Vladimir Salnikov

Vladimir Salnikov

Vladimir Valeryevich Salnikov (Russian: Владимир Валерьевич Сальников; born 21 May 1960) is a Russian former swimmer who competed for the Soviet Union and set 12 world records in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1,500-meter freestyle. Nicknamed a "monster in the waves", he was the first man to swim under fifteen minutes in the 1500-meter freestyle and also the first man to swim under eight minutes in the 800-meter freestyle. He was named the Male World Swimmer of the Year in 1982 by Swimming World magazine.