Yuriy Borzakovskiy – The Legend

Yuriy Borzakovskiy is a Russian track and field athlete, the Olympic champion of 2004, the World Champion, and a three-time European champion, the Merited Master of Sports of Russia (2001), an Honorary Citizen of the town of Zhukovsky, Moscow Region.

Borzakovskiy was born in Kratovo, Moscow Region.His first major international success was the victory at the 2000 European Indoor Championship when he was only 18 years old. At the 2000 Summer Olympics he reached the 800 m final, in which he finished the sixth. In 2001 he won the World Indoor Title over 800 m but decided not to participate in the World Championships in Edmonton. On August 24, 2001, Borzakovskiy showed the time of 1:42.47 minutes. That result made him the 9th fastest man in the history of that distance. In addition, Borzakovskiy was ranked No.1 in the world that year. In 2002, Borzakovskiy ran the 400 m at the European Championship in Munich but lost the early stages. The following season he picked up a silver medal over 800 m at the World Championships in Paris.

Borzakovskiy's greatest achievement was his victory in the 800 m race at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Due to it, he became well known for sitting back until about the last 200 metres and then using a great kick to catch up and win (the tactics of U.S.A's Dave Wottle). At the Olympics he used the same strategy, in fact using this 'late charge' to come from behind in the last 150 meters to pass Wilson Kipketer, who was leading with only 20 metres to go, and take the victory.

One of the six Olympic Champions from Russia in the men's track and field and THE ONLY ONE - in cross country disciplines.

For me Yuriy Borzakovsky has become a great example of willpower, honesty, and singleness of purpose.

I‘m proud to live in the region, where Youriy received his sports education. I hope I’ll be able to achieve even a small part of his achievments.

Recources http://www.vmeste.eu/?to=news&read=1315988686 http://sat-univers.info/prochie-vidy-sporta/433-legkaya-

atletika-13.html http://atblog.ru/izvestnye-legkoatlety/beguny/yurij-

borzakovskij http://www.visualrian.ru/ru/site/flow/?startfrom=3564