Andrei Kalina

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]

Andrei Kalina

Kalina in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Andrei Yakovlevich Kalina
Nationality	Russian
Born	(1987-07-21) 21 July 1987 (age 38) Sloviansk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
Alma mater	Donbas State Pedagogical University
Sport
Sport	Paralympic swimming
Disability class	SB8, SM9
Coached by	Olga Baydalova
Medal record Paralympic swimming Representing  RPC Paralympic Games 2020 Tokyo 100 m breaststroke SB8 2020 Tokyo 200 m ind. medley SM9 2020 Tokyo 4 × 100 m medley relay 34pts Representing  Russia World Championships 2015 Glasgow 100 m breaststroke SB8 2015 Glasgow 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 34pts 2015 Glasgow 4 × 100 m medley relay 34pts 2019 London 100 m breaststroke SB8 2019 London 200 m ind. medley SM9 2019 London 4 × 100 m medley relay 34pts 2015 Glasgow 200 m ind. medley SM9 Representing  Ukraine Paralympic Games 2004 Athens 100 m breaststroke SB8 2008 Beijing 100 m breaststroke SB8 2012 London 100 m breaststroke SB8 2004 Athens 200 m ind. medley SM9 2008 Beijing 200 m ind. medley SM9 2012 London 200 m ind. medley SM9 2008 Beijing 4x100 m medley relay 34 pts World Championships 2010 Eindhoven 100 m breaststroke SB8 2013 Montreal 100 m breaststroke SB8 2010 Eindhoven 200 m ind. medley SM9 2013 Montreal 200 m ind. medley SM9 2010 Eindhoven 4x100 m medley relay 34pts 2013 Montreal 4x100m medley relay 34pts European Championships 2009 Reykjavik 100 m breaststroke SB8 2009 Reykjavik 4x100 m medley relay 34pts 2009 Reykjavik 200 m ind. medley SM9 2009 Reykjavik 4x100 m freestyle relay 34pts Representing  Neutral Paralympic Athletes Paralympic Games 2024 Paris 100 m breaststroke SB8 European Championships 2024 Funchal 100 m breaststroke SB8 2024 Funchal 200 m ind. medley SM9

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]