Vladimir Salnikov

Vladimir Valeryevich Salnikow (Russian: Владимир Валерьевич Сальников; born May 21, 1960 in Leningrad ) is a Russian former swimmer who competed for the Soviet Union.

At the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976 he swam European record over 1,500 m freestyle and came in the finals in fifth place. Two years later at the World Championships in Berlin in 1978 he won his first title when he both 400 m and 1500 m freestyle world champion and was also around 400 m freestyle setting a new world record. In 1979, he became the first swimmer who swam the 800 m under eight minutes.

At the Olympic Games in 1980 he won the gold medal in the 400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle and 4 × 200 m with the freestyle relay. However, were due to the Olympic boycott the U.S. and other Western states, some promising competitor not at the start. Four years later, at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, he was affected by a boycott by the Soviet Union and could not defend his Olympic victory. At the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, he managed on his parade route, the 1500 m freestyle, again winning the gold medal.

Overall Salnikow won four Olympic gold medals, four European titles and four gold medals at World Championships. During his career, he set 12 world records over 400 m, 800 m and 1500 m freestyle. He was the first swimmer who swam the 1500m freestyle event under 15 minutes. In 1982 he was voted European Sportsman of the Year and the World Swimmer of the Year. From 1989 until at least 1994, he was head coach of Russia Federation. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the international swimming sport in 1993.