Kharis Yunichev

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameKharis Kharisovich•Yunichev
Used nameKharis•Yunichev
Original nameХарис Харисович•Юничев
Born7 August 1931 in Sochi, Krasnodar Kray (RUS)
Died12 February 2006
AffiliationsBurevestnik Sochi, Sochi (RUS)
NOC Soviet Union
Nationality Russian Federation
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Kharis Yunichev was the first Soviet swimmer to win an individual Olympic medal. Yunichev took up swimming in 1947 and soon rose to be one of the top Soviet breaststroke swimmers. The high point of Yunichev’s career was the only international tournament in which he participated, the 1956 Olympics, where he surprised everybody by winning a bronze medal in the 200 metre breaststroke. Domestically, Yurichev won two Soviet titles, in the 200 breaststroke in 1951 and the medley relay in 1953. He also won two silver medals (1951: 400 breaststroke; 1956: 200 breaststroke) and one bronze (1951: 100 breaststroke) at the Soviet championships. Since 2002 an annual tournament in his honor has been held in his hometown of Sochi.

Personal Best: 100 m breaststroke – 1:14.8 (1951); 200 m breaststroke – 2:33.0 (1956); 400 m breaststroke – 5:51.6 (1951).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1956 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) URS RUS Kharis Yunichev
200 metres Breaststroke, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze

Special Notes