Michael Kolganov
Personal information
Native nameМихаил Калганов
NicknameMisha
Born (1974-10-24) 24 October 1974 (age 49)
Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Sport
Country Israel
SportCanoeing
EventCanoe sprint
Medal record
Men's canoe sprint
Representing  Israel
Summer Olympics
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney K-1 500 m
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1998 Szeged K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 1999 Milan K-1 200 m
Silver medal – second place 1998 Szeged K-1 500 m
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1999 Zagreb K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2000 Poznań K-1 1000 m
Silver medal – second place 2000 Poznań K-1 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2001 Milan K-1 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Zagreb K-1 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Zagreb K-1 1000 m
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Račice K-2 200 m

Michael "Misha" Kolganov (or Kalganov, Hebrew: מיכאל (מישה) קולגנוב, Russian: Михаил Калганов; born 24 October 1974) is a USSR-born Israeli sprint kayaker and former two-time world champion (1998 & 1999). Competing in three Summer Olympics, he won the bronze medal in the K-1 500 m event at Sydney in 2000.[1] He was the flag bearer for Israel during the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.[2]

Early life

Mikhail Kolganov was born in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union. He is Jewish.[3][4][5] and took up canoeing at the age of 14. "I was a fat young boy," he recalled, "and my parents were looking for a hobby for me that would help me lose weight."[3] Kolganov's older brother Andrei also represented the Soviet Union, and was a Soviet youth champion at kayak competition.[3] Kolganov immigrated to Israel in 1995.[5]

Career

Kolganov has represented Israel in competition since 1997. Kolganov was K-1 200 m world champion in 1998 and 1999, and earned a K-1 500 m silver in 1998.

He represented Israel at the 2000 Summer Olympics, winning the K-1 500 m bronze medal and finishing fourth in the K-1 1000 m event. He competed on behalf of Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and finished eighth in the second semifinal of the K-1 500 m. He competed on behalf of Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China,[6] and failed to advance to the final in both the K-1 500 m and K-1 1000 m events.

He has also competed in the K-2. where at the 2006 European Championships in Račice, Czech Republic, he won the K2 200 m bronze medal with partner Barak Lufan. At the 2006 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Szeged, Hungary, Kolganov and Lufan finished fifth in the K-2 200 m and sixth in the K-2 500 m.

Kolganov served in the Israel Defense Forces.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Michael Kolganov". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Kolganov to carry Israel flag in Beijing". The Jerusalem Post. 9 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Griver, Simon. "Row Michael Row". Jewish Agency for Israel. Archived from the original on 15 September 2005. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  4. ^ Taylor, Paul (2004). Jews and the Olympic Games: The Clash Between Sport and Politics : with a Complete Review of Jewish Olympic Medallists. Sussex Academic Press. ISBN 9781903900871.
  5. ^ a b "A Brief History of Israel at the Games". Haaretz. 27 July 2012. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Israel at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games". Sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2011.

External links

Olympic medalists for Israel
World Champions in Men's Canoe Sprint K-1 200 m
Categories