SERGEI
KHARKOV
Birthday: November 17, 1970
Birthplace:Moscow, Russia
Club: TV Dillingen
Nickname: Serjo, Serjodja
INTERNARTIONAL RESULTS:
1988 1st with the team (USSR) and on FX in Olympic Games
1993 2nd in AA in World Championships
1996 1st with the team (RUS) in Olympic Games
1997 4th on PB in World Championships
NATIONAL RESULTS:
1995 National Champion on FX, Vault, PB, 3rd in AA,
1997 National Champion in AA, 2nd on PB, 3rd on Rings
1998 National Champion on Vault, 2nd on PB, HB, 3rd on FX, Rings
In 1997, finally as German, Sergei competed World championships. While his former-soviet teammate Valeri Belenki won gold at pommel horse, Sergei ended up with 4th at pararrel bars. "....But I'm No.1 in Europe!" he said proudly, placing after 2 Chinese and 1 Japanese.
"I've been willing to live anywhere in Europe. In Russia there's no job opportunity. You can earn money winning prize at meet. But what if you once injured or get old and can't compete anymore? So I want to go somewhere my life is guaranteed. At that time Eberhardt Gienger suggested me to live in Germany." So in 1993 Sergei started new life in Dillingen, the city near the border of France, with his wife Tatiana (Tanja). Sergei works there as sport teacher of school. "I'm really general sport teacher. So sometimes I teach children swimming or handball."
LIFE
IS EASY...OR NOT?Like him, is it possible that other Russians compete for German? "No. I don't think so. In fact, I still hold Russian passport and need more procedure to change it. It's very hard. Knowing that, I never suggest my old friends to live in Germany. To compete is OK, like for Bundesliga. But to live is really hard."
So Sergei often murmers and complain the life. But it's not his real intention. He Receives invitation from Russian restaurant, offers of appearance in exhibition besides his regular work that contracted for 25 years. In fact he enjoys this enriched life in Germany.
On 17. September 1995 his first son Alexander Sergevich (Sascha) was born.
Now Tanja taking full care of her baby at house. "She could work here, too. But as our parents live in Russia, here's nobody looks after our child" says Kharkov.
photos and text by
Katja Pfeilinsel
Redistribution without permission is prohibited.
Verbreitung ohne Erlaubnis ist verboten.
