Valeri Tikhonenko

Valeri Tikhonenko (; born 19 August 1964) is a retired Soviet and Russian professional basketball player and coach. During his playing career, he played at the small forward and power forward positions, with power forward being his main position. He represented both the Soviet Union and Russia in national team competitions. With the Soviet Union, he won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Professional career Tikhonenko was selected by the Atlanta Hawks, in the 7th round of the 1986 NBA draft, with the 157th overall draft pick. During his pro club career, Tikhonenko won three Russian Championships with CSKA Moscow (1998, 1999, 2000).

National team career With the senior Soviet Union national team, Tikhonenko won a gold medal at the 1984 Friendship Games (the alternate tournament to the 1984 Summer Olympics), a gold medal at the 1985 EuroBasket, a silver medal at the 1986 FIBA World Cup, a silver medal at the 1987 EuroBasket, a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics, a bronze medal at the 1989 EuroBasket, and a silver medal at the 1990 FIBA World Cup. He also played at the 1992 Summer Olympics, as a member of the Unified Team).

As a member of Russia's national team, he played at the 1998 FIBA World Cup, where he won a silver medal, and at the 1999 EuroBasket.

Executive career Tikhonenko became the general manager of the Kazakh League club Astana, in 2011.

Personal life Tikhonenko was a lieutenant colonel in the Russian Army.

Orders won USSR Medal "For Distinguished Labour" USSR Order of Friendship of Peoples USSR Order of the Badge of Honor Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1988) Russian Order of Friendship