Igor ZHELEZOVSKY

Igor Zhelezovsky is considered to be one of the best sprinters ever, although he managed only two winter Olympic medals, bronze and silver in the 1,000 m in 1988 and 1994, respectively. Zhelezovsky surprised everyone in March 1983, by setting a 1,500 m world record of 1:54.26 in Medeo. In 1985 Zhelezovsky won the World Sprint Championships, which he would repeat five more times in 1986, 1989 and 1991-93. In addition to his six titles, Zhelezovsky won a bronze at the 1990 World Sprint Championships. In December 1987, Zhelezovsky again broke the 1,500 world record, clocking 1:52.50 at Calgary, on the future Olympic rink. His third and fourth world records came at the 1989 World Sprint Championships, with a 1,000 m record of 1:12.58, finishing the competition with a world record in the sprint all-around. Zhelezovsky also won the World Cup in the 1,000 m from 1991-93. Domestically Zhelezovsky won five Soviet sprint titles – 1985-86 and 1989-91. After finishing his sporting career, Zhelezovsky worked as the president of Belorussian Speed Skating Federation, was a member of the Belorussian Olympic Committee, and from 1996-2001 was the president of Belorussian Paralympic Committee.

Personal Bests: 500 – 36.49 (1986); 1000 – 1:12.58 (1989); 1500 – 1:52.50 (1988); 5000 – 7:09.84 (1983); 10000 – 15:40.82 (1983).