In 1969, he set a European record in the 100 m butterfly event. Since the introduction of masters championships in the Soviet Union he competes in this category. He lives in Moscow where he works as a swimming coach.
Since 2008, the local swimming championships carry his name.
In 2010, they were attended by four former Olympians, and one of them, Alex Popov, even took part in a swimming event.
He won a bronze medal in the 4×100 m medley relay and finished fourth in the 100 m butterfly at the 1968 Summer Olympics, setting a new European record (United States swimmers took the first three places). He won two bronze medals in the same events at the 1970 European Aquatics Championships. During his career he won nine national titles, in the 100 m (1968–1971, 1973, 1974) and 200 m (1973) butterfly and 4×100 m medley relay events (1974, 1975), and set four national records. He won the world championships in 1992 and European championships in 1995 in the 50 m butterfly, and finished second in the 100 m butterfly in 1995.
