Ihar Zhaliasouski

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameIhar Mikalayevich•Zhaliasouski
Used nameIhar•Zhaliasouski
Nick/petnamesIgor the Terrible
Original nameІгар Мікалаевіч•Жалязоўскі
Other namesIgor Nikolayevich Zhelezovsky, Игорь Николаевич Железовский
Born1 July 1963 in Orsha, Vitebsk (BLR)
Died12 June 2021
Measurements186 cm / 95 kg
AffiliationsVS Minsk, Minsk (BLR)
NOC Belarus Soviet Union Unified Team
Nationality Belarus
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 1
Total 2

Biography

Igor Zhelezovsky is considered to be one of the best sprinters ever, although he managed only two winter Olympic medals, bronze and silver in the 1,000 m in 1988 and 1994, respectively. Zhelezovsky surprised everyone in March 1983, by setting a 1,500 m world record of 1:54.26 in Medeo. In 1985 Zhelezovsky won the World Sprint Championships, which he would repeat five more times in 1986, 1989 and 1991-93. In addition to his six titles, Zhelezovsky won a bronze at the 1990 World Sprint Championships. In December 1987, Zhelezovsky again broke the 1,500 world record, clocking 1:52.50 at Calgary, on the future Olympic rink. His third and fourth world records came at the 1989 World Sprint Championships, with a 1,000 m record of 1:12.58, finishing the competition with a world record in the sprint all-around. Zhelezovsky also won the World Cup in the 1,000 m from 1991-93. Domestically Zhelezovsky won five Soviet sprint titles – 1985-86 and 1989-91. After finishing his sporting career, Zhelezovsky worked as the president of Belorussian Speed Skating Federation, was a member of the Belorussian Olympic Committee, and from 1996-2001 was the president of Belorussian Paralympic Committee.

Personal Bests: 500 – 36.49 (1986); 1000 – 1:12.58 (1989); 1500 – 1:52.50 (1988); 5000 – 7:09.84 (1983); 10000 – 15:40.82 (1983).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1988 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) URS BLR Ihar Zhaliasouski
500 metres, Men (Olympic) 6
1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 4
1992 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) EUN BLR Ihar Zhaliasouski
500 metres, Men (Olympic) 8
1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 6
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 10
1994 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) BLR Ihar Zhaliasouski
500 metres, Men (Olympic) 10
1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver

Olympic Records

Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.
Games Date Sport Event Phase Mark Pos
1994 Winter Olympics 18 February 1994 Speed Skating (Skating) 1,000 metres, Men Final Standings 1:12.72 2

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1994 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony BLR Ihar Zhaliasouski

Special Notes