Most sports books talk a lot about winning. They show trophies, medals, and big smiles. The Flying Elephant: Memoirs of an Olympic Champion, written by Alexander Savin, is a bit different. It talks about hard work, hard days, and the price of becoming a champion. In this article, we will look at who Alexander Savin is, what his book is about, and why this memoir is worth your time.
Who Is Alexander Savin?
Alexander Savin, whose full name is Aleksandr Borisovich Savin, is a former volleyball player from the Soviet Union. He was born on July 1, 1957, in the city of Taganrog. When he was young, his family moved to Obninsk, a town in the Kaluga Oblast area of Russia. This is where he grew up and first learned to play sports.
Savin was a very tall man, about 200 centimeters (6 feet 7 inches) in height. On the volleyball court, he played as a middle blocker, wearing the number 3 shirt. Even though he was so tall, he could jump high and move fast. This mix of size and speed made him one of the best volleyball players of his time.
He played for the Soviet Union national team from 1975 to 1986. During these years, he became one of the most decorated volleyball players in the world.
Alexander Savin’s Olympic Journey
Savin’s Olympic story is one of the most exciting parts of his life. He competed at two Olympic Games, and each one tells a different part of his journey.
1976 Montreal Olympics: The Silver Medal
Savin made his Olympic debut at the 1976 Montreal Games. He was still young, but he already played a big role on the team. The Soviet team, led by coach Yuri Tchesnokov, was one of the strongest teams going into the tournament. They came in as favorites after winning the 1975 European Championship.
Savin played in all five matches at Montreal. His team won every match in the pool stage, beating Italy, Bulgaria, and Japan without losing a single set. In the semifinal, they beat Cuba in three sets to move into the final.
In the gold medal match, though, Poland beat the Soviet team in a close five-set battle. So Savin and his team took home the silver medal. It was not the color they wanted, but it was still a strong result for a young player at his first Olympics.
1980 Moscow Olympics: The Gold Medal
Four years later, in 1980, the Olympic Games came to Moscow, the Soviet Union’s own capital city. This time, Savin and his team were ready. After the loss in 1976, they trained harder and studied their mistakes. Savin also added more titles to his name in these years, winning the 1977 European Championship in Finland and the 1979 European Championship in France.
At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the Soviet team finally reached the top of the podium. Savin played in all six matches and helped his team win the gold medal in front of their home crowd. This was the biggest moment of his sports career, and it made him a national hero in the Soviet Union.
More Than Just the Olympics
Savin’s success was not limited to the Olympic Games. Over his long career, he won many other important titles, including:
- Two World Championship gold medals, in 1978 (Italy) and 1982 (Argentina), plus a silver medal in 1986 (France)
- Two FIVB World Cup gold medals, in 1977 and 1981, both held in Japan
- A gold medal at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow
- A gold medal at the 1984 Friendship Games in Havana
- Six European Championship gold medals, won between 1975 and 1985
- A European Junior Championship gold medal in 1975, in the under-20 age group
Because of this long list of wins, Savin is often named as one of the best middle blockers in volleyball history. He is also a member of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, which honors the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
Where Does the Nickname “Flying Elephant” Come From?
The title of the book might sound strange at first. An elephant is big and heavy. It does not seem like something that can fly. But that is exactly the point of the nickname.
Savin was a very large man for a volleyball player. At over six and a half feet tall, he had the size and weight of a powerful athlete. Yet on the court, he could jump high above the net with real grace, almost as if his size did not matter. This surprising mix of power and lightness earned him the nickname “The Flying Elephant.”
The title works well for the book too. It hints at the idea that great things can come from someone people might not expect. It also fits the deeper message of the memoir: that becoming a champion is not simple or easy, even for someone with natural talent.
What Is the Book About?
The Flying Elephant: Memoirs of an Olympic Champion is Savin’s own story, written in his own words. It is not a book written by someone else about him. Instead, it is a personal look back at his life, based on his real memories and experiences.
The book does not just list his wins and medals. Instead, it spends real time on the years of hard training, the doubts he felt, and the teamwork that made his success possible. Readers get an inside look at what life was like as a top athlete in the Soviet sports system, including training camps, team life, and the pressure of playing for his country.
Savin also writes about people who shaped his career, from teammates to coaches. He shares stories from his time with CSKA Moscow, one of the top Soviet sports clubs, and from his years with the national team. Through these stories, the book paints a picture of a whole era in sports history, not just one man’s career.
The Kindle edition of The Flying Elephant makes this story easy to reach for readers all around the world. You do not need a physical copy in your hands. You can read it on a phone, tablet, or e-reader, wherever you are.
Why This Memoir Still Matters Today
Some sports books lose their meaning once the games are over. The Flying Elephant is different because its lessons go beyond the volleyball court. Here are a few reasons why readers still enjoy this memoir decades later.
It shows the real cost of success. Many people only see the medals. Savin shows the years of practice, pain, and sacrifice that came before them. This makes the story feel honest and human.
It values teamwork over personal glory. Instead of making himself the only hero, Savin gives credit to his coaches and teammates. This message about teamwork can matter to anyone working in a group, not just athletes.
It offers a rare look at Soviet sports history. Not many books give such a close and personal view of what it was like to train and compete for the Soviet Union during this period. For readers who love history, this adds extra value to the memoir.
Its lessons apply to daily life. Discipline, mental strength, and the will to keep going after a loss are useful skills for anyone, whether you play sports or not. A student, a coach, or a worker in any field can learn something from Savin’s journey.
Who Should Read The Flying Elephant?
This memoir can appeal to many different kinds of readers. Volleyball fans will enjoy the inside stories about training, teammates, and big matches. Sports historians will find real value in the details about Soviet athletics during the 1970s and 1980s. And even readers who do not follow sports closely may enjoy the story simply because it is about hard work, doubt, and the will to keep trying.
If you like memoirs that go deeper than simple highlight reels, this book may be a good fit for you. It is not about a perfect hero with no struggles. It is about a real person who worked for years to reach the top, lost along the way, and finally found success through patience and teamwork.
Final Thoughts
The Flying Elephant: Memoirs of an Olympic Champion tells the story of Alexander Savin, a man who went from a tall boy in Taganrog to one of the greatest volleyball players of his generation. His path included a hard loss at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and a proud win at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, along with many more titles across his long career.
The book’s title captures who he was on the court: big, powerful, and surprisingly graceful. But the real value of the memoir lies in what it teaches about discipline, teamwork, and staying strong through both wins and losses. For anyone who enjoys honest sports stories, the Kindle edition of The Flying Elephant is well worth adding to your reading list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alexander Savin?
Alexander Savin is a former Soviet volleyball player, born on July 1, 1957, in Taganrog. He played as a middle blocker for the Soviet Union national team and won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and a gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He is also a member of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.
What does the title “The Flying Elephant” mean?
The nickname comes from the contrast between Savin’s large size, at over six and a half feet tall, and his surprisingly light and graceful jump on the volleyball court. The title reflects the idea that something big and powerful can also move with grace, much like Savin’s own journey to becoming a champion.
Is The Flying Elephant Memoirs of an Olympic Champion available on Kindle?
Yes, the memoir is available as a Kindle edition, which lets readers enjoy Alexander Savin’s personal story on a phone, tablet, or e-reader, making it easy to access no matter where you are.
