Aliaksei Abalmasau
Encyclopedia
Aliaksei Abalmasau (or Aleksey Abalmasov) (born June 20, 1980 in Barysaŭ
) is a Belarus
ian sprint canoer
who has competed since 1998. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won a gold medal in the K-4 1000 m event at Beijing
in 2008
.
As a junior he had won a K-4 500 m bronze medal at the 1998 Junior World Championships in Nyköping
, Sweden but he first came to prominence in 2000 when he won three gold medals at the European under-23 championships at Boulogne
, France (K-2 1000 m with Vadzim Makhneu
, K-4 500 m, K-4 1000 m). They retained both K4 under-23 titles in 2002.
The under-23 K-4 gold medalists were gradually promoted to the Belarus senior boat. Abalmasau's first senior appearance was at the 2000 European championships. They rapidly challenged the world's elite, winning two bronze medals at the European championships in Milan
in 2001 and the world championship silver medal in Seville
in 2002
. In 2003 however excellent early-season results were not repeated at the world championships
in Gainesville
, USA as they finished out of the medals.
In 2004, with Dziamyan Turchyn
now on board in place of Aliaksei Skurkouski they won the senior European K-2 500 m silver medal in Poznań
, Poland. In the K-4 1000 m Olympic final
in Athens
, they finished sixth.
In 2005 the Belarus K-4 crew established themselves as the world's number one 500 m boat. A gold medal in the European final was followed by victory at the 2005 World Championships in Zagreb
, Croatia. They also won the bronze medal in the K-4 200 m final.
At the 2006 European Championships in Račice
, Czech Republic, Abalmasau and his K-4 team-mates did not defend their 500 m title, focusing instead on their least favourite distance, the 1000 m, which will be the only K-4 event at the Beijing Olympics
. They won the silver medal, their best result yet over the Olympic distance. The following day they showed their sprinting credentials by winning the gold medal in the 200m final.
At the 2006 World Championships in Szeged
, Hungary, the same strategy was used. In the 1000 m they took the bronze medal, again their best-ever showing, although coach Shantarovich said they should have won, accusing the crew of lacking a "killer instinct" in major championships. In the 200 m final however they finished in last place after Vadzim Makhneu
broke a blade. The 2006 season also saw victories at the Poznan, Duisburg
and Guangdong
regattas.
The ever-reliable Abalmasau is perhaps the unsung hero of the crew. He is 182 cm (6'0") tall and weighs 77 kg (170 lbs).
At the 2009 world championships
in Dartmouth
, he won a gold in the K-4 1000 m event. Abalmasau followed up with a silver medal the following year
in the K-4 1000 m event.
Barysau
Barysaw , also transliterated Barysau, is a city in Belarus situated near the Berezina River in the Minsk Voblast.-History:...
) is a Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
ian sprint canoer
Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
who has competed since 1998. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won a gold medal in the K-4 1000 m event at Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in 2008
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
As a junior he had won a K-4 500 m bronze medal at the 1998 Junior World Championships in Nyköping
Nyköping
Nyköping is a locality and the seat of Nyköping Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 32,427 inhabitants in 2005. The city is also the capital of Södermanland County.- History :...
, Sweden but he first came to prominence in 2000 when he won three gold medals at the European under-23 championships at Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
, France (K-2 1000 m with Vadzim Makhneu
Vadzim Makhneu
Vadzim Makhneu or Vadim Makhnev is a Belarusian flatwater canoer who has competed since 2000...
, K-4 500 m, K-4 1000 m). They retained both K4 under-23 titles in 2002.
The under-23 K-4 gold medalists were gradually promoted to the Belarus senior boat. Abalmasau's first senior appearance was at the 2000 European championships. They rapidly challenged the world's elite, winning two bronze medals at the European championships in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in 2001 and the world championship silver medal in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
in 2002
2002 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 2002 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Seville, Spain.The men's competition consisted of nine Canadian and nine kayak events...
. In 2003 however excellent early-season results were not repeated at the world championships
2003 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 2003 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held September 10–14, 2003 in Gainesville, Georgia, United States at Lake Lanier. Located north of Atlanta, this was also where the canoe sprint and rowing events for the 1996 Summer Olympics took place....
in Gainesville
Gainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
, USA as they finished out of the medals.
In 2004, with Dziamyan Turchyn
Dziamyan Turchyn
Dziamyan Turchyn is a Belarusian sprint canoer....
now on board in place of Aliaksei Skurkouski they won the senior European K-2 500 m silver medal in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, Poland. In the K-4 1000 m Olympic final
Canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's K-4 1000 metres
These are the results of the men's K-4 1000 metres competition in canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics. The K-4 event is raced by four-man canoe sprint kayaks.-Medalists:-Heats:...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, they finished sixth.
In 2005 the Belarus K-4 crew established themselves as the world's number one 500 m boat. A gold medal in the European final was followed by victory at the 2005 World Championships in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia. They also won the bronze medal in the K-4 200 m final.
At the 2006 European Championships in Račice
Racice
Račice is a village in Ústí nad Labem Region, Czech Republic. It is located 8 km northeast of Roudnice nad Labem or 41 km north of Prague and has a population of 308. It is the major rowing and flatwater canoeing venue in the Czech Republic. Račice hosted the 1993 World Rowing...
, Czech Republic, Abalmasau and his K-4 team-mates did not defend their 500 m title, focusing instead on their least favourite distance, the 1000 m, which will be the only K-4 event at the Beijing Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. They won the silver medal, their best result yet over the Olympic distance. The following day they showed their sprinting credentials by winning the gold medal in the 200m final.
At the 2006 World Championships in Szeged
Szeged
' is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county town of Csongrád county. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary....
, Hungary, the same strategy was used. In the 1000 m they took the bronze medal, again their best-ever showing, although coach Shantarovich said they should have won, accusing the crew of lacking a "killer instinct" in major championships. In the 200 m final however they finished in last place after Vadzim Makhneu
Vadzim Makhneu
Vadzim Makhneu or Vadim Makhnev is a Belarusian flatwater canoer who has competed since 2000...
broke a blade. The 2006 season also saw victories at the Poznan, Duisburg
Duisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
and Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
regattas.
The ever-reliable Abalmasau is perhaps the unsung hero of the crew. He is 182 cm (6'0") tall and weighs 77 kg (170 lbs).
At the 2009 world championships
2009 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 2009 International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Championships were held 12–16 August 2009 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, on Lake Banook. The Canadian city was selected to host the championships in October 2003 after having done so previously in 1997...
in Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
, he won a gold in the K-4 1000 m event. Abalmasau followed up with a silver medal the following year
2010 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 2010 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held 19–22 August 2010 in Poznań, Poland, on Lake Malta. This is the third time that the Polish city will host the championships, having done so previously in 1990 and 2001...
in the K-4 1000 m event.