Ivan Tsikhan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ivan Tsikhan

Tsikhan at the 2007 World Championships
Personal information
Native name	Іван Рыгоравіч Ціхан
Full name	Ivan Ryhoravich Tsikhan
Nationality	Belarusian
Born	24 July 1976 (1976-07-24) (age 48) Hloŭsievičy, Slonim District, Soviet Union
Height	1.86 m
Weight	110 kg
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Hammer throw
Club	Dynamo Hrodna
Coached by	Sergey Litvinov
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	84.51 m (2008)
Medal record Representing  Belarus Olympic Games Disqualified 2004 Athens Hammer Bronze 2008 Beijing Hammer Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro Hammer World Championships Gold 2003 Paris Hammer Disqualified 2005 Helsinki Hammer Gold 2007 Osaka Hammer European Championships Silver 2016 Amsterdam Hammer Disqualified 2006 Gothenburg Hammer IAAF World Cup in Athletics Silver 2006 Athens Hammer IAAF World Athletics Final Disqualified 2005 Monaco Hammer Gold 2007 Stuggart Hammer Disqualified 2004 Monaco Hammer Silver 2006 Stuggart Hammer Bronze 2003 Monaco Hammer Universiade Gold 2003 Daegu Hammer

Tsikhan (right) on a 2016 stamp of Belarus

Ivan Ryhoravich Tsikhan (born 24 July 1976) is a famous Belarusian hammer thrower. He has won many big awards, including two world champion titles and Olympic medals.

About Ivan Tsikhan

Ivan Tsikhan was born in a village called Hloŭsievičy in what was then the Soviet Union. Today, he lives in Grodno, Belarus.

His wife, Volha, is also an athlete who competes in discus throwing. Ivan and Volha have a son, also named Ivan. Ivan Tsikhan was coached by Sergey Litvinov, who was also an Olympic champion.

Ivan's Sports Journey

Ivan Tsikhan started competing in the hammer throw at a young age. His first big competition was the World Championships in 1997. He kept working hard to improve his throws.

Early Competitions

In 2000, Ivan competed in the Olympic Games and finished fourth. He continued to compete in other events like the Universiade and European Championships.

Becoming a World Champion

The year 2003 was a huge year for Ivan. He threw the hammer over 80 meters for the first time! He became a world champion in Paris with a throw of 83.03 meters. He also won the Universiade that year.

In 2007, Ivan won his third World Championships title. His best throw that year was 83.64 meters.

Olympic Medals

Ivan has won several Olympic medals.

• At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he won a bronze medal.
• In 2016, Ivan competed at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He won a silver medal with a throw of 77.79 meters. He was also chosen to carry the flag for Belarus during the closing ceremony.

Challenges and Disqualifications

During his career, Ivan faced some challenges.

• At the 2004 Athens Olympics, he originally won a silver medal. However, he was later disqualified after his samples were retested.
• In 2005, he won gold medals at the World Championships and World Athletics Final. These medals were later taken away due to rule violations.
• He also had results from 2004 to 2006 annulled (cancelled) due to rule violations.
• After the 2008 Olympics, his bronze medal was questioned. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later gave him back his medal because of issues with the testing process.

Ivan's Best Throw

Ivan's personal best throw in the hammer throw is 84.51 meters. He achieved this amazing distance in Grodno on 9 July 2008.

Images for kids

• 

  Tsikhan (right) on a 2016 stamp of Belarus

See also

In Spanish: Iván Tsijan para niños