Mait Riisman (23 September 1956 – 17 May 2018) was an Estonian water polo player who played for the Soviet Union national water polo team, winning the gold medal in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.[1][2][3]

Mait Riisman
Personal information
Born(1956-09-23)September 23, 1956
Tallinn, Estonia
DiedMay 17, 2018(2018-05-17) (aged 61)
Moscow, Russia
Sport
SportWater polo
Medal record
Representing the  Soviet Union
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1980 Moscow Team competition

Playing career

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Riisman started playing water polo in 1966 at Kalev Swimming School in Tallinn. In 1974, he moved to Moscow and continued training in the Moscow State University's team and in the Soviet Union team. Riisman was a member of the Moscow State University team 1974–83, Torpedo Moscow 1983–84 and Dynamo Moscow 1984–88.[4]

Riisman won the gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1976. At Soviet Union's championships he won four gold medals (1979, 1985–87) four silver medals (1975, 1977, 1980, 1981) and a bronze medal (1976).[4]

Coaching career

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In 1989-91, Riisman was the water polo coach of Dynamo Moscow and the second coach of the Soviet Union team. From 1991 to 1996, he worked as a coach of the French club Racing Club de France, the team won silver (1994) and bronze (1993) at the French championship. From 1996 to 2004, Riisman was the head coach of the Dynamo Moscow water polo team, winning the European Cup Winners' Cup (1999–2000) and became the champion of Russia four times (1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02). From 1997–2000, Riisman was also the second coach of the Russian water polo team. In 2005, Riisman was elected as the chairman of the Council of Coaches of the Russian Water Polo Federation. From 2001 to 2011, he was the president and general manager of the Dynamo Moscow water polo club, and later an adviser to the president. Riisman was an honorary member of the Estonian Olympic Committee (2002) and in 2006 he received the EOC honorary medal.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Mait Riisman". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Mait Riisman Olympic Profile". Database Olympics. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  3. ^ John Nauright; Charles Parrish (2012). Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice. ABC-CLIO. p. 201. ISBN 978-1-59884-300-2. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Lahkus olümpiavõitja Mait Riisman" (in Estonian). Delfi. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
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