunning the world as he won the gold medal in the 1500 finishing in 14:58.27, first man to swim the distance under 15 minutes. He won two more gold medals in the 4×200 m relay and in the 400 m, both freestyle.
In the early 1980s Salinikov was the absolute ruler of the freestyle races on the longer distances: in 1982 he retained his world titles, and one year later, at the European Championship, he set a new world record in the 1,500 m with the time of 14:54.76: the record lasted until 1991, when it was beaten by the German Jörg Hoffmann
Jörg Hoffmann (swimmer)
Jörg Hoffmann is a former freestyle swimmer from Germany, who won the bronze medal in the 1500 m freestyle at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain...
.
The USSR boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
, so Salnikov could not defend his title.
Salnikov went back to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
in 1988, at the age of 28. He was not one of the favorites, at 28 he was considered too old. He had set a world record in 1986 in the 800 m, but since then he never returned to his levels and two years later he was considered in decline. Salnikov, however, won the 1,500 meters race. That night when entering in the Olympic Village
Olympic Village
An Olympic Village is an accommodation centre built for an Olympic Games, usually within an Olympic Park or elsewhere in a host city. Olympic Villages are built to house all participating athletes, as well as officials, athletic trainers, and other staff. Since the Munich Massacre at the 1972...
restaurant he was awarded a standing ovation by the other athletes.
His titles also include four World Championship gold medals, four European Championship gold medals and one European Championship silver medal.
See also
- World record progression 1500 metres freestyleWorld record progression 1500 metres freestyleThe first world record in the men's 1500 metres freestyle in a long course swimming pool was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1908...
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists