Dmitri VOLKOV

Dmitry Volkov, who was the best Soviet breaststroke swimmer at the end of 1980s, took up swimming in 1975 and made the Soviet national team in 1982. Volkov made his international début at the 1984 Friendship Games, where he won gold in the 100 breaststroke and medley relay and silver in the 200 breast. During his career Volkov competed in eight major international tournaments and medaled in every one . He competed at two Olympics, winning a silver in the 1992 medley relay and bronze in the 100 breaststroke and medley relay in 1988. At the World Championships, Volkov won silver in the medley relay in 1991 and bronze in the 100 breaststroke in 1986, while at the European Championships, Volkov won the 1985 200 breaststroke title, medley relay titles in 1987, 1989 and 1991, silver medals in the 100 breaststroke silver in 1987 and 1989 and bronze in the 100 breaststroke in 1985. He also won nine Soviet titles: 50 breast – 1987/89; 100 breast – 1982, 1984-87; 1986 200 breaststroke; and in 1984 medley relay.

Volkov ended his sporting career after the 1992 Olympics and graduated from the Bauman Moscow State Technical University with a banking and financial management degree in 1994. From 1994-96 he worked as the head of customer department of Finex Bank while, from 1996-98, he was the head of customer department and vice-president of ORGRES-BANK. From 1998-2000 Volkov was the advisor to the chairman of the Russian State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports and, since 2001, he has been advisor to the president of the Russian National Olympic Committee. Since 2004 Voklov has been chief editor of the official magazine of the Russian Olympic Committee, The Olympic Russia. He was also the media manager of the Russian 2004 and 2006 Olympic teams. From 1999-2006 Volkov also worked as advisor to Russian State Duma (Russian Parliament) member Valery Kuzin.

Personal Best: 100 m breaststroke – 1:01.74 (1992); 200 m breaststroke – 2:16.38 (1986).