- Born
- Nicknames
- Sasha
- The Russian Rocket
- The Tsar of swimming
- King of Short Distance
- Height6′ 7″ (2.01 m)
- Aleksandr Popov is a Russian swimmer, widely considered the greatest sprint swimmer in history.
Popov won gold in the 50-metre and 100 m freestyle at the 1992 Olympics and repeated the feat at the 1996 Olympics, and is the only male in Olympic games history to defend both titles. He held the world record in the 50 m for eight years, and the 100 m for six. In 2003, aged 31, he won 50 m and 100 m gold at the 2003 World Championships.
Popov was the Flagbearer of Russia in the opening ceremony at 2004 Athens Olympics. However, being the oldest competitor at the pool, the gold medal eluded him, and he did not even manage to make it into the finals of both the men's 50 m and 100 m freestyle events.
He announced his retirement from the sport in January 2005.
- IMDb mini biography by: Bazza the Beast
- SpouseDarya Shmelyova(1997 - present) (3 children)
- On June 16, 2000 in Moscow, he swam the 50-metres freestyle at a world record of 21.64 seconds.
- Four-time gold medalist at the Olympic Summer Games 1992 and 1996. He is the first man to win the 50m and 100m freestyle in two consecutive Olympics since Johnny Weissmuller.
- Was stabbed in the abdomen with a knife during dispute with three street vendors in Moscow and spent three months in rehabilitation (1996).
- Lived in Australia from 1993 to 2003. Since 2003, he has resided in Solothurn, Switzerland with his wife and their two children.
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