Vassili IVANOV

Vasily Ivanov was a breaststroke sprinter who won most of his fame at the European Short Course Championships, winning three gold medals in the 50 metre breaststroke from 1991-93. In long course, Ivanov won two international medley relay silver medals, one at the 1992 Olympics and another at the 1994 World Championships. His best individual results in long course were fifth in 1992 and seventh in 1994, both in the 100 backstroke. Ivanov rose to prominence in 1991, when he swam a world record of 1:01.45 in the 100 breaststroke at the Soviet Championships. That victory would remain his only domestic title. Ivanov retired from sports after the 1994 season and later worked as a vice-president of the housing company PTS-Servis in his hometown Samara. He also organizes an annual youth swimming tournament named after him in Samara.

Personal Best: 100 m breaststroke – 1:01.45 (1991).