Russian luger Demchenko Albert: biography, sports career, personal life

Albert Demchenko, whose biography is presented in this article, is a legendary Russian sled, seven-time participant and three-time prize-winner of the Olympic Games. He won many times at the championships of Russia and Europe, as well as in the World Cup.

Biographical information

Demchenko Albert Mikhailovich was born in 1971 in a small town Chusovoy, located in the Perm region, in the family of metallurgists. He was the eldest of the five sons. Childhood Albert can not be called calm: he grew up a tomboy and a bully. Studying at school was difficult for him. The only entertainment of the future athlete was the sled. And they were made from improvised materials - my father welded several pipes and covered them on top of the board. It was on these sledges and spent his first amateur training Demchenko Albert.

After graduation, the future titled luger continued his education at the Humanities and Social Institute. The difficult 90-ies have not bypassed the family and Demchenko. Albert was forced in search of money to earn extra money at various jobs. He managed to master the profession of a driver, a loader, a tiler and even a seller of meat on the market. But the temporary difficulties could not repel his passion for the sled.

Sports career

Seriously to practice tobogganing, Demchenko began in 1984 under the guidance of Tatiana Yuferova. Six years later, Albert received a challenge to the Soviet team. But the first successes came to him as part of the Russian team.

At the European Championship in 1996, Demchenko won silver in singles and bronze in the doubles. Then, after a break, related to the economic crisis and health problems, Albert returned to the big sport. In the 2004/2005 season, he manages to win the World Cup among singles.

Then came the pre-Olympic season. Demchenko Albert managed to win a silver medal in Turin, as well as win the European Championships in singles. Two years later, the Russian luger took second place in the continental championship, and in 2010 the European Championship in Cesan ends for him with a triumphant victory. Demchenko repeated his success two years later on his native track for him in Paramonovo.

Sochi Olympics was to be the seventh for Albert. Training was more than thorough: Albert personally participated in the development of a new model of sleighs, in parallel with this, he added his collection of gold awards from the European Championships in Sigulda. And now the Olympics-2014 has begun. In addition to singles, which already became crown for Demchenko, Albert took part in the relay race. And very successfully - he won two silver medals.

After the Olympics in Sochi, the 43-year-old sleothik announced the end of his long and legendary sports career.

Personal life

Albert Demchenko, along with his wife Olga live near Moscow in Dimitrov. They brought up daughter Victoria, who followed in her father's footsteps and seriously started tobogganing.