Russian Personalities

People well-known in art, sport, film, fashion

Category Archive: Sport

Mukhtar Gusengadzhiev – Snake-Man

Mukhtar Gusengadzhiev - Snake-Man

Mukhtar Gusengadzhiev – Snake-Man


Mukhtar Gusengadzhiev is a Russian actor and the most flexible man on the planet.
The boy was born on May 20, 1964 in Izberbash, Dagestan ASSR, USSR. His father was a driver and his mother was a housewife. The Gusengadzhiyevs could hardly make ends meet, and soon the head of the family was imprisoned.
The boy had to help the mother to earn money. After school he served in the rocket forces. However, at the age of 22 the boy was arrested for a street fight. In prison the young man began to work on the flexibility of the body and became interested in yoga.
You know, Mukhtar studied at the circus studio Izmailovo, Dargwa Theatre Studio, Roman Theatre Studio Raffaello Sanzio and Actors Studio Company Cirque du Soleil, Montreal.
He has been living in thirty countries around the world. There he studied and performed on the most prestigious stages. By the way, he has played more than thirty roles in films.
Also Mukhtar is fond of painting and music. Because of his flexibility he can write and paint with his feet. You know, he speaks six languages.
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Svetlana Kulakova, World and European kickboxing champion

Svetlana Kulakova, World and European kickboxing champion

Svetlana Kulakova, World and European kickboxing champion


Svetlana Kulakova is an International Master of Sports in boxing and kickboxing, World and European champion in kickboxing, World Cup winner. Also she is the current world champion in professional boxing (IBO, 2016).
Pretty girl was born on December 13, 1982 in Sarov, Russia. In her childhood Svetlana wanted to become an astronaut. The girl was fond of dancing, knitting, playing the guitar.
Her debut as professional boxer took place in Germany in May 2007. The girl moved there, signing a contract with Ulf Shtaynfort’s promotion company SES Boxing. A year later Kulakova returned to Russia.
Awesome girl became the world champion among professionals according to the WAKO PRO. She is an International Master of Sports.
In November 2008, Svetlana gave birth to her daughter Ekaterina. And in April she became the champion of Russia in kickboxing.
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Bruce Khlebnikov – the strongest boy

Bruse Khlebnikov - the strongest boy

Bruse Khlebnikov – the strongest boy


Bruce Khlebnikov is a champion among champions, Russian Guinness Book record holder, one of the strongest people on the planet. He has great physical strength and great willpower.
The boy was born on October 21, 1989 in a train Tula – Moscow. Bruce didn’t go to school, he studied at home. When the boy was five he attracted attention of the press and television as he could walk on broken glass and sharp nails. At the age of 5 the boy became Wushu champion of Russia.
8-year-old boy lifted 8-kilo dumbbell for 300 times and squatted 2000 times per hour.
By the way, Bruce has broken many records in Russia and around the world, including pulling a train with his long hair in 2002.
His hair is also a Guinness record: he has the longest hair among men in the world.
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Dynamite – Vladimir Turchinskiy

Dynamite - Vladimir Turchinskiy

Dynamite – Vladimir Turchinskiy


Vladimir Turchinskiy was a Russian bodybuilder, television and radio presenter, actor, author, singer and businessman.
The boy was born on September 28, 1963 in the Moscow military family. Since childhood he was fond of sports. 10-year-old Vladimir won the silver medal at the Moscow Wrestling Championship. And at the age of 16 he became Master of Sports.
You know, he studied at the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation but left it to join the army. Then he entered the State Institute of Physical Culture.
Turchinsky started his career during the years of Perestroika. He worked as a photographer, a bodyguard for actors and singers, for example, Dima Malikov; translated articles from English to Russian; was a P.E. teacher.
By the way, he was a maestro of sumo and judo, and former president of the Russian Federation of power extreme. His nickname was Dynamite or Dinamit.
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Alexei Ledenev, Master of Sports in Judo

Alexei Ledenev, Master of Sports in Judo

Alexei Ledenev, Master of Sports in Judo


Alexei Ledenev is a Russian champion in Judo and Sambo (weight up to 100 kg), International Master of Sport in Judo.
The boy was born on July 4, 1984 in Tyumen, Russia.
You know, Alex was the winner of the World and European Sambo Championships (2001 – 2002), silver medalist at the European Judo Championships (2004), bronze medalist at the European Championships (2005). By the way, he was a bronze medalist at the Super World Cup Judo (2006), silver medalist in Judo World Cup (2007). In addition, he was a bronze medalist of European Championship Judo (2007), Russian Judo Champion (2007), Russian Cup winner (2007, 2009). Actually, in 2009 he became a World champion in Vancouver, Canada.
Alexei was the winner of the TV show Dancing With The Stars paired with cute Russian singer Anastasia Stotskaya.
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Andrey Arshavin, professional footballer

andrey arshavin

Andrey Arshavin, professional footballer


Andrey Arshavin is a Russian football player, who plays for the Kazakhstani club Kairat. He is an ex-captain of the Russian national team, Honored Master of Sports of Russia (2008). By the way, Arshavin is also known as Shava. With coach Guus Hiddink Andrey was one of the main players of the Russian national team. On December 5, 2009 he was included in the Club of 100 Russian scorers.
The boy was born on May 29, 1981 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). Arshavin wasn’t a good student at school.
7-year-old boy joined famous sports school Smena. There his coaches were Viktor Vinogradov and Sergey Gordeev.
At the age of 16 Andrey began playing as part of the senior team. Two years later he joined Zenith.
From 2001 to 2006, Arshavin and Aleksandr Kerzhakov formed the so-called Golden bunch.
In 2008, Andrey won the Russian Super Cup, UEFA Cup, as well as the European Super Cup. Actually, Arshavin was named the best player in the UEFA Cup.
As a member of Zenith, from 2000 to 2009, Arshavin had played 310 official matches and scored 71 goals.
On February 21, 2009 Andrey made his debut in Arsenal.
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Maria Kiseleva, synchronized swimmer

Maria Kiseleva, synchronized swimmer

Maria Kiseleva, synchronized swimmer


Maria Kiseleva is a Russian synchronized swimmer and TV presenter. You know, she is a three-time Olympic champion, three-time world champion, nine-time European Champion. By the way, she is Honored Master of Sports (2000), member of the Presidium of the Presidential Council for Physical Culture and Sport, member of the United Russia. Besides, Maria took part in Ambassadors 2013 program (XXVII World Summer Universiade 2013 in Kazan).
Pretty girl was born on September 28, 1974 in Kuibyshev (now Samara). Her parents were namesakes, so her mother didn’t have to change the name. The girl was engaged in swimming at the age of 3.
In 1996, she entered the Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Journalism.
Moreover, Maria played in the films The Idiot based on Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel (2003), Paragraph 78 (2007, directed by M. Hleborodov).
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