Georgy Shayduko

Georgy Shayduko devoted his whole life to sailing, becoming a world champion and Olympic medallist in Soling. Shayduko began sailing when he was nine at his local yacht club in Nikopol. By 1982 he had become the champion of the USSR in the Flying Dutchman before he switched to compete in Soling, winning a further six Soviet titles (1984–85, 1987–90) and multiple Russian titles. He also enjoyed international success with world Soling titles in 1996 and 1998 and European titles in 1987 and 1990.

Shayduko competed at four Olympic Games where he represented three different NOCs. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics he competed for the Soviet Union, finishing in tenth place. After the breakup of the Soviet Union he represented the Unified Team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in the Flying Dutchman with Viktar Budantsev. For the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics Shayduko competed for Russia, achieving his best result at the Atlanta Games with a silver medal.

For his achievement he was awarded with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, in 1997. From 2004 to 2008 Shayduko was the President of the Russian Dragon Class Yacht Association before heading the All-Russian Sailing Federation from 2010 to 2012.