Vladimir Bure

Vladimir Valeryevich Bure (, 4 December 1950 – 3 September 2024) was a Russian and Soviet freestyle swimmer and a fitness coach for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. Bure was the father of retired NHL players Pavel and Valeri Bure.

USSR Bure competed for the Soviet Union at the 1968, 1972, and 1976 Olympics and won four medals: one in the individual 100 m and three in the relay. Additionally, Bure was a two-time European champion as well as a 17-time Soviet champion. He also won two silver medals at the 1973 and 1975 World Championships.

Vladimir married Tatiana Bure and they had two sons born in Moscow: Pavel born on 31 March 1971 and Valeri born on 13 June 1974.

North America In 1991, Vladimir and his sons Pavel and Valeri moved to North America. They settled initially in Los Angeles where Vladimir continued to train and coach both Valeri and Pavel in hockey and physical conditioning until Pavel embarked on a National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Vancouver Canucks. However both sons became estranged from their father, along with his second wife Julia, and their half-sister Katya,

Vladimir joined Pavel, spending four seasons (1994 to 1998) as a fitness consultant with the Vancouver Canucks. In the summer of 1999 he joined the New Jersey Devils as fitness consultant. He won the Stanley Cup twice with New Jersey, in 2000 and 2003. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 2003.