Aleksandr Kovalyov

Achievements

• Having just missed out on a medal at the Sydney Olympics, he and partner Aleksandr Kostoglod won two medals at Athens in 2004 with a silver in the C-2 1000 m and bronze C-2 500 m events. Kovalev also won six medals at the International Coach Federation Canoe Sprint World Championships with three golds (C-2 1000 m: 1998, 1999. C-4 200 m: 2005), one silver (C-2 1000 m: 2003), and two bronzes (C-2 500 m: 1999, C-4 200 m: 2001).

Membership

A member of the Russian national team since 1997, he is small for a world-class canoer at 170 centimetres (56 ft) tall and 70 kilograms (150 lb) but makes up for this with excellent technique.