Victor Kovalenko

Victor Kovalenko (; born 5 August 1950) is a Ukrainian sailor and coach, now the head coach of the Australian Olympic Sailing Team. Referred to as "the Medal Maker", Kovalenko has coached men and women sailors to 11 medals, seven of those gold, in Olympic Games, beginning in 1988.

Biography Kovalenko was born in Dnipro (then Dnipropetrovsk), Ukrainian SSR, on 5 August 1950. His nickname was Flint.

Kovalenko's competitive career ended in 1984 when USSR boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics.

His aim is to coach at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after his wife said "Victor, you have to do Tokyo because you can’t finish your coaching career with a silver medal, you have to complete the job". A film about Kovalenko based on Roger Vaughn's biographical book about him of the same name Launch of 'The Medal Maker' – The story of Victor Kovalenko is currently being shot in different parts of the world.

Personal life In 1978, Kovalenko met his wife, Tatiana Savenkova. A track athlete who ran the 400 meters, Savenkova was a coach before becoming an elementary school teacher. They are parents of one son, Vladimir, and have one grand daughter. Order of Merit (Ukraine) 2021 Four medals from USSR and Ukrainian governments Member, Sport Australia Hall of Fame- 2013 Inaugural member, Australian Sailing Hall of Fame – 2017 Member, 470 class Hall of Fame Member, ISAF Coach's Commission Vice-President, International Coaches Association Honorary member, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Royal Tasmania Yacht Club, Sandringham Yacht Club, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Middle Harbor Yacht Club, Monaco Yacht Club Ambassador, Australia Day – 2000, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2025