Biography
Alexander Maltsev is a Russian athlete, the only man of the Russian team on synchronous swimming, multiple world and European champion in a mixed duet. The persistence and talent of Alexander contributed to the promotion of the traditionally "female" sport among men in Russia.
Today, the International Olympic Committee is already considering the inclusion of a mixture and so far only the women's solo in the Olympiad program.
Childhood and youth
Alexander Maltsev was born in St. Petersburg on June 22, 1995. At 6 years old, Mom took Sasha at the School of Synchronous Swimming. She wanted to save the boy from the fear of water. At that time, the son did not know how to stay on the water and was very afraid of her. To teach your fear and develop the Son physically - the goals of the parents of Maltsev were. In addition, synchronous swimming included gymnastics and jumping into water.
Later, Sasha was offered to go to more "men's" water polo or jumping into the water, but the Maltsev refused. The coaches noted Sasha, and his sports career rushed up. Successes were not forced to wait. The young athlete regularly became a participant in regional competitions.
Already in his youth, Alexander began to think about the coaching career. At the end of the school, Maltsev went to Moscow, where he entered the Russian State University of Physical Culture. His preparation was engaged in Honored Trainer of the Russian Federation, Professor Maria Maksimova. In 2017, the athlete graduated from the university, passing for excellent state exams. After receiving a bachelor's diploma, Alexander continued his studies in the magistracy of RSUFXMIT.
Synchronized swimming
In the season 2012/2013, Maltsev came out for the Sports Club of Strasbourg. The French club won 2 awards - gold medals at the regional championship among juniors.
May 2013 brought the 18-year-old Maltsev victory at the Paris International Tournament in the competition of soloists on synchronous swimming.
In the same 2013, Alexander became the first and still the only man-synchronist in the Russian national sports team. On November 29, 2014, at its congress, the International Footage of Navigation (FINA) unexpectedly decided to include competitions for the first time with the participation of synchronist men to the new World Water Sport Championship program, destroying old templates.
Many titled synchronist girls stated that they could not speak in a duet with a man. The four-time Olympic champion Anastasia Yermakova announced this manner. About the "nonesthetics" of the presence of men in this sport said the two-time champion of London 2012 Svetlana Romashina.
However, the mention of many Olympic champion and head coach of the Russian national team Tatiana Pokrovskaya, although he doubted whether the team would fall in such a composition at the World Cup, yet decided to give a chance to 19-year-old Alexander. After disputes and thought, it was decided that in July 2015, Maltsev will perform at the World Cup in Kazan in the new discipline - the competitions of mixed duets together with Darya Valitova, which was already part of the Russian national team.
Alexander was glad when he learned about the adoption of an unexpected decision on the inclusion of FINA of a new discipline in the 2015 World Championship program. The athlete hopes that this will help popularize synchronous swimming among men in Russia.
Preparing for the championship, Maltsev knew that the struggle would be difficult. Strong duets from the USA, France, Italy, Japan and Ukraine said about their participation. Sasha's serious opponent considered American Bill Mea, who was one of the first synchronist men in the world and at one time produced a furor.
On July 30, 2015, the main event of the day, of course, became the triumph of the couple of Alexander Maltsev and Darina Valito in the new for synchronist Discipline Mikst. A few days earlier in the technical program of Miksta won the American couple (Bill May and Christina Lam-Underwood), but in an arbitrary program, the Russians won, taking a full revenge. This time the Americans became the second, the third place went to the Italians.
The speech of the Maltsev-Valitov pair was bright. At the same time, the Russian surprised his costume. The athlete appeared in the image of the warrior of the Soviet army of the period of the Great Patriotic War. The pair performed under the melody from the movie "17 Moments of Spring", depicting a scene of the meeting of Stirlitz with his wife. Athletes dedicated number 70th anniversary of the Great Victory.
The medal who conquered by Alexander Maltsev, of course, had historical importance.
"The feeling of complete happiness came after the announcement of the estimates," the synchronist champion is shared by emotions. "When we saw that we were the first, thought: after all, there is justice in the world!".A bright application on the world championship did not remain unnoticed at the homeland athlete. Maltsev won the title of Honored Master of Sports of Russia. The success of Alexander caused the interest of world and Russian media to his biography. Interview athlete began to appear in sports publications.
2016 brought the synchronist next success in the international arena. Together with the partner Michael Kalanchy, he became a winner of the European Championship, and the couple won 2 gold at once - in arbitrary and technical programs. Maltsev's merits were appreciated by the FINA organization, which awarded him the "Best Athlete of the Year" award in his sport.
In the fall of athletes became participants of the Fina Synchro World Trophy tournament, where also owners of the first place. Perspective synchronists received an invitation to the 17th World Water Sports Championship, which took place in the capital of Hungary in mid-2017.
Maltsev and Calanche had to prepare for him in difficult conditions. For six months, the champions were forced to conduct training at the later time, since the pool for synchronous swimming was overloaded. Other athletes were engaged here: Tatyana Dunchenko with duet and solo, Tatiana Pokrovskaya with a group.
Nevertheless, the speech of the couple at the championship again turned out to be at the height. Duet won gold in an arbitrary program and silver in technical, giving first a pair of Italy. On these competitions, Alexander was already taking into account the new rules that prohibit men-synchronists to use makeup and suit.
In the Budapest Budapest, Alexander Maltsev performed his dream - made several complex elements together with the French synchronist Virgini Didier, which he considers his idol in synchronous swimming.
Personal life
So far, Alexander Maltsev's personal life is a blank sheet, due to his youth, the synchronist is not thinking about his wife and children. All of his time occupies a sport, although the guy has already appeared fans. An aesthetic sport occupation dictates their conditions: an athletic physique (with an increase of 174 cm its weight does not exceed 64 kg) is complemented by an impeccable appearance. In his profile "Instagram", Alexander lays out numerous photos taken in the pool than the submits are delighted.
At one time, rumors were rumored that Maltsev was a romance with a partner on the performance of Darina Valita, but as the champion himself explained, only friendly relations are associated with his girlfriend. Deeper feelings than just friendship, Aleksandra arose in relation to the next partner - Michael, but the period of love lasted long.
The young man spends most of the year in Moscow and only twice a year visits parents in St. Petersburg. At rest, Maltsev leaves in Thailand and the Arab Emirates.
Alexander Maltsev now
In 2018, Alexander again changed the partner. A double champion of the European Games Maya Gurbberbediev got up with Maltsev. At the stages of the world championship, which took place in the capital of France and in the Greek Island Syros, the new duet became the owner of two gold medals.
At the end of the summer, at the European Championship, Maltsev and Gurbberdiev again turned out to be more successful colleagues, twice rising to the top step of the winners pedestal.
Now Alexander is devoted to training. In addition, the young man leads an active social life. For a charity purpose, children's medical centers visit, participates in significant events, such as the Day of the Far East Days in Moscow, the presentation of the "Woman of the Year" award from Glamor, where, together with Maya, becomes the owner of the award in the nomination "Team of the Year".
In 2019, the athlete will continue to participate in international competitions. The synchronist hopes that the IOC will include a mix in the Olympic Games Program, and then Russian athletes will be able to show themselves at the 2020 Olympics, which will be held in Tokyo.
Achievements and awards
- 2015 - Silver and Gold Medal at the World Cup in Kazan
- 2016 - 2 gold medals at the European Championships in London
- 2017 - Silver and Gold Medals at the World Championships in Budapest
- 2018 - 2 gold medals at the European Championships in Glasgow