Ivan Tskikhan

Ivan Tsikhan

Tsikhan at the 2007 World Championships
Personal information
Native name	Іван Рыгоравіч Ціхан
Full name	Ivan Ryhoravich Tsikhan
Nationality	Belarusian
Born	24 July 1976 (1976-07-24) (age 41) Hloŭsievičy, Slonim District, Soviet Union
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	110 kg (243 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Hammer throw
Club	Dynamo Hrodna
Coached by	Sergey Litvinov
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	84.51 m (2008)
Medal record Representing  Belarus Olympic Games Disqualified 2004 Athens Hammer 2008 Beijing Hammer 2016 Rio de Janeiro Hammer World Championships 2003 Paris Hammer Disqualified 2005 Helsinki Hammer 2007 Osaka Hammer European Championships 2016 Amsterdam Hammer Disqualified 2006 Gothenburg Hammer IAAF World Cup in Athletics 2006 Athens Hammer IAAF World Athletics Final Disqualified 2005 Monaco Hammer 2007 Stuggart Hammer Disqualified 2004 Monaco Hammer 2006 Stuggart Hammer 2003 Monaco Hammer Universiade 2003 Daegu Hammer

Ivan Ryhoravich Tsikhan (born 24 July 1976) is a Belarusian hammer thrower. He is a two-time world champion and an Olympic medalist.

Tsikhan was born in the village of Hloŭsievičy, Slonim district, Grodno Region, Belarusian SSR. He now lives in Grodno. His wife Volha is also an athlete, a discus thrower. Ivan and Volha have one son, Ivan. Tsikhan was coached by the former Olympic champion Sergey Litvinov.

Tsikhan competed at his first World Championships in 1997, but without reaching the final. He also failed to do so at the 1998 European Championships, but finished tied for third in the final at the 2000 Olympic Games. He was ranked fourth because he did not have a superior second best. He then finished sixth at the 2001 Summer Universiade and ninth at the 2002 European Championships, and competed at the 2001 World Championships without reaching the final.

The year 2003 was Tsikhan's break out season. He surpassed the 80-metre barrier for the first time. He became world champion for the first time in 2003 in Paris, with a throw of 83.03 meters. He won the 2003 Summer Universiade, and finished third at the inaugural World Athletics Final. He had a best of 84.32 metres, achieved in August in Minsk.