Ruslan Zakharov

Other information	SHORT TRACK TO SPEED SKATING In 2017 he switched from short track to speed skating in order to continue his sporting career. "I have always had thoughts about speed skating. A year before Pyeongchang 2018 [the Olympic Winter Games], I realised that it had become hard to compete, but I didn't want to finish. So I took a risk and transitioned to speed skating. I still can't call myself a 100% speed skater [speaking in 2022]. I have not yet adopted some of the subtleties, I have not fully assimilated. However, thanks to short track, I have no problems with muscle mass, for example. Although everyone on the Russian speed skating team is at least 20 centimetres taller than me." (vedomosti.ru, 31 Jan 2022) FURTHER EDUCATION He earned a master's degree in coaching from Smolensk State University of Sport in the Russian Federation. (khl.ru, 02 Aug 2020; Athlete, 21 Nov 2018)
Milestones	He became the first Russian athlete to win an Olympic medal in both short track and speed skating when he claimed silver in the speed skating team pursuit event at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. He had previously won gold in short track in the 5000m relay at the 2014 Games in Sochi. He was representing the Russian Federation at the 2014 Games, and the ROC in 2022. (iz.ru, 16 Feb 2022; SportsDeskOnline, 14 Nov 2022)

Club / Team

Central Army Sports Club [CSKA]: Russia

Memorable sporting achievement

Winning gold in short track in the 5000m relay at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2021)

Name of coach	Viktor Sivkov, RUS; Valery Muratov, RUS
When and where did you begin this sport?	He took up short track in 1996 in Ufa, Russian Federation. He switched to speed skating in June 2017 in Moscow, Russian Federation.

Hero / Idol	Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Patience and hard work will grind it all." (Athlete, 13 Nov 2019)

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Awards and honours	In recognition of the silver medal he won at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, he received the Order for Merits to the Fatherland [first class] in the Russian Federation. (publication.pravo.gov.ru, 25 Feb 2022) He was presented the Order of Friendship by the president of the Russian Federation in recognition of his performance at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (kremlin.ru, 24 Feb 2014) At the opening ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, he took the Olympic oath on behalf of all the athletes at the Games. (ONS, 07 Feb 2014) In 2011 he received the title of Honoured Master of Sport in the Russian Federation. (minsport.gov.ru, 15 Dec 2011)
Famous relatives	His younger brother Timur Zakharov has represented the Russian Federation in short track and speed skating. Competing in short track, he finished on top of the podium in the 5000m relay at the 2016 World Cup event in Dresden, Germany. (khl.ru, 02 Aug 2020; championat.com, 07 Feb 2017; infosport.ru, 2016; SportsDeskOnline, 21 Jan 2021)
Most influential person in career	His first coach Albert Timerbulatov. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2019)
Injuries	Shortly after the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi he sustained an Achilles tendon injury when he fell during a training session. (khl.ru, 02 Aug 2020; Athlete, 13 Nov 2019)
Other sports	He has represented the Russian Federation in short track, winning gold in the 5000m relay at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. He made his World Cup debut in speed skating during the 2017/18 season. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Nov 2017)

Reason for choosing this sport

"I have had the idea of trying long track [skating] for a long time. When I was named a reserve for the national short track team after the [2016/17] season, I realised the time had come. I needed to change something."