Aleksandr Samsonov

Freestyle swimmer Aleksandr Samsonov represented the USSR national team from 1970 to 1975, winning several medals at major international competitions. At the national championships Samsonov won titles in the 200 metres (1974), 400 metres (1970–71, 1974–75), 1,500 metres (1970, 1972), and the 4 x 200 metres relay (1974). He won his first medal at the European Championships in 1970, with silver in the 4 x 200 metres relay. Two years later he had his best results at the championships, winning gold in the 400 metres, along with silver in both the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 metres relays, and bronze in the 200 metres. In-between the European Championships, Samsonov swam in the 4 x 200 metres freestyle relay at the 1972 München Olympics, with the Soviet team winning bronze. As he only swam in the heats, however, he was not awarded a medal, as per the rules at the time. Samsonov finished his career with a bronze in the 4 x 200 metres relay at the 1975 World Championships in Cali.