Andrei Yakovlevich Kalina (Russian: Андрей Яковлевич Калина, Ukrainian: Андрій Якович Калина, romanizedAndriy Yakovych Kalyna; born 21 July 1987) is a Ukraine-born Russian Paralympic swimmer who represented Ukraine from 2002 to 2013 and Russia since 2015.[1]

Andrei Kalina
Kalina in 2021
Personal information
Full nameAndrei Yakovlevich Kalina
NationalityRussian
Born (1987-07-21) 21 July 1987 (age 37)
Sloviansk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
Alma materDonbas State Pedagogical University
Sport
SportParalympic swimming
Disability classSB8, SM9
Coached byOlga Baydalova
Medal record
Paralympic swimming
Representing  RPC
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo 100 m breaststroke SB8
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo 200 m ind. medley SM9
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo 4 × 100 m medley relay 34pts
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Glasgow 100 m breaststroke SB8
Gold medal – first place 2015 Glasgow 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 34pts
Gold medal – first place 2015 Glasgow 4 × 100 m medley relay 34pts
Gold medal – first place 2019 London 100 m breaststroke SB8
Gold medal – first place 2019 London 200 m ind. medley SM9
Gold medal – first place 2019 London 4 × 100 m medley relay 34pts
Silver medal – second place 2015 Glasgow 200 m ind. medley SM9
Representing  Ukraine
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens 100 m breaststroke SB8
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing 100 m breaststroke SB8
Gold medal – first place 2012 London 100 m breaststroke SB8
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens 200 m ind. medley SM9
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing 200 m ind. medley SM9
Silver medal – second place 2012 London 200 m ind. medley SM9
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Beijing 4x100 m medley relay 34 pts
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Eindhoven 100 m breaststroke SB8
Gold medal – first place 2013 Montreal 100 m breaststroke SB8
Silver medal – second place 2010 Eindhoven 200 m ind. medley SM9
Silver medal – second place 2013 Montreal 200 m ind. medley SM9
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Eindhoven 4x100 m medley relay 34pts
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Montreal 4x100m medley relay 34pts
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Reykjavik 100 m breaststroke SB8
Gold medal – first place 2009 Reykjavik 4x100 m medley relay 34pts
Gold medal – first place 2009 Reykjavik 200 m ind. medley SM9
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Reykjavik 4x100 m freestyle relay 34pts
Representing  Neutral Paralympic Athletes
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris 100 m breaststroke SB8
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Funchal 100 m breaststroke SB8
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Funchal 200 m ind. medley SM9

Biography

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Early life

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Kalina was born 21 July 1987 in Slavyansk (Sloviansk), Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union, with a missing left lower arm.[2] In 2000, he started swimming in the Donetsk-based sports center Invasport.[3] However, he almost decided to retire from sports after he did not find good conditions even in Kyiv. So, he started search them outside of Ukraine, eventually deciding to emigrate to Russia in 2013. After finding better practice and living conditions in Russia, Kalina decided to represent Russia internationally in 2015.[2] During Russian-Ukrainian War silently supported aggression against his home country.

Career

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Competing for Ukraine, Kalina won numerous titles, including the Paralympic Games three times in a row. Kalina won his fourth title out of four appearances in 100 m breaststroke, at the 2020 Summer Paralympics now representing the Russian Paralympic Committee.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Andrei Kalina". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Андрей КАЛИНА: В России у меня открылось второе дыхание" [Andrey KALINA: I got a second wind in Russia]. vecherkaspb.ru (in Russian).
  3. ^ "КАЗНАЧЕ́ЄВ Андрій Вікторович" [KAZNACHEEV Andriy Viktorovych]. esu.com.ua (in Ukrainian).
  4. ^ "Swimming – KALINA Andrei". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
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