Wladimir Klitschko — boxer with roots in the USSR
Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian professional boxer born in Semipalatinsk (Kazakhstan, USSR) who unified the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles and held them for nearly a decade — one of the most dominant championship runs in boxing history. He has a PhD in sports science and is the younger brother of Vitali.
Tracing the roots — Semipalatinsk (Kaz)
Born in Semipalatinsk (Kazakh SSR) in 1976 — the city adjacent to the Soviet nuclear test site — Wladimir grew up in the Soviet military family alongside his brother Vitali. His extraordinary longevity as heavyweight champion, his PhD, and his relationship with actress Hayden Panettiere made him one of sport's most recognisable figures.
Semipalatinsk (Kaz). At the time, this region was one of the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union.