Aleksandr Popov (swimmer)

Alexander Popov
Personal information
Full nameАлекса́ндр Влади́мирович Попо́в
Alexander Vladimirovich Popov
Nickname(s)The Russian Rocket, Czar of Swimming, King of Short Distance
NationalityRussian
Born (1971-11-16) 16 November 1971
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
1992 Barcelona50 m freestyle
1992 Barcelona100 m freestyle
1992 Barcelona4×100 m freestyle
1992 Barcelona4×100 m medley
Representing  Russia
1996 Atlanta50 m freestyle
1996 Atlanta100 m freestyle
1996 Atlanta4×100 m freestyle
1996 Atlanta4×100 m medley
2000 Sydney100 m freestyle
World Championships (LC)
Representing  Russia
1994 Rome50 m freestyle
1994 Rome100 m freestyle
1998 Perth100 m freestyle
2003 Barcelona50 m freestyle
2003 Barcelona100 m freestyle
2003 Barcelona4×100 m freestyle
1994 Rome4×100 m freestyle
1994 Rome4×100 m medley
1998 Perth50 m freestyle
2003 Barcelona4×100 m medley
1998 Perth4×100 m freestyle
World Championships (SC)
Representing  Russia
2002 Moscow50 m freestyle
2002 Moscow4×100 m freestyle
European Championships (LC)
Representing  Soviet Union
1991 Athens100 m freestyle
1991 Athens4×100 m freestyle
1991 Athens4×100 m medley
Representing  Russia
1993 Sheffield50 m freestyle
1993 Sheffield100 m freestyle
1993 Sheffield4×100 m freestyle
1993 Sheffield4×100 m medley
1995 Vienna50 m freestyle
1995 Vienna100 m freestyle
1995 Vienna4×100 m freestyle
1995 Vienna4×100 m medley
1997 Seville50 m freestyle
1997 Seville100 m freestyle
1997 Seville4×100 m freestyle
1997 Seville4×100 m medley
2000 Helsinki50 m freestyle
2000 Helsinki100 m freestyle
2000 Helsinki4×100 m freestyle
2000 Helsinki4×100 m medley
2002 Berlin4×100 m medley
2004 Madrid50 m freestyle
1999 Istanbul100 m freestyle
1999 Istanbul4×100 m freestyle
2002 Berlin100 m freestyle
1999 Istanbul50 m freestyle
1999 Istanbul4×100 m medley
European Championships (SC)
Representing  Soviet Union
1991 Gelsenkirchen50 m freestyle
1991 Gelsenkirchen4×50 m medley relay
1991 Gelsenkirchen4×50 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. 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.