Athens, 24 August 2004, Games of the XXVIII Olympiad. Aquatics, men's diving: Dmitri SAUTIN of Russia competes in the springboard individual semifinal event at the Olympic Aquatic Centre. Credit: Getty Images/Daniel BerehulakBorn: 15 March 1974
Birthplace: Voronezh (Russian Federation)
Nationality: Russian Federation
Sport: Aquatics
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Barcelona 1992
Atlanta 1996
Sydney 2000
Athens 2004
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 2
Silver: 1
Bronze: 4
Seven Diving Medals
Dmitri Sautin was directed into diving by a school coach when he was seven years old. At the age of seventeen, he was badly wounded when he was stabbed at a bus stop. Yet the following year Sautin competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, earning a bronze medal in the springboard event and placing sixth in the platform. He arrived at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics as the favourite in both events, but he finished a disappointing fifth in the springboard. However, he rebounded four days later by earning the gold medal in the platform. Synchronized diving was added to the Olympic programme in 2000, and Sautin took advantage by entering all four men's diving events. He would eventually win medals in all four. After teaming with Igor Loukachine to win the synchronized platform contest, Sautin competed in the individual springboard. He was in second place after the semifinals and led throughout most of the final, but slipped back to third place when he missed his last dive. Two days later he and his partner, Aleksandr Dobroskok, earned silver medals in the synchronized springboard, and, finally, Sautin took the bronze medal in the individual platform. At the age of thirty, Sautin took part in the 2004 Athens Olympics. He placed seventh in synchronized springboard and then participated in his final Olympic competition: the individual springboard. In fourth place after the semifinals, Sautin quickly moved up into medal position and held on to earn the bronze medal. With a career total of seven medals (two gold, one silver and four bronze), he has won more medals than any diver in Olympic history.
