Famous people of Belarus

Famous people of Belarus

Victoria Azarenka

 

• Victoria Azarenka was born in 1989 in Minsk, Belarus. She began playing tennis at age 7, and played her first professional match in 2003. She landed on the WTA top 100 in 2006 and nabbed her first Grand Slam title in 2012. At the 2012 Olympics in London, Azarenka won the gold medal in mixed doubles with Max Mirnyi, and the bronze medal in women's singles. In 2012, Azarenka made it to the final round of the US Open, but lost American Serena Williams.

 

Early Life

Victoria Azarenka was born on July 31, 1989 in Minsk, Belarus. She has one brother, and her parents Fedor and Alla Azarenka nicknamed her "Vika." Azarenka began playing tennis at age 7 when her mother, who was working at the tennis club at the time, handed her a racket and suggested she hit a ball against a wall to keep her entertained and out of trouble. She was instantly hooked, and soon decided that she wanted to play professionally.

At age 15, she moved from Belarus to Scottsdale, Arizona, to train. She was aided by the famous NHL goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and his wife, who are friends of her mother's.

 

 

Career

Azarenka played the first game of her professional career in 2003. In 2005, she won the Junior Australian Open and the Junior US Open, becoming the first Belorussian woman to be named an ITF junior world champion. That same year, she won her first ITF Women's Circuit title in Luxembourg. In 2006, Azarenka landed on the WTA's Top 100 list. Over the next few years, she continued to climb in the ranks.

In 2009, Azarenka defeated Marion Bartoli to win the Brisbane International title. At the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, she became the sixth teenage female singles champion in the event's history, beating Serena Williams in the final.

Although Azarenka won the Bank of the West Classic in 2010, she had a difficult year overall. She retired from a number of games due to injuries, and at the US Open, she collapsed on the court in the seventh game. She was diagnosed with a concussion that she sustained after tripping during a warm-up exercise and hitting her head on the ground. In 2011, Azarenka won the Sony Ericsson Open, and she climbed to No. 3 after the US Open.

 

Azarenka started 2012 off strong, winning her ninth WTA title at Sydney, then defeating Maria Sharapova in the finals at the Australian Open to win her first Grand Slam title. Her ranking jumped from No. 3 to No. 1 on January 30, 2012, making her the first player to skip the No. 2 slot on the way to No. 1. She also qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where she won the gold medal in mixed doubles with Max Mirnyi, as well as the bronze medal in women's singles. Azarenka's win was the first tennis medal ever for earned for Belarus.

Later that year, Azarenka was named the top seed of the US Open. There, she made it to the final round in women's singles, but lost (2-6, 6-2, 5-7) to American Serena Williams, who was ranked No. 4 at the time.

 

Alexander Hleb's Biography  

 

Alexander Hleb was born on May 1st 1981, in Minsk.

He is a Belarusian international footballer and generally plays on the right side of midfield.

In 2000 Hleb joined German side VFB Stuttgart from BATE Borisov.

In 2005, however, after establishing himself as one of the most important players in the Stuttgart side, Arsenal came in with a £10m offer and secured Alexander Hleb's services.

 

Alexander Hleb is widely considered one of the most talented attacking midfielders in Europe. Known for his superb speed and determination, Hleb is particularly skilled at at taking players on with the ball at his feet.

There had been some criticism of Hleb's goalscoring rate. In November 2007, Hleb told The Times:

"Last season, the manager and my agent, Nikolai Spilevski, both told me I should shoot more often. I would often pass the ball when I had a chance to score myself. Now I am going for goal more often and it’s producing results."

Hleb had been quickly off the mark for The Gunners scoring on his debut for Arsenal in a friendly against Barnet in July 2005.

 

Alexander Hleb's official debut for Arsenal was against Chelsea in the Community Shield on August 7, 2005.

Alexander Hleb went on to be an important of the Arsenal team making a valuable contribution to their famously attractive build-up play.

In July 2008, Alexander Hleb was transferred to Barcelona for an estimated £11.9m.

In 2009/10 Alexander Hleb was on loan to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga and in the 2010/11 season he was loaned out to Birmingham in the Premiership

Darya Domracheva

 

Domracheva was born in 1986 in Minsk in a family of architects. After 4 years with his parents went to the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, the city is under construction Nyagan, the chief architect of which was my mother Daria.Daria was very active, managed to work out dancing and basketball  
, and in 1992, following his older brother, began to engage in a ski racing coach Doroshenko, Andrey Fedorovich.The proposal to try in biathlon Dasha liked immediately. In 1998, Victor R. Postnikov. school was opened in Nyagan biathlon, and the name was listed Domracheva among the first of its pupils.Since 1999 we started practicing biathlon Daria the coach Albert Musin Vakilovicha.,

Was one of the most talented skiers and biathletes.In 2001, the year included the Darya in the junior team of the Khanty-MansiyskogoAvtonomnogo District, under the guidance of coach Novikov Mikhail Semenovich.And in 2003, she won the junior team in Russia their first medal in international competitions (silver in the mixed relay at the European Olympic Youth Days).Despite the fact that most of the time spent in the Daria training and competition, she managed to learn in Economics and Law class of the Academic Gymnasium, the good and excellent finish high school and 2 courses of Tyumen State University majoring in sports management.Not looking for permanent residence while in Nyagan, Dasha never forgot the city where it was born.Dasha spent every holiday in Minsk, which she loved since childhood.2004 - moving to Minsk2009-Diploma of higher education on a specialty "Economy and management of tourism," the Belarusian State Economic University., 2009. - Admission to BSEU the second degree in "Commercial Law"Biathlon careerOnce, for family reasons, in the spring of 2004, Darya arrived in Minsk, where he received an offer from head coach of the women's team(Zakharov Nikolai Fedorovich.) Stand for Belarus.Daria agreed, because playing for his native country was her dream and moved from Nyagan, starting to train with the national team of Belarus.Then, about six months, had to seek the right to advocate for Belarus, not Russia, the decisive factor was the Belarusian birth certificate.The first major international launch for the national team of Belarus became the World Junior Championships in 2005, where the first race (individual) was40th.

On one of the lines fell off diopter, resulting in a third shooting was allowed five misses out of five.However, the next two races - a sprint and pursuit Domracheva wins.A year later, with the same championship Daria took away the bronze for the Pursuit.In the World Cup debut December 1, 2006 (season 2006/07) in the first stage in the Swedish Östersund in the sprint race,showing the 16-th result (becoming the second of the 5-Belarusian athletes). In the junior championship of the world in 2007 it was twicecome in two: in the sprint and pursuit.Season 2006-2007 was the first for Dasha in the adult biathlon. He is considered the most difficult, often giving the answer to the question what will happen next.There are many examples of young athletes who won the junior all that is possible, just in this period and broke.According to the World Cup final (22nd), the transition was successful.Season 2007-2008 was for Daria is not very successful, moving serious food poisoning, she missed an important part of the pre-season trainingwhich immediately affected the results. By the end of the season began to come in the form several times in the top ten hit on the CME.2007-2008 season ended at the 26th position overall in the World Cup. In 2008/09 season began Domracheva regularly get into the top ten on the basis of race. On stage at Oberhof, in a race with mass start with Daria the curious. As head of the race and came second in the firing line first, instead of firing lying down, standing ostrelyalas.Hits were not counted and she had to go the distance. Despite this incident, even in the framework of the 5th World Cup first came to the podium in the individual race - Daria took third place. After that success, followed by two more podium in the sprint and pursuit.The result of the 2008-2009 season for Darya-7th position overall World Cup.Since 2006 till the present time, Daria has been training under the guidance of a coach of women's national team of Belarus Tsibulsky Adrian Alekseevich

 

Max biography

 

Full name is Maxim Nikolaevich Mirnyi…Nicknamed “The Beast” for his size and fearless play…Began playing tennis at age six with his father, Nikolai, who sent his son from Belarus to Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1991 before moving to Bradenton, Fla. in March 1992 to train at IMG-Bollettieri Academy…Also spends part of year in his native Minsk…Speaks two languages (Russian, English) also learning and trying to speak French whenever possible…Plays guitar and likes to listen to classic rock…In 2004, recorded four songs…Considers aggression as best part of his game…Member of Belarus Davis Cup team since April 1994. Brother, Peter (born Aug. 1, 1985), is finishing his degree at USF and enjoyed a college basketball career during his study…Step-brother, Timothy (born Sept. 28, 2000)…Coached by father, Nikolai, who played competitive volleyball in the 60’s … Mother, Tatiana, was a swimmer and held a Balarus national record in 1971 (200 meters butterfly)…

 

In November 2001, received highest State Honorary Title for his achievements in sports by Belarus prime minister…In October 2002, named UN AIDS Ambassador for Belarus…In September 2003, his father released a book entitled, “Mirnyi Tennis,” which translates as “Peaceful Tennis” from Russian, detailing Max’s life and tennis stories throughout his career…In February 2004, after an epic Davis Cup win over Russia, Belarus president awarded him with highest Government Title “Orden Otechestva”… In May 2004, was voted to a four-year term as vice-president of Belarus Tennis Federation. From April 2006 until current serves as a UNICEF Good Will Ambassador for Belarus. Completed his International Law degree at the Belarus State University in July 2008…

Wife, Ksenia (nicknamed Ksusha) married July 10, 2004 in Minsk; daughters, Melanie (born Dec. 16, 2004) and Petra (born Mar. 08, 2007), son Demid (born Nov. 10, 2009).

 

Career Highlights

2011 – The Belarus native reunited full-time with Nestor, after a brief partnership in 2000, capturing 4 titles in 7 finals, including Grand Slam crown at Roland Garros (d. Cabal-Schwank) and title at Barclays ATP World Tour Finals…Won their 1st title together in Memphis (d. Butorac-Rojer)…Also won in Shanghai (d. Llodra-Zimonjic)…Runner-up in 3 events, including Miami (l. to Bhupathi-Paes)…In Grand Slam play, compiled a 12-3 mark with SF at Australian Open (l. to Bhupathi-Paes), title at Roland Garros, 2R at Wimbledon and US Open…

2010 – The Belarus native finished in Top 10 in doubles for first time in four years at No. 7…Teamed with Bhupathi for first time since ‘04 and reached final at Barclays ATP World Tour Finals (l. to Nestor-Zimonjic)…They were 1-5 in finals, reaching three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title matches…Started 1-4 before advancing to final in Miami* (l. to Dlouhy-Paes)…Also runner-up in Monte-Carlo* (Bhupathi retired with left leg injury in second set of final vs. Nestor-Zimonjic)…Reached SF in Toronto*, final in Cincinnati* (l. to Bryan-Bryan) and SF in New Haven…In November, reached three straight finals in Valencia (l. to Murray-Murray), Paris* (d. Knowles-A. Ram) to improve title streak to 12 straight years before closing with runner-up in season finale in London…

 

2009 - The Belarusian played with Andy Ram for the first time, reaching finals at three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London (l. to Bryans)…Reached Indian Wells* final (l. to Fish-Roddick 14-12 in Match TB) and captured Miami* title…Did not advance to SF or better in next six tournaments before reaching final in Montreal*…Reached US Open SF…Finished as No. 5 team and No. 11 individually…

2008 - The Belarus native captured two ATP doubles titles in three finals while reaching two other SF…In February, captured title in Delray Beach (w/J. Murray) with win over Bryan brothers…One month later, reached SF at AMS Indian Wells…Split with Murray after US Open and went 8-3 in final month…Won title in Vienna (w/Ram) and reached final in St. Petersburg (w/Bopanna)…During summer, did not play for six weeks in order to complete his degree from Belarus State University, majoring in International Law…Worked on degree for past five years…

2007 – Finished out of Top 100 in singles for first time since 1998 but continued to succeed in doubles with partner Jonas Bjorkman…Best singles results were QF in Doha and 3rd RD at AMS Monte Carlo and Queen’s…In doubles, qualified for Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai (w/Bjorkman) and went 1-2 in round robin action…Captured lone title in Stockholm and runner-up at Australian Open (l. to Bryans)…Also SF at AMS Indian Wells, Queen’s and AMS Madrid along with QF at Roland Garros…Finished No. 7 in ATP Doubles Race and No. 16 individually…At US Open, captured third career mixed doubles Grand Slam crown (w/Azarenka).

 

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