Vladimir DRACHEV

Although one of the world’s top biathletes during the 90s, Vladimir Drachov managed to win only two relay medals at the Olympic Winter Games, silver in 1994 and bronze in 1998. Drachov competed for Russia most of his career, but when he was not selected for the Russian 2002 Olympic team, Drachov adopted Belarussian nationality, but still missed the 2002 Olympics, because Russia did not allow him to start; however, he represented Belarus at the 2006 Olympics. At the World Championships, Drachov won four titles (1996 in 10 km, 1998 in pursuit, and 1996 and 2000 in relay), five silvers (1996 and 1999 in 20 km, 1999 in relay, and 1994 and 1996 in team event) and two bronzes (1998 in 10 km, and 2003 in relay). At the European Championships, Drachov won three titles (1996 in 10 km, and 1996 and 2006 in relay), two silvers (2003 in 10 km, and 2006 in 20 km) and three bronzes (2004 in 10 km, in 2003 in pursuit, and 2003 in relay). Drachov was the overall World Cup winner in 1995/96, won overall silver at the 2002/03 World Cup, won 15 individual World Cup victories during his career and also won the sprint silver at the 1996 World Summer Biathlon Championships. Drachov retired from sports after the 2006 Winter Olympics, and from 2006-10 worked as head coach of the Belarussian national junior team. In 2010, Drachov returned to Russia and started to work as a consultant with the Russian national team. In 2013 he was appointed as a deputy chief of staff of Vsevolozhsky district (rayon) in Leningrad oblast.