The new strongman of Russian sport may finally have come out of his box. According to the press agency News, ex-swimmer Alexander Popov, 46 years old, almost 2 meters under the height chart and a track record as long as a water line, could take the chair of president of the Russian Olympic committee in the coming weeks.
Alexander Popov, honorary member of the IOC after having been an active member between 2000 and 2016 as part of the Athletes' Commission, officially entered the race during the weekend. In accordance with the statutes of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), his candidacy was proposed by a national federation. On the occasion, the Russian Shooting Federation. Why not.
The deadline for submitting applications has been set for Monday, May 14. Barring an unlikely last-minute guest, Alexander Popov will have to battle with only one other contender, who entered the race earlier, but who is also an Olympic champion. Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the current vice-president of the national Olympic committee, even seemed to already have the keys to the presidential office in hand before the arrival of Alexander Popov.
The gold medalist in the individual saber at the Atlanta Games in 1996, also president of the European Fencing Confederation, declared himself as soon as Alexander Zhukov, the current president, announced his decision not to seek a new mandate. At the head of the ROC since 2010, Zhukov explained his decision by an inability to reconcile his mission as a sports leader with his function as an elected official in the Russian Parliament.
Between Alexander Popov and Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the face-to-face looks uncertain. Both men can boast of a sporting past that has led them to the top of the Olympic podium. The swimmer appeared there four times as an individual, winning gold in the 50 and 100m at the Barcelona Games in 1992, then four more years later at the Atlanta Games. Stanislav Pozdnyakov won the individual saber title at Atlanta 1996.
The ex swimmer admits to being 46 years old. The former fencer is 2 years younger. Stanislav Pozdnyakov is already in the position, since he holds the position of vice-president. An advantage. But Alexander Popov knows the house perfectly, having served on the executive committee of the national Olympic committee. He also chaired the public council of the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation, a position where he was able to build a strong network of political support.
One criterion could make the difference: the possible Olympic destiny of the future elected official. By letting Alexander Zhukov go, Russia will lose a member of the IOC at the end of May. It will then have only two, Shamil Tarpischev and Yelena Isinbayeva. But the former pole vaulter was elected to the Rio Games within the athletes’ commission. His 8-year mandate will end in Paris in 2024.
To maintain a sufficient presence of Russia within the IOC, the future president will have to convince the organization to accept him as an active member, within the college of national Olympic committees. A task that seems more within the reach of Alexander Popov. The former swimmer kept one foot in the house, after 16 years as an active member.
The election for the presidency of the Russian Olympic Committee is scheduled to take place on May 29, 2018 in Moscow.
