Andrei Yakovlevich Kalina (russian: Андрей Яковлевич Калина; born 21 July 1987) is a Ukraine-born Russian

Paralympic swimmer Para swimming is an adaptation of the sport of swimming for athletes with disabilities. Para swimmers compete at the Summer Paralympic Games and at other sports competitions throughout the world. The sport is governed by the International Para ...

who represented Ukraine from 2002 to 2013 and Russia since 2015.

Biography

Early life

Kalina was born 21 July 1987 in Slavyansk (Sloviansk), Soviet Union, with a missing left lower arm. In 2000, he started swimming in the

Donetsk Donetsk ( , ; uk, Донецьк, translit=Donets'k ; russian: Донецк ), formerly known as Aleksandrovka, Yuzivka (or Hughesovka), Stalin and Stalino (see also: cities' alternative names), is an industrial city in eastern Ukraine loca ...

-based sports center Invasport. However, he almost decided to retire from sports after he did not find good conditions even in

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Kyi ...

. So, he started search them outside of Ukraine, eventually deciding to emigrate to Russia. After finding better practice and living conditions in Russia, Kalina decided to represent Russia internationally in 2015. During Russian-Ukrainian War silently supported aggression against his home country.

Career

Competing for Ukraine, Kalina won numerous titles, including the Paralympic Games three times in a row. Kalina won his fourth consecutive title in 100 m breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, now representing the

Russian Paralympic Committee The Russian Paralympic Committee (russian: Паралимпийский комитет России) is the National Paralympic Committee representing Russia. History The Russian Paralympic Committee was founded in 1996. On 7 August 2016, i ...

References

External link

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kalina, Andrei 1987 births Living people Medalists at the World Para Swimming Championships Paralympic swimmers for Russia Paralympic swimmers for Ukraine Paralympic gold medalists for the Russian Paralympic Committee athletes Paralympic gold medalists for Ukraine Paralympic silver medalists for Ukraine Paralympic bronze medalists for Ukraine Paralympic medalists in swimming Medalists at the 2004 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2020 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 2020 Summer Paralympics People from Sloviansk S9-classified para swimmers Sportspeople from Donetsk Oblast