Andrei Kalina Explained

Andrei Kalina
Full Name:Andrei Yakovlevich Kalina
Nationality:Russian
Sport:Paralympic swimming
Disability Class:SB8, SM9
Coach:Olga Baydalova
Birth Date:21 July 1987
Birth Place:Sloviansk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
Alma Mater:Donbas State Pedagogical University
Show-Medals:no

Andrei Yakovlevich Kalina (ru|Андрей Яковлевич Калина, ; born 21 July 1987) is a Ukraine-born Russian Paralympic swimmer who represented Ukraine from 2002 to 2013 and Russia since 2015.[1]

Biography

Early life

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

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andrei Kalina . Paralympic.org . . 26 August 2021.
  2. Web site: Андрей КАЛИНА: В России у меня открылось второе дыхание . Andrey KALINA: I got a second wind in Russia . vecherkaspb.ru . ru.
  3. Web site: КАЗНАЧЕ́ЄВ Андрій Вікторович . KAZNACHEEV Andriy Viktorovych . esu.com.ua . uk.
  4. Web site: Swimming – KALINA Andrei . Tokyo 2020 Paralympics . . 26 August 2021 . 26 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210826110101/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/swimming/athlete-profile-n1309716-kalina-andrei.htm . dead .