Semen ELISTRATOV

ELISTRATOV CENTRE
In November 2020 a short track skating centre in his hometown of Ufa was named after him. "If someone had told me that an ice arena would be named after me, I would of course have laughed. I am an ordinary guy and would never use the words 'great' or 'outstanding' about myself. In general, I have a very severe attitude towards my awards and victories in the sporting arena, when there are many more important areas. This is a huge responsibility for me." (Instagram, 30 Nov 2020)

TRAINING ABROAD
Trained with the Hungarian short track team during the 2019/20 season. "I think I am a good sparring partner for them (the Hungarian team), as they are for me. I am incredibly grateful that they accepted me as one of their own." (rsport.ria.ru, 28 Jan 2020)

"I think the most important thing that has changed is my head. Hence the changes in tactics, and it seems to me I began to navigate (the race) faster. My head became stronger, maybe due to the fact that I became a father. I can't explain it, I just feel the race, I understand what will happen. It's a pity that it came at 30, not at 22." (isu.org)

LEGACY
"I really want my sport to keep developing, and to leave something more than medals behind me." (Instagram, 4 April 2021).
“If with our results we somehow manage to lift kids off their sofas, tear them away from their computers, that's great, wonderful. I think that is worth much more than any Olympic medal.” (1tv.ru, 7 Feb 2015)

COVID-19
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he ran an online training session for members of the public as part of the Russian Olympic Committee's "Train with Champions" programme, to allow citizens to benefit from online fitness sessions with some of the country's Olympians. (insidethegames.biz, 15 May 2020)

DOPING
In March 2016, meldonium was found in his blood he and was provisionally suspended, missing the World Championships in Seoul. A month later, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found the concentration of meldonium in his blood to be "acceptable" and the ISU lifted the ban. (gorobzor.ru, 2 Nov 2018)

COACH
Has worked with Andrey Maksimov (RUS) since he started skating in 2000. Maksimov is also a national team coach.

FIRST SKATES
There is a tradition in Russian sports schools, that students receive their first skates as a gift from the older generation. Elistratov was presented with his by Yulia Chachina, European bronze medallist. (24smi.org)

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse

Three-time Olympian. Became the second-youngest Russian male short track skater at Vancouver 2010 (19 years 286 days), just behind Vyacheslav Kurginyan (19 years 52 days). At Sochi 2014, became the youngest Russian to win a medal in short track (23 years 286 days), after winning gold in the relay. At PyeongChang 2018, was the only short track skater to win a medal representing Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR).

Won bronze in the 1500m at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Also finished seventh in the mixed team relay.

Most World Championship medals of any Russian skater with nine, and along with Viktor An, the only Russian skaters to win a gold medal. Competed at nine of the past 11 championships (missed 2011 and 2016). Won a medal at the past three championships, with at least one in each distance.

Most World Cup wins and podiums of any Russian skater, with 17 victories and 46 podium finishes (Viktor An has more in total, but fewer while representing the Russian Federation). Finished first overall in the 1000m (2015, 2016) and third (2020).

Most European Championship medals with 28, six more than Arianna Fontana (ITA) and nine more than Sjinkie Knegt (NED), the next closest male. Most victories for a Russian skater with 11, seven more than Viktor An. Competed at past 13 European Championships and has won a medal in the last 10. Since 2013, has only failed to win a gold medal once (2018).

Broke the 1000m world record (1:22.607) in February 2016 at the World Cup in Dresden, beating Kwak Yoon-Gy's (KOR) time by 0.4 seconds. Broken in November 2016 by Hwang Dae Heon (KOR).