Each Olympic medal has its own unique history, which begins almost from the very birth of its holder. So today we will immerse ourselves in the biography of one young man who came to sports in order to achieve the highest height in the literal and figurative sense of the word.
Andrey Silnov
The biography of the athlete is full of interesting events. In the small town of Shakhty, which is located in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation, on September 9, 1984, a boy, Andrey, was born. The Silnovs' family was a little fond of sports, mother - athletics, father - boxing. Andrei's elder brother brought him to the athletics section. When, over time, as a teenager, he tried to leave, then, having received a slap in the face and a manly conversation from his older brother, he decided to stay. Now Olympic champion Andrey Silnov will never regret it. Athletics has become the meaning of his life.
The beginning of a sports career
The first coach at the Shakhty Sports School was Sergei Ivanovich Starykh, then the athlete went to Zagorulko Evgeny Petrovich, who trained eminent champions in height Anna Chicherova, Ivan Ukhov (until 2008). Actively engaged in high jumps, Andrei Silnov reached the heights of a world-class master of sports and in 2004 was included in the Russian team. Having won the Russian championship in 2006, Andrey took first place in the European Championship in Gothenburg (Sweden), while setting a record for competitions in his own way, jumping 2.36 meters. Two years remained until the most important competition in the life of each athlete - the Olympic Games. From this moment, a special story begins. As you know, behind every great victory of a man stands a woman. We do not always see and know who she is, but in this story we will open the curtain.
Fatal meeting
Usually athletes of summer and winter disciplines rarely intersect, but there was an amazing coincidence. In Podolsk, as usual, a team of athletes conducted their training. At that moment, a team of skaters canceled their flight by plane due to terrorist attacks in Turkey. Reseeding the bus, they also drove to the same sports base where the meeting of sports stars was coming. The winner of the Olympic bronze medal in speed skating (team pursuit) in Turin (2006) Ekaterina Lobysheva and newly baked European champion Andrei Silnov met their eyes. The beauty immediately liked Andrei, and Catherine, although she congratulated her future beloved on a victory, did not prophesy a serious relationship. After several conversations, going to the cinema, Andrei Silnov and Ekaterina Lobysheva left for their winter and summer competitions, which did not intersect in any way. Andrei nevertheless, in a few months, found out where the Russian championship would be held in Kolomna, Catherine’s hometown. Arriving there with a large bouquet of roses, Andrei handed them to his lover, who had just stepped off the podium with the gold medal of the championship. The girl’s heart finally melted at that moment. Katya, loving the sports queen, learned from Andrei to jump in height (even jumped to the first adult level 1.60 m), and Andrei, in turn, came to the rink to learn from his beloved to glide on ice. After many falls, Katya’s colleagues nevertheless appreciated the worthy attempts of Andrey and applauded.
The power of love works wonders
And here comes the 2008 Olympic year. At the qualifying championship of Russia Andrei Aleksandrovich Silnov is in fourth position. This meant that the doors to the Olympics were closed for him. Arriving home, Catherine midnight reassured and inspired her beloved man. Who, if not she (the one who was a stone's throw from the Olympic gold podium), could understand, share and inspire Andrei. God or fate brought these people together in order to get a wonderful continuation of this story. Katya said that if there is at least one attempt to get to the Olympics, then Andrey should use it.
Olympic champion
On New Year's Day, Catherine made a wish for her lover to become an Olympic champion. Andrey Silnov does the impossible. Before the Olympics on July 25, at the Grand Prix in London, he wins the competition with the best result among all jumpers in Russia. After long meetings of the federation, Andrei was included in the Olympic team at the last moment. Lobysheva, watching the competition live, seeing the familiar gleam in the eyes of a loved one, calmly said with confidence: "Today he will be the Olympic champion." And so it happened. With the result of 236 centimeters, which Andrei took on the first attempt, having beaten his main competitor in the sector - the Swede Stefan Holm, he won the Olympic gold medal. In the title of Olympic champion Andrei Aleksandrovich Silnov wins several more competitions - the Super Grand Prix in Switzerland and Germany, the competition "Challenge of Russia" (Moscow 2008).
Andrei and Ekaterina stayed together for 2 years, there were no children, but they gave birth to this Olympic award together. Later, Catherine married motorcycle racer Alexei Naumov. Andrei married Alexandra, who is engaged in legal practice.
New achievements
Injuries prevented Andrei Silnov from moving forward in his sports career. But the athlete actively advocates and promotes athletics both in his native city, where he holds the post of deputy of the council, and throughout Russia. At the moment he is in the position of First Vice President of the All-Russian Athletics Federation.
In 2007 he graduated from the State South Russian University of Economics and Service with a degree in Applied Informatics in the Service Sphere. In 2013, he became a master of diplomacy at the Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. For the development of sports in the country and in the international arena, he received the title “Honored Master of Sports” and “Order of Friendship” from the President of Russia (at that time Dmitry Medvedev).