Canadian swimmer Alexander (Alex) Bauman twice gained the title of champion of the Olympic Games in 1984 and managed to win the respect of his fellow citizens. Since childhood, “Sasha” did not see himself without sports, and already at the age of 17 his successes were tremendous.
Biography of Alexander Bauman
Future Canadian sports legend Alexander (Alexander Baumann) was born in Prague, and after 5 years, Prague Spring overtook his family. I had to urgently pack up and flee to the Canadian city of Sudbury, Ontario. Here, the 9-year-old Sasha took up swimming for the first time.
Bauman trained hard at Laurentian University and achieved tremendous success by his youth. In 1981, Alex set one world sports record and 38 in his country. Indiana University (Indiana University) took him to receive education in sports scholarships.
Career of Alexander Bauman
The famous coach of Indiana University teams and several Olympic teams was appointed a mentor to Bauman. Chronic shoulder pain changed Alex's plans - he had to return back to Sudbury under the guidance of old coach Geno Tihani. Alexander continued training and went to physiotherapy courses, but he had to refuse to speak at the 1982 World Aquatics Championship due to injury.
In the same year, Bauman participated in the Commonwealth Games and won gold in Australian Brisbane at distances of 200 and 400 meters: Alex won an individual individual swimming. Here, a new peak was submitted to the Canadian athlete - he improved his world record at a distance of 200 m.
Alexander’s career was developing rapidly - he participated in the International University Games, where at a distance of 400 meters in 1983, “Sasha” became the winner in individual integrated swimming. The next year's Olympics were overshadowed for Alex by family troubles and protracted shoulder pain.
Alexander was one of those athletes for whom the coaches of the Canadian national team and fans had high Olympic hopes - the swimmer could not fail his country. For the first time since 1912, Gold at the 400-meter distance in individual integrated swimming went to Canada - in the same discipline and at this line, Bauman set a new world record. Alex becomes the first and at 200 meters.
After the 1984 Olympics, Alexander was awarded several awards and titles:
- recognized as the best Canadian athlete of the year;
- awarded the rank of officer of the Order of Canada;
- awarded the title of Best Swimmer in the World according to the magazine "Swimming World".
1986 for Bauman was marked by two major competitions: the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and the World Cup. In the first competition, Alexander won three gold medals - in individual integrated swimming and the 4x100 m relay. Bauman took second and third places in the Championship.
In 1987, Alex says goodbye to one of the stages of his sports career and leaves sports swimming after the Pacific Championship. Alexander Bauman continued to work in sports as a commentator and coach.
