Aleksandr Popov (swimmer)

For the Russian ice hockey player, see Alexander Popov (ice hockey).
In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Vladimirovich and the family name is Popov.

Alexander Popov
Personal information
Full nameАлекса́ндр Влади́мирович Попо́в
Alexander Vladimirovich Popov
Nickname(s)The Russian Rocket, Czar of Swimming,[1] King of Short Distance[2][3]
NationalityRussian
Born (1971-11-16) 16 November 1971 (age 53)
Lesnoy, Sverdlovsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight87 kg (192 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
1989–2005
Backstroke
1979–1989
ClubDynamo Moscow
Medal record
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 4 5 0
World Championships (LC) 6 4 1
World Championships (SC) 0 0 2
European Championships (LC) 21 3 2
European Championships (SC) 2 0 0
Total 33 12 5
Olympic Games
Representing the  Unified Team
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m medley
Representing  Russia
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta 4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 2000 Sydney 100 m freestyle
World Championships (LC)
Representing  Russia
Gold medal – first place 1994 Rome 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1994 Rome 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1998 Perth 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2003 Barcelona 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2003 Barcelona 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2003 Barcelona 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1994 Rome 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1994 Rome 4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 1998 Perth 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2003 Barcelona 4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Perth 4×100 m freestyle
World Championships (SC)
Representing  Russia
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Moscow 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Moscow 4×100 m freestyle
European Championships (LC)
Representing  Soviet Union
Gold medal – first place 1991 Athens 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1991 Athens 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1991 Athens 4×100 m medley
Representing  Russia
Gold medal – first place 1993 Sheffield 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1993 Sheffield 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1993 Sheffield 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1993 Sheffield 4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1995 Vienna 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1995 Vienna 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1995 Vienna 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1995 Vienna 4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1997 Seville 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1997 Seville 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1997 Seville 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1997 Seville 4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place 2000 Helsinki 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2000 Helsinki 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2000 Helsinki 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2000 Helsinki 4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place 2002 Berlin 4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place 2004 Madrid 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1999 Istanbul 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1999 Istanbul 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2002 Berlin 100 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Istanbul 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Istanbul 4×100 m medley
European Championships (SC)
Representing  Soviet Union
Gold medal – first place 1991 Gelsenkirchen 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1991 Gelsenkirchen 4×50 m medley relay
Silver medal – second place 1991 Gelsenkirchen 4×50 m freestyle relay

Aleksandr Vladimirovich Popov (Russian: Алекса́ндр Влади́мирович Попо́в, born 16 November 1971), better known as Alexander Popov, is a Russian former swimmer. Widely considered the greatest sprint swimmer in history, Popov won gold in the 50-metre and 100 m freestyle at the 1992 Olympics and repeated the feat at the 1996 Olympics, and is the only male in Olympic games history to defend both titles.[4] He held the world record in the 50 m for eight years, and the 100 m for six. In 2003, aged 31, he won 50 m and 100 m gold at the 2003 World Championships.

  1. ^ "生活中的沙皇". sports.163.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  2. ^ "波波夫时代". sports.China.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  3. ^ 网易. "奥林匹克教科书——短距离自由泳之王不靠高科技(图)_网易新闻". news.163.com. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  4. ^ Lohn, John (2013). They Ruled the Pool: The 100 Greatest Swimmers in History. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 35.