Story written by EPelleThe European Athletics Asssociation reported today that Olympic 800m Champion, Yuriy Borzakovskiy, has announced he will not compete in any indoor competitions in 2007, instead opting to start his summer season at Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, USA in June.
Borzakovskiy, the 2001 IAAF World Indoor champion (1.44,49), insists that he wants to be in top form for the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan. He competed on his native soil at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships, however he managed only a bronze (1.47,38) following seven races prior to the championships in Moscow.
He finished with a silver medal (1.44,51) in the 2005 World Championships in Finland after running five indoor races that winter - all victories.
Holder of two indoor records, Borzakovskiy has competed on the boards and under the roof in 33 races including finals over his eight-year career. He set the World Junior Indoor record (1.44,35) in Karlsruhe seven years ago, winning the event as a 19-year-old. He set the Russian Indoor record of 1.44,15 at the same venue the folowing year.
Borzakovskiy, the reigning 800m Olympic gold medalist, would also like to defend his title in Beijing next season. Borzakovskiy, running in his typical last-place fashion early in the race, made a move off the homestretch in Athens and timed his kick perfectly, running 1.44,45 for an upset over South African Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1.44,61) and world-record holder Wilson Kipketer (1.44,65). His move, which is unorthodox and often fails to provide him the expected winning kick, was perfected on the biggest day of his life.
He competed in five indoor races - four finals - leading up to the Athens Games, his fastest a 1.44,58 at the GE Galan in Stockholm, which also serves as his fourth-fastest 800m indoors ever.
He set the Russian 800m outdoor record of 1.42,47 - which is also the European U-23 record - in an exciting race against Austria's André Bücher in Bruxelles six seasons ago, denying Bücher a share of the 2001 Golden League jackpot in the process. He set the European Junior record - 1.44,33 - seven years ago in Sydney.
Tragedy struck Borzakovskiy late in the autumn as he and his wife, Irina, were traveling home to Zhukovskiy, Russia, late at night when an unidentified man strolled across the street in the pitch black weather and was killed instantly as Borzakovskiy's vehicle struck the man head-on. Borzakovskiy is said to be back in strong training after recovering from minor injuries suffered from the car accident.
The Borzakovskiy family have one child, Yaroslav, who came to the world in 2005 November.
Born 1981-April-12 in Kratovo, Russia, Borzakovskiy trains under Russian coach Vyacheslav Evstratov, who also coaches Dmitry Bogdanov, Russia's other premiere male 800m runner.
Yuri Borzakovskiy's Portfolio:
- 200m: 22,56
- 400m: 45,84 Tula, 2000
- 800m: 1.42,47 Bruxelles, 2001 (24,45 - 26,44 - 25,46 - 26,12)
- 800m ind: 1.44,15 Sindelfingen, 2001
- 1.000m: 2.17,40 Nice, 2000
- 1.500m: 3.43,36 Moscow, 2003
- World Junior Indoor record holder, 1.44,35, Karlsruhe, 2000
- European U-23 record holder, 1.42,47, Bruxelles, 2001
- European Junior record holder, 1.44,33, Sydney, 2000
- Russian record holder 1.42,47, Bruxelles, 2001
- Russian indoor record holder, 1.44,15, Karlsruhe, 2001
- Gold, Olympic Games, Athens, 2004
- Gold World Indoor Championships, Lisbon, 2001
- Gold, European Indoor Championships, Gent, 2000
- Gold, European U23 Championships 400m, Amsterdam, 2001
- Gold, European Junior Championships, Riga, 1999
- Gold, World Youth Games, Moscow, 1998
- Silver, IAAF World Championships, Helsinki, 2005
- Silver, IAAF World Championships, Paris, 2003
- Silver, IAAF Grand Prix Final, Melbourne, 2001
- Silver, European Championships 4x400m, München, 2002
- Bronze, IAAF World Indoor Championships, Moscow, 2006
- Winner, European Cup Super League, Annecy, 2002
- Winner, European Cup Super League, Paris, 1999
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