Igor Polyansky

Igor Nikolaevich Polyansky (Russian Игорь Николаевич Полянский; born March 20, 1967 in Novosibirsk ) is a former swimmer who competed for the Soviet Union and was one of the best swimmers back in the 1980s.

Career

The breakthrough world leaders succeeded Igor Polyansky on March 1, 1985 in Erfurt, as he lowered the world record in the 200 meters backstroke at 1:58,14 seconds. The uniqueness of the technology Poljanskis was an extremely long immersion phase after the start, by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA ), the international swimming federation, was stopped after the 1988 Olympics by a rule amendment, stating that the immersion phase after the start only ten meters are allowed. Only when the FINA 1991, the dipping phase was extended to 15 meters and a new turning technology allowed the world records from the dipping phases era were to undercut. On 13 August 1991 the Spaniard Martin López- Zubero beat the 200-meter world record Poljanskis.

Beginning of August 1985 took place in Sofia, the European Swimming Championships in 1985, where Polyansky the title won the 100m and 200m backstroke. A few weeks later Polyansky also won both routes at the Universiade in Kobe. With the World Swimming Championships 1986 in Madrid Polyansky victorious at the 100-meter distance in 55.58 seconds, with nearly one second ahead of Dirk Richter of the GDR; about 200 meters won Polyansky in 1:58,78 minutes and had two seconds ahead of the GDR swimmer Frank Baltrusch. The medley relay won by the Americans before the season from the Federal Republic of Germany; the Soviet Season with Igor Polyansky, Dmitry Volkov, Alexei Markowski and Nikolai Ewseew received the bronze medal. In the European Swimming Championships 1987 in Strasbourg won on both back extension Sergei Sabolotnow, Polyansky received on the longer distance the silver medal. In the Soviet medley relay went to the finals and won Polyansky together with Dimitri Volkov, Konstantin Petrov and Gennadi Prigoda the title in a new European record time of 3:41,51 minutes.

In March 1988, Polyansky undercutting in Tallinn the four and a half year-old 100 - meter backstroke world record by the American Rick Carey twice, on March 15, he swam 55.17 seconds and 55.16 seconds on March 16. In July Polyansky saw a further improvement in 55.00 seconds, this time, however, undercutting a month later the American David Berkoff. Prior to the 1988 Olympics in Seoul had except Berkoff also the Japanese Daichi Suzuki working on his diving phase and was grown for another competitor. First, the race took place about 200 meters, won here Polhanski in 1:59,37 minutes before Frank Baltrusch and New Zealander Paul Kingsman, who won the bronze medal just ahead of Sergei Sabolotnow. About 100 meters by Polyansky in the penultimate lead in 55.04 seconds a new Olympic record, the Berkoff in the last heat undercut with a new world record of 54.51 seconds. In the final, won none of them, but the Japanese Suzuki in 55.05 seconds, Berkoff won in 55.18 seconds ahead of silver Polyansky in 55.20 seconds, Sabolotnow once again took fourth place. In the medley relay placed the Soviet team lead in a lead Sabolotnow. In the finals, Igor Polyansky, Dmitry Volkov, Vadim Jaroschtschuk and Gennadi Prigoda undercut their own European record in 3:39,96 minutes and thus won bronze behind the seasons from the United States and Canada.

Poljanskis big time ended after the 1988 Olympics, as the long down times were excluded from the FINA.