Swimmer Popov Alexander: photo, biography, family

Alexander Popov - swimmer (biography of an athletewill be presented below), the champion and four-time winner of the Olympic Games. He also won the European Championships 21 times and six times became the first in the world championships.

Childhood

The future swimmer Popov was born in the closed city of Sverdlovsk-45 in 1971. The father and mother of the boy were simple workers in a secret enterprise. Alexander is the only child in the family.

In the swimming section, parents led their son simply"for good health". They did not even think of making an Olympic champion from Alexander. Sport is very attracted to the boy. Soon Popova was noticed by Galina Vitman, who became his first coach.

Swimming lessons took more and more from the boytime. Parents were alarmed when Alexander's school grades crawled down. The father even asked him: "Is it time to tie with sports?" To which the boy replied: "It's late!"

Learning

Volgograd University - that's where he enteredafter graduation from the school, Alexander Popov. The swimmer continued his training there. For a long time he sailed exclusively on his back. Anatoly Zhuchkov (second coach) considered this style the most suitable for Popov. There was time, and Alexander though was registered in perspective sportsmen, but stood on a place. Therefore, he found himself a new mentor - Gennady Turetsky.

It was this coach who discovered the potential of Popov. Turkish time has determined the most suitable style for Alexander - free-style swimming. In addition, the athlete had all the sprinter's qualities: elastic muscles, good sense of water and two-meter growth. Now the potential of the hero of this article was used for 100 percent. Soon the first victories came.

The beginning of the way

1991 - the year when he began his sports careerAlexander Popov. Swimmer went to the European Championships. Competitions were held in Athens. The athlete won four gold medals (two relay races, and also a distance of 50 and 100 meters). This was the beginning of a magnificent series of victories of Alexander.

Next year, Popov became a twofoldthe Olympic champion. The athlete brought gold medals from Barcelona. In 1993, Alexander went to the European Championships. And again he won two "gold". In the same year, Popov moved to a permanent residence in Australia.

In 1994, the athlete proved that his victories are not accidental. Alexander twice won the World Championships in Rome and broke the world record. A year later in Vienna, Popov added to his piggy bank two more top awards.

Olympics

World fame hero of this articlebrought the 1996 Olympics, held in Atlanta. Gold at a distance of 50 and 100 meters went to the Russian athlete. This is the second Olympics, where Popov left all his rivals behind. But for fans of swimming, the victory in Atlanta became the most memorable and bright. After all, the favorite of the competition was the American Gary Hall. He was in peak form and in preliminary competitions showed results that were better than Popov's.

The American media were so confident of victorytheir athletes, who openly announced the future triumph of the sprinters Olsson and Hall. Gary himself behaved very defiantly. Alexander was doubly difficult, as in the stands were mostly American fans. Also Bill came to support Bill Clinton, confident in the triumph of his compatriot. But in the end, the winner was Popov. Disappointment of American fans was huge. But our sportsman became a legend.

Attempted

August 24, 1996 - the date when he suffered instreet brawl Alexander Popov. Swimmer, whose biography is printed in many sports encyclopedias, accompanied along with his friend Leonid two girls to the subway station. When they passed through the trading rows, one of the sellers released an indecent remark about the girls. Alexander and Leonid joined in the squabble. As a result, swimmer Popov was wounded with a knife in the back. His kidney and lungs suffered. In a difficult state Alexander was taken to one of the capital's hospitals.

The hero of this article was very lucky with the surgeon. Strongly venturing, Avtandil Manvelidze conducted a complicated operation so that it did not affect the further career of the athlete. The thing is that, according to established rules, the surgeon had to make a cut across the muscles. But the doctor went against the rules and cut the muscles across, under the ribs. That's why they stayed in perfect functional condition.

New victories

12 months - exactly the same timerecovered after surgery Alexander Popov (swimmer). The family was always nearby, and he quickly gained his former form and won two Spanish gold medals in Spanish Seville. And in 1998 the athlete won his third gold at the Olympics. At the same time, the International Swimming Federation gave Alexander Cup as the most outstanding athlete of the decade.

In 2000, 28-year-old Popov broke the world record at a distance of 50 meters. This was already the athlete's second achievement (the first record he set in the 25-meter pool).

After the Olympics in Sydney in the achievements of Alexanderthere has been some decline. At the competitions, he took the 6th (50 meters) and the 2nd (100 meters) seats. But this did not stop Popov. Alexander sailed for another four years. The athlete said in the media that he would like to end his career where it started - in Athens.

Completion of career

2005 - this is the year when Alexander Popov left. The swimmer, whose photo regularly flashed in the thematic media, remained working in this all-sports sphere. Alexander headed the organization "Locomotive" and worked in the Olympic Committee. Also Popov joined the International Swimming Federation.

Russian athlete is very impressed by the westernjournalists, since he is a benevolent and positive person. He is fluent in English, striking with interesting and sensible judgments. In 2001, he presented his autobiographical book in France.

Personal life

Canberra - this is the city where Alexander livedPopov. The swimmer, whose family was with him in Australia, married in 1997. The chosen athlete was Daria Shmelyova. In the past, the girl also professionally engaged in swimming and even performed at two Olympics. True, not as successful as her famous husband.

In 1997 the couple had a son, Vladimir. The boy was named after Alexander's father. Three years later, another son appeared - Anton. In his interview, the swimmer Popov said many times that he wanted a boy to continue the dynasty. And now fate gave him two sons at once. And in December 2010, the couple also had a daughter - Mia.

Interesting Facts

• "Omega" - the brand of watches, whose face was electedPopov. The swimmer, whose biography was presented above, has worked with her for many years. And "Omega" prolonged the contract with him even after not very successful seasons.
• After moving to Australia, Popov regularlythere were proposals for a change of citizenship. Athlete promised all kinds of wealth and huge bonuses. But Alexander was adamant and rejected all offers patriotically. Now the former sportsman lives in Moscow.
• Order of Merit 2 nd degree - it was this prestigious award was given to the swimmer Popov in the late 90's.
• For a long time among professional swimmers walkedthe myth of limiting the maximum speed of an athlete with the length of his body. But Alexander destroyed this legend, setting a few records of the planet. For example, in 2000 Popov swam 50 meters in 21.64 seconds.