Aleksandr Portnov

Sport: Diving

Born: 17 September 1961

Birthplace: Baku, Azerbaijan SSR

Honors:

Order of the Badge of Honor (twice)

Honored Master of Sport

Career highlights:

Gold, Olympic Games in Moscow, 1980

Bronze, FINA World Championships, 1982

Gold, European Aquatics Championships, 1981

Gold, Friendship Games, 1984

Many-time champion of the USSR

Biography:

Aleksandr Portnov’s parents were diving coaches. Little Aleksandr made his first 3m springboard jump at the age of three in the arms of his father. From his childhood, Aleksandr was coached by his father who devised various training programs for him: cross-country, trampoline, acrobatics. Aleksandr’s physique was not advantageous for diving. He was 180cm tall, which was too high for a diver. It is more difficult for a tall guy to perform complex elements. Yet they look more impressive.

At first, the athlete specialized in jumping from a 10m board under the guidance of Anatoly Andreev. But after a bad jump at a practice session, Aleksandr changed to a 3m springboard, with his father overtaking as his coach.

Specialists noticed Aleksandr after he did well in the USSR vs Germany match and won a bronze medal at the Junior European Championships in 1976. By 1979 Portnov had prepared one of the most difficult routines and demonstrated it at the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR where he placed fourth. This put him on the track towards the Olympic Games.

Aleksandr Portnov performed his unique routine in March 1980 at the international Spring Swallows tournament in Minsk that earned him a gold medal. Five days before the Games the diver injured his knee but doctors did their best to ensure that the Belarusian could compete in the Games, the most important event for any athlete.

At the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980, Aleksandr advanced to the final with the second best total in the qualifying. However, in his eighth attempt, just the moment he was leaving the springboard, he was disrupted by a sudden burst of noise from the nearby pool as the audience was cheering for swimmers. The jump did not pan out as planned. According to the rules, if a diver faults due to external interference, he is allowed to repeat it. Aleksandr Portnov, who was leading the scoreboard, could simplify the routine but knowing that the judges would be biased against him he decided to demonstrate everything he was capable of. And he did right. 614,970 points he scored in the final put him out of reach for others.

After the Olympic gold success in Moscow, Aleksandr Portnov was preparing for the next Games. However, the Olympic Games 1984 were boycotted by the Soviet Union. Aleksandr won gold at the alternative Friendship Games in Hungary. After retiring from sport, he worked as a children's coach.