{ "id": "epqyk6k6yb", "slug": "alexander-chaev", "title": "Alexander Chaev", "updated": "2026-10-21", "topic_path": [ { "id": "play", "label": "Sports, games, and recreation", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/play" }, { "id": "play.individual", "label": "Individual sports and outdoor recreation", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/play.individual" }, { "id": "play.individual.water", "label": "Water sports", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/play.individual.water" }, { "id": "play.individual.water.swimming.people", "label": "Swimmers (biographies and medalists)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/play.individual.water.swimming.people" }, { "id": "play.individual.water.swimming.people.freestyle-swimmers", "label": "Freestyle swimmers", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/play.individual.water.swimming.people.freestyle-swimmers" }, { "id": "play.individual.water.swimming.people.freestyle-swimmers.russian-and-soviet-freestylers", "label": "Russian and Soviet freestylers", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/play.individual.water.swimming.people.freestyle-swimmers.russian-and-soviet-freestylers" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.eeu.t1946.play.individual.water.swimming.people.freestyle-swimmers", "label": "Eastern Europe · 1946 to 2000: Freestyle swimmers", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.eeu.t1946.play.individual.water.swimming.people.freestyle-swimmers", "path": [ { "id": "geo.eeu", "label": "Eastern Europe", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.eeu" }, { "id": "geo.eeu.t1946", "label": "Eastern Europe · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.eeu.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.eeu.t1946.play", "label": "Sports, games, and recreation", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.eeu.t1946.play" }, { "id": "geo.eeu.t1946.play.individual", "label": "Individual sports and outdoor recreation", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.eeu.t1946.play.individual" }, { "id": "geo.eeu.t1946.play.individual.water", "label": "Water sports", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.eeu.t1946.play.individual.water" }, { "id": "geo.eeu.t1946.play.individual.water.swimming.people", "label": "Swimmers (biographies and medalists)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.eeu.t1946.play.individual.water.swimming.people" }, { "id": "geo.eeu.t1946.play.individual.water.swimming.people.freestyle-swimmers", "label": "Freestyle swimmers", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.eeu.t1946.play.individual.water.swimming.people.freestyle-swimmers" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Alexander Chaev (Aleksandr Yuryevich Chayev, Александр Юрьевич Чаев), Soviet freestyle swimmer born 1962 in Voronezh; 1980 Olympic silver medalist in the 1,500 m freestyle behind Vladimir Salnikov, 1981 European 4×200 m relay champion.", "snippet": "Alexander Chaev (Aleksandr Yuryevich Chayev, Александр Юрьевич Чаев), Soviet freestyle swimmer born 1962 in Voronezh; 1980 Olympic silver medalist in the 1,500 m freestyle behind Vladimir Salnikov, 1981 European 4×200 m relay champion.", "node": "play.individual.water.swimming.people.freestyle-swimmers.russian-and-soviet-freestylers", "markdown": "# Alexander Chaev\n\n**Alexander Chaev** (Aleksandr Yuryevich Chayev, Александр Юрьевич Чаев; born 1962 in Voronezh) is a Soviet freestyle swimmer who won the silver medal in the men's 1,500 m freestyle at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, finishing behind his teammate and training partner [Vladimir Salnikov](https://www.edgepedia.org/vladimir-salnikov).[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914) He competed for the Soviet Union (URS) and was affiliated with Spartak Voronezh.[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Born | 1962, Voronezh, RSFSR, Soviet Union[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914) |\n| Measurements | 181 cm / 66 kg[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914) |\n| Olympic result | Silver, men's 1,500 m freestyle, Moscow 1980, 15:14.30[2](https://www.olympedia.org/results/6773) |\n| European title | Gold, 4×200 m freestyle relay, 1981 European Championships, Split (7:24.41)[3](https://clever-geek.imtqy.com/articles/6729181/index.html) |\n| Universiade golds | 1981 București 1,500 m freestyle; 1983 Edmonton 4×200 m freestyle relay[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914) |\n| Personal bests | 200 m free 1:51.81 (1982); 400 m free 3:55.53 (1983); 1,500 m free 15:14.30 (1980)[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914) |\n| After competing | Swimming coach; graduate of the Lesgaft Institute of Physical Culture (1985)[4](https://www.russwimming.ru/press/news/10440/) |\n\n## The 1980 Olympic final\n\nChayev's first international competition was the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where he entered the 1,500 m freestyle as the second Soviet swimmer behind Vladimir Salnikov, the 1978 world champion and clear favorite.[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914) • [2](https://www.olympedia.org/results/6773) In the heats he won his heat in 15:20.68 to qualify.[5](https://olympteka.ru/olymp/athlets/profile/3372.html)\n\nThe final, held on 22 July 1980 at the Olimpiysky pool, became famous for Salnikov's swim: he became the first man under 15 minutes, touching in 14:58.27 for a world record.[2](https://www.olympedia.org/results/6773) • [6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/07/23/salnikov-cracks-15-minute-bar-in-1500-freestyle/8e9a808d-ac05-443e-86e5-c24d1fcfa765/) Chayev took the silver in 15:14.30, about 16 seconds behind, with Australia's Max Metzker third at 15:14.49.[2](https://www.olympedia.org/results/6773) The Washington Post reported that Salnikov, after touching, turned and rooted his countryman on to the silver medal.[6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/07/23/salnikov-cracks-15-minute-bar-in-1500-freestyle/8e9a808d-ac05-443e-86e5-c24d1fcfa765/)\n\n## Career beyond the Olympics\n\nChayev's international career was brief. Besides the Olympics, Chayev competed in at least two other international meets, winning gold in the 4×200 m freestyle relay swimming with Vladimir Shemetov, Salnikov, and [Sergey Koplyakov](https://www.edgepedia.org/sergey-koplyakov), and placing fourth in the 1,500 at the 1981 European Championships in Split, and also competing at the 1983 [Universiade](https://www.edgepedia.org/universiade) in Edmonton.[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914) • [3](https://clever-geek.imtqy.com/articles/6729181/index.html) The Soviet relay's winning time was 7:24.41, ahead of [West Germany](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-germany) and Sweden.[3](https://clever-geek.imtqy.com/articles/6729181/index.html) In August 1981 he swam in the USA–USSR dual meet in Kiev, finishing fourth in the 400 m freestyle in 3:56.19.[7](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/08/21/Swimming-Results-NEWLNUnited-States-vs-Soviet-Union-At-Kiev-USSR-Aug-21/5991367214400/)\n\nAt the Summer Universiade, Olympedia credits him with two gold medals: the 1,500 m freestyle at București 1981 and the 4×200 m freestyle relay at Edmonton 1983.[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914) The Russian Swimming Federation's birthday notice instead lists Universiade victories in 1979 and 1981.[4](https://www.russwimming.ru/press/news/10440/)\n\n**Domestic record.** Olympedia states that Chayev never won a Soviet title, taking five silver medals (1979–81 in the 1,500, 1983 in the 200 free, and 1981 and 1983 in the 4×200 free relay) and two bronzes (1985–86 in the 200 free).[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914) Russian sources disagree: the mononews profile calls him USSR champion in 1982, and the Russian Swimming Federation describes him as a Soviet champion and record holder from 1975 to 1981.[8](https://mononews.ru/%D0%A7%D0%B0%D0%B5%D0%B2%2C_%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80_%D0%AE%D1%80%D1%8C%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87) • [4](https://www.russwimming.ru/press/news/10440/)\n\n## Training and later life\n\nChayev began swimming at age nine at the Spartak pool in Voronezh, training under Vyacheslav Alekseev and Viktor Lyubar; he progressed through the candidate master of sport, master of sport, and international master of sport ranks while still in school, then joined the national distance-swimmer group under Igor Koshkin, where he trained in sparring with Salnikov.[4](https://www.russwimming.ru/press/news/10440/) Olympedia notes that he spent his career in Salnikov's shadow and switched to shorter distances late in his career without comparable success.[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914)\n\nHe graduated from the P. F. Lesgaft Institute of Physical Culture in 1985 and worked as a coach at the SDYuShOR swimming school Ekran.[4](https://www.russwimming.ru/press/news/10440/) He was named an Honored Master of Sport in 2008 and received the medal \"For Labor Distinction\".[4](https://www.russwimming.ru/press/news/10440/) • [8](https://mononews.ru/%D0%A7%D0%B0%D0%B5%D0%B2%2C_%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80_%D0%AE%D1%80%D1%8C%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Aleksandr Chayev, Olympedia](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/50914)\n2. [1,500 metres Freestyle, Men, Moscow 1980, Olympedia](https://www.olympedia.org/results/6773)\n3. [1981 European Aquatics Championship results](https://clever-geek.imtqy.com/articles/6729181/index.html)\n4. [Александр Юрьевич Чаев отмечает 60-летие!, Всероссийская федерация плавания](https://www.russwimming.ru/press/news/10440/)\n5. [Александр Чаев, Olympteka.ru](https://olympteka.ru/olymp/athlets/profile/3372.html)\n6. [Salnikov Cracks 15-Minute Bar in 1,500 Freestyle, The Washington Post, 23 July 1980](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/07/23/salnikov-cracks-15-minute-bar-in-1500-freestyle/8e9a808d-ac05-443e-86e5-c24d1fcfa765/)\n7. [Swimming Results, United States vs. Soviet Union at Kiev, UPI, 21 August 1981](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/08/21/Swimming-Results-NEWLNUnited-States-vs-Soviet-Union-At-Kiev-USSR-Aug-21/5991367214400/)\n8. [Чаев, Александр Юрьевич, mononews](https://mononews.ru/%D0%A7%D0%B0%D0%B5%D0%B2%2C_%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80_%D0%AE%D1%80%D1%8C%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Water sports › Swimmers (biographies and medalists) › Freestyle swimmers › Russian and Soviet freestylers*\n\n*Initially written Oct 21, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/alexander-chaev", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/alexander-chaev.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Alexander Chaev\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/alexander-chaev. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Alexander Chaev](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexander-chaev)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/alexander-chaev](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexander-chaev). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Alexander Chaev\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/alexander-chaev. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Alexander Chaev, Soviet freestyle swimmer born 1962 in Voronezh; 1980 Olympic silver medalist in the 1,500 m freestyle behind Vladimir Salnikov, 1981 European 4×200 m relay champion." }