Vladimir Salnikov facts for kids
Salnikov in 2010
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| Nickname(s) | "Tsar of the Pool", "Monster of the Waves", "Leningrad Express" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 21 May 1960 Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
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| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 74 kilograms (163 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Freestyle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Zenit Leningrad/SKA Leningrad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | Gleb Petrov (1968–1973) Igor Koshkin (1973–1985) Marina Salnikova (1985–1988) |
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Medal record
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Vladimir Valeryevich Salnikov is a famous Russian former swimmer. He was born on May 21, 1960, in Leningrad, which was then part of the Soviet Union. People called him the "Tsar of the Pool," "Monster of the Waves," and "Leningrad Express" because he was so fast.
Vladimir Salnikov set 12 world records in swimming. He was the first person ever to swim the 1500 meter freestyle race in under 15 minutes. He was also the first to swim the 800 meter freestyle in less than eight minutes. Because of his amazing achievements, he was named the Male World Swimmer of the Year in both 1979 and 1982.
Vladimir Salnikov's Swimming Journey
Vladimir Salnikov started swimming when he was just seven years old. His mother took him to a swimming pool to join a team. A year later, he began training seriously with his coach. He trained at sports clubs called Zenit and later the Armed Forces sports society.
Early Competitions and First Olympics
Vladimir made his first appearance at the Olympic Games in 1976 in Montreal, Canada. He was only 16 years old. He set a new European record in the 1500 meter race, which was a great achievement, but he finished fifth in that competition.
His streak of winning international medals began in 1977. At the European Championship that year, he won a gold medal in his favorite race, the 1500 meters.
Becoming a World Champion
In 1978, Vladimir Salnikov competed at the World Championships in Berlin. He won two gold medals there, one in the 400 meter freestyle and another in the 1500 meter freestyle. He even set a new world record in the 400 meters.
Just one year later, he broke another world record, this time in the 800 meter freestyle. He became the first swimmer to finish this race in less than eight minutes. This showed everyone how incredibly talented he was.
The 1980 Moscow Olympics: Making History
The United States and some other countries did not attend the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. This was a protest against the Soviet Union's actions in Afghanistan. However, Vladimir Salnikov still proved he was the best.
He won the 1500 meter race in an amazing time of 14 minutes and 58.27 seconds. This made him the first person ever to swim the distance in under 15 minutes. He also won two more gold medals at these Olympics: one in the 4x200 meter relay and another in the 400 meter freestyle. For the 1500 meter race, he wasn't just aiming to win; he wanted to break the world record and the 15-minute barrier. He even checked the clock by the pool during the race to keep track of his time.
Continued Dominance and a Long-Lasting Record
In the early 1980s, Vladimir Salnikov was unbeatable in long-distance freestyle races. In 1982, he successfully defended his world titles. A year later, at the Soviet Winter Nationals, he set a new world record in the 1500 meter freestyle with a time of 14 minutes and 54.76 seconds. This record was so good that it lasted for many years, until 1991.
Missing the 1984 Olympics and a Triumphant Return
The Soviet Union decided not to send its athletes to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This meant Vladimir Salnikov could not defend his Olympic titles.
However, he made a remarkable comeback at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. By then, he was 28 years old, which many people thought was too old for a swimmer to win gold. He had set a world record in the 800 meters in 1986, but after that, his performance had dipped. He even struggled to reach the finals in some championships.
Despite this, Soviet officials helped him get a spot on the Olympic team. Vladimir Salnikov did not disappoint. He won the 1500 meter race, showing incredible determination. He later said that he pushed himself so hard in that race that he barely remembered the last part of it. When he returned to the Olympic Village that night, other athletes gave him a standing ovation, celebrating his amazing victory.
Other Major Achievements
Besides his Olympic medals, Vladimir Salnikov also won many other important titles. He earned four gold medals at the World Championships and four gold medals at the European Championships. He also won one silver medal at the European Championships.
Coaches and Training
Vladimir Salnikov had several important coaches throughout his career. Igor Koshkin is often given credit for helping Salnikov become a top swimmer.
Later in his career, Salnikov spent some time training in the United States. In the mid-1980s, he started working with his wife, Marina, as his coach. Marina was a former Soviet record holder in track and field and also a sports psychologist.
Life After Swimming
After the 1988 Olympics, Vladimir Salnikov stopped competing. He then became the head coach of the Soviet swimming team until 1990. He also served as the vice-president of the Soviet Swimming Federation for a few years.
From 1991 to 2001, he worked for a company called Olimp and represented the swimwear brand Speedo in Russia. He was also a member of the International Swimming Federation's (FINA) Athletes' Commission for many years. In 2009, he was elected president of the Russian Swimming Federation.
Vladimir Salnikov has received several important awards for his achievements. These include the Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1980), the Order of Lenin (1985), the Order of the October Revolution (1988), and the Order of Honour (2010). In 1993, he was recognized for his outstanding career and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He also earned a PhD in pedagogy, which is the study of teaching.
His victory in Seoul in 1988 was even mentioned in the 2011 Irish film The Guard.
See also
In Spanish: Vladímir Sálnikov para niños
- List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
- World record progression 400 metres freestyle
- World record progression 800 metres freestyle
- World record progression 1500 metres freestyle
