Andrei Kalina
Russian Paralympic swimmer
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Andrei Yakovlevich Kalina (Russian: Андрей Яковлевич Калина, Ukrainian: Андрій Якович Калина, romanized: Andriy Yakovych Kalyna; born 21 July 1987) is a Ukraine-born Russian Paralympic swimmer who represented Ukraine from 2002 to 2013 and Russia since 2015.[1]
Biography
Early life
Kalina was born 21 July 1987 in Slavyansk (Sloviansk), Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union, with a missing left lower arm.[2] In 2000, he started swimming in the Donetsk-based sports center Invasport.[3] However, he almost decided to retire from sports after he did not find good conditions even in Kyiv. So, he started search them outside of Ukraine, eventually deciding to emigrate to Russia in 2013. After finding better practice and living conditions in Russia, Kalina decided to represent Russia internationally in 2015.[2] 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 title out of four appearances in 100 m breaststroke, at the 2020 Summer Paralympics now representing the Russian Paralympic Committee.[4]
