Andrey ABDUVALIEV

Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) to Uzbek family, Andrey Abduvaliyev was the world’s most dominant hammer thrower in the early 1990s. After winning gold at the 1985 European Junior Championships, Abduvaliyev débuted in the senior ranks at the 1990 Goodwill Games, where he won silver. He placed fifth at the 1991 World Championships, and then established himself as the world’s best hammer thrower and was almost unbeatable between 1992-95. Abduvaliyev won the 1992 Olympic title, was the 1993 and 1995 World Champion, won the 1994 World Cup, and the 1995 Central Asian Games.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Abduvaliyev opted to represent Tajikistan and was scheduled to compete at the 1996 Olympics. After carrying the Tajikistan flag at the 1996 Opening Ceremony an injury stopped him from competing. He later represented Uzbekistan, and competed at the 1997 and 1999 World Championships and 2000 Olympics, but never got out of qualifying. He did win gold at the 1998 Asian Championships, and the 1997 and 1999 Central Asian Games. Abduvaliyev was the Soviet hammer throw champion in 1991. Abduvaliyev finished his sports career after the 2000 Olympics and later worked as secretary-general of the Uzbekistan Athletics Federation and as head coach of the Uzbekistan national track & field team.

Personal Best: HT – 83.46 (1990).