Denis Pankratov

Denis Pankratov
Pankratov in 2015
Personal information
Full nameДенис Панкратов
Nationality Russia
Born (1974-07-04) 4 July 1974
Volgograd, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight81 kg (179 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesButterfly
ClubCentral Sport Klub Army, Volgograd
Coach Viktor Avdienko
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Russia
Olympic Games
1996 Atlanta100 m butterfly
1996 Atlanta200 m butterfly
1996 Atlanta4x100 m medley
World Championships (LC)
1994 Rome200 m butterfly
1994 Rome4×100 m medley
1994 Rome4×200 m freestyle
1994 Rome100 m butterfly
World Championships (SC)
1997 Gothenburg4×100 m medley
European Championships (LC)
1993 Sheffield200 m butterfly
1993 Sheffield4×100 m medley
1995 Vienna100 m butterfly
1995 Vienna200 m butterfly
1995 Vienna4×100 m medley
1993 Sheffield100 m butterfly

Denis Pankratov (Russian: Денис Панкратов; born 4 July 1974) is a retired Russian butterfly swimmer of the 1990s, who was best known for winning the butterfly double at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States in a unique style. His 100 m butterfly triumph is particularly remembered for his swimming over 25 m of the first lap underwater and then 15 m in the opposite direction, also underwater. Two-time "Swimming World" Swimmer of the Year. In 2004 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF). He trained at the Volgograd club with fellow individual gold medallist at "Swimming World" Swimmer of the Year Yevgeny Sadovyi.