29. Dezember 2004  
Krasnodar / RUS  
Trampoline

Trampoline: Alexander Moskalenko puts an end to his career

Alexander Moskalenko

The UEG announced, that the five-times world champion and Olympic Champion of Sydney 2000, Alexander MOSKALENKO finished his precedentless career. The Russian trampoline super star was recently nominated director of sports of the region of Krasnodar, the city where he was born 35 years ago. He will therefore no longer be in the position to ensure an international competitive career.

Alexander Moskalenko (left) - silver medallist in Athens 2004; Olympic champion Nikitin, bronze medallist Stehlik

Moskalenko - a type of winner!

Alexander MOSKALENKO's CAREER
The history of this exceptional gymnast is long and tumultuous. It was in 1989 when 'Sacha' made his debut on the international scene during the European Championships organised by the former International Federation of Trampoline (FIT). After having won the World title in 1990 and 1992, he retired because of lack of motivation. However, he then came back to win his third consecutive World title in 1994 and then retired again… until 1998.
A second start and an golden Olympic Dream
This is when he learned that trampoline would be part of the Olympic programme in Sydney 2000 and was willing to accept the challenge of taking this prestigious title, the only one he was missing. Easily qualified during the World Championships of Sun City (South Africa) in 1999, he brilliantly won in Sydney.
This time he continued his career by winning another World title in 2001 in Odense (DEN) and the 2002 European title in St. Petersburg, organised by the UEG.

In 2003, during the World Championships of Hanover, qualifying for Athens, he had to concede the World crown (with a tie in the total of points) to the German Henrik Stehlik.
At the Europeans 2004 in Sofia, he took only the 7th place.
During the Olympics of Athens 2004, he missed his dream to win a second Olympic title by little as he was beaten by the Ukrainian Yuri Nikitin by only 0,30 points. This was the last competition of the 'Governor', nickname that suited him very well. Sacha is a classy athlete, appreciated for his human qualities and his simplicity, despite his status of 'star'. His new functions will without any doubt enable him to 'govern' over his region's sport programme. Source: UEC, press