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Ruslan Zakharov

Russia

SportShort Track
FederationIDSTRUS12403198701
NOCRussia
Born24 Mar 1987 in Gorky 
GenderMen
LanguagesEnglish, Russian
ResidenceKrasnogorsk, RUS
Higher educationEconomics, Philosophy - Bashkir State University: Ufa, RUS
FamilyWife Sitora, sons Artur [2016] and David [2019]
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 41.955 23 Jan 2015 Dordrecht  
    1000m 1:23.438 21 Oct 2012 Calgary  
    1500m 2:12.776 20 Oct 2012 Calgary  
    3000m 4:50.303 16 Jan 2011 Heerenveen  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    5000m Relay 1      
European Championships
Event  
European Championships
    5000m Relay 3 3    
    Overall     1  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationSHORT TRACK TO SPEED SKATING
In 2017 he switched from short track to speed skating in order to continue his sporting career. "I have always had thoughts about speed skating. A year before Pyeongchang 2018 [the Olympic Winter Games], I realised that it had become hard to compete, but I didn't want to finish. So I took a risk and transitioned to speed skating. I still can't call myself a 100% speed skater [speaking in 2022]. I have not yet adopted some of the subtleties, I have not fully assimilated. However, thanks to short track, I have no problems with muscle mass, for example. Although everyone on the Russian speed skating team is at least 20 centimetres taller than me." (vedomosti.ru, 31 Jan 2022)

FURTHER EDUCATION
He earned a master's degree in coaching from Smolensk State University of Sport in the Russian Federation. (khl.ru, 02 Aug 2020; Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
 
MilestonesHe became the first Russian athlete to win an Olympic medal in both short track and speed skating when he claimed silver in the speed skating team pursuit event at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. He had previously won gold in short track in the 5000m relay at the 2014 Games in Sochi. He was representing the Russian Federation at the 2014 Games, and the ROC in 2022. (iz.ru, 16 Feb 2022; SportsDeskOnline, 14 Nov 2022)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamCentral Army Sports Club [CSKA]: Russia  
General Interest
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievementWinning gold in short track in the 5000m relay at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2021)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachViktor Sivkov, RUS; Valery Muratov, RUS  
When and where did you begin this sport?He took up short track in 1996 in Ufa, Russian Federation. He switched to speed skating in June 2017 in Moscow, Russian Federation.  
General Interest
General Interest
Hero / IdolRussian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2019)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Patience and hard work will grind it all." (Athlete, 13 Nov 2019)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/zakharovruslan87  
twitter.com/zakharovruslan  
General Interest
General Interest
Awards and honoursIn recognition of the silver medal he won at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, he received the Order for Merits to the Fatherland [first class] in the Russian Federation. (publication.pravo.gov.ru, 25 Feb 2022)

He was presented the Order of Friendship by the president of the Russian Federation in recognition of his performance at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (kremlin.ru, 24 Feb 2014)

At the opening ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, he took the Olympic oath on behalf of all the athletes at the Games. (ONS, 07 Feb 2014)

In 2011 he received the title of Honoured Master of Sport in the Russian Federation. (minsport.gov.ru, 15 Dec 2011)
 
Famous relativesHis younger brother Timur Zakharov has represented the Russian Federation in short track and speed skating. Competing in short track, he finished on top of the podium in the 5000m relay at the 2016 World Cup event in Dresden, Germany. (khl.ru, 02 Aug 2020; championat.com, 07 Feb 2017; infosport.ru, 2016; SportsDeskOnline, 21 Jan 2021)  
Most influential person in careerHis first coach Albert Timerbulatov. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2019)  
InjuriesShortly after the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi he sustained an Achilles tendon injury when he fell during a training session. (khl.ru, 02 Aug 2020; Athlete, 13 Nov 2019)  
Other sportsHe has represented the Russian Federation in short track, winning gold in the 5000m relay at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. He made his World Cup debut in speed skating during the 2017/18 season. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Nov 2017)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sport"I have had the idea of trying long track [skating] for a long time. When I was named a reserve for the national short track team after the [2016/17] season, I realised the time had come. I needed to change something."  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2013/2014 European Championships 5000m Relay1  
    2014/2015 European Championships 5000m Relay1  
    2014 Olympic Games 5000m Relay1  
    2012/2013 European Championships 5000m Relay1  
    2010/2011 European Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2011/2012 European Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2016/2017 European Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2010/2011 European Championships Overall3  
    2008/2009 European Championships Overall4  
    2015/2016 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2007/2008 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2014/2015 World Championships 5000m Relay5  
    2015/2016 World Championships 5000m Relay5  
    2006/2007 European Championships 5000m Relay5  
    2007/2008 European Championships Overall7  
    2007/2008 World Championships 1500m8  
    2007/2008 World Championships 1000m12  
    2009/2010 European Championships Overall14  
    2007/2008 World Championships Overall14  
    2014/2015 European Championships Overall14  
    2010/2011 World Championships 1500m15  
    2006/2007 European Championships Overall16  
    2007/2008 World Championships 500m18  
    2005/2006 World Junior Championships Overall18  
    2005/2006 World Championships 1000m18  
    2006/2007 World Championships 500m19  
    2010/2011 World Championships Overall20  
    2010/2011 World Championships 1000m21  
    2006/2007 World Championships Overall23  
    2005/2006 European Championships Overall23  
    2010/2011 World Championships 500m23  
    2006/2007 World Championships 1000m24  
    2010 Olympic Games 500m27  
    2010 Olympic Games 1000m29  
    2008/2009 World Championships 1000m30  
    2005/2006 World Championships Overall31  
    2010 Olympic Games 1500m31  
    2008/2009 World Championships 1500m34  
    2004/2005 World Junior Championships Overall34  
    2008/2009 World Championships Overall36  
    2006/2007 World Championships 1500m36  
    2003/2004 World Junior Championships Overall38  
    2005/2006 World Championships 1500m39  
    2005/2006 World Championships 500m39  
    2008/2009 World Championships 500m44  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2014/2015 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay1  
    2015/2016 Dresden 5000m Relay1  
    2013/2014 Turin 5000m Relay2  
    2013/2014 Kolomna 5000m Relay2  
    2012/2013 Calgary, AB 5000m Relay2  
    2014/2015 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m3  
    2012/2013 Dresden 5000m Relay3  
    2012/2013 Dresden 1500m4  
    2014/2015 Erzurum 5000m Relay4  
    2010/2011 Dresden 1500m5  
    2015/2016 Dresden 1500m5  
    2014/2015 Erzurum 1500m5  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay5  
    2014/2015 Dresden 5000m Relay5  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 5000m Relay5  
    2014/2015 Erzurum 1000m6  
    2014/2015 Dresden 1500m6  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 5000m Relay7  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 1500m7  
    2010/2011 Dresden 5000m Relay7  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1500m9  
    2008/2009 Dresden 5000m Relay9  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1500m10  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1500m12  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1500m12  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m12  
    2014/2015 Dresden 1500m14  
    2015/2016 Dresden 1500m14  
    2008/2009 Dresden 1500m15  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1500m16  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 1500m17  
    2008/2009 Dresden 1000m19  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m19  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m19  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 1500m20  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 1500m20  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 1000m21  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1500m22  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1000m22  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 1500m22  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 1000m22  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1500m23  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1500m23  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m26  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m28  
    2010/2011 Dresden 500m28  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1000m32  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1000m32  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 1000m34  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 1000m35  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1000m36  
    2012/2013 Dresden 1500m41  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m50  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m74  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 500m75  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1000m79  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification Overall79  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 1500m80  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 500m82  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 500m90