Vladimir Belov

A 1.95 cm tall centre backcourt player, Vladimir Belov began playing professional handball at the Soviet Championships as a 16-year-old with a local club Kuntsevo, with whom he played throughout his career. He won bronzes at the Soviet championships in 1976 and 1978. Belov was capped with the Soviet national team 162 times and won Olympic silver in 1980, was a World Champion in 1982, adding a World Championships silver in 1978. He was chosen as the best player at the 1982 World Championships. Belov also helped win the World Junior Championship in 1977 and 1979. He was denied a chance for a second Olympic medal when the Soviets boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, but won a gold medal at the Friendship Games, a replacement games held by the Soviet Union and other Socialist countries that had boycotted the 1984 Olympics. After finishing his playing career, Belov worked as a head coach and general director of SK Kuntsevo. He also worked as a general director for sports society Yunost Moskva.