Famous People Born In Minsk

Alexander Rybak is a Belarusian-Norwegian singer-composer, violinist, and pianist. The son of two talented musicians, he began to play musical instruments when he was just five. He studied at the Barratt Due Institute of Music before beginning his career. Besides being a musician, he is also an actor and has appeared in many TV shows and films. 

Known as the Belarusian Swan, Svetlana Boginskaya started off as a figure skater before moving on to gymnastics at age 6. By 14, she was part of the Soviet national gymnastics team. The three-time Olympic champion is now settled in Texas and owns businesses that provide gymnastics camps and apparel.

Retired Belarusian artistic gymnast Vitaly Scherbo became the only male gymnast to win a world title in all 8 events. He has also won 6 gold medals in the Olympics and was the first person to win 4 gold medals in one day. The Scherbo vault has been named after him.

Belarusian tennis player Ilya Ivashka has had a career-high singles ranking of 40 and is currently the number 1 singles player in his country. He was part of the group of Belarusian and Russian players who were banned by Wimbledon in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The daughter of a basketball player mother and a hockey and tennis player father, Aliaksandra Sasnovich began playing tennis at age 9. She reached the 2019 US Open semi-finals and has had a career-best singles ranking of 30. She was banned from Wimbledon in 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Belarusian former tennis-player Natallia Zvierava, counted among the best doubles-players of all-time, won 18 Grand Slam doubles-titles, including six at French Open; five at Wimbledon, four at US Open and three at Australian Open. She attained World No.1 doubles ranking in October 1991. Zvierava also won two mixed-doubles title at Australian Open and bronze in doubles at the 1992 Olympics.

At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Belarusian biathlete Darya Domracheva scripted history as the first female biathlete to win 3 titles at the same Olympic, winning 3 gold medals. She has won 3 more Olympic medals and 6 World Championship medals. While she initially represented Russia, she later switched to Belarus.

Maryna Linchuk is a Belarusian model who came into prominence after appearing in advertisements for popular brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Dior, and Escada. Renowned for her association with Vogue, Linchuk was named in Vogue Paris' top 30 models of the 2000s list. She has also walked the ramp for designers like Gucci, Prada, Michael Kors, and Louis Vuitton.

Russian–American actor and director Yevgeni Lazarev is best known for appearing in notable Hollywood films like The Sum of All Fears, Iron Man 2, and Lord of War. Recipient of several honours including the title of People's Artist of Russia, Lazarev served as professor at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts and at the Moscow Art Theatre Studio School.

Nicknamed The Red Scorpion, Belarusian heavyweight kickboxer and retired mixed martial artist Alexey Ignashov has won the Muay Thai World Championship 4 times. He trained at the Chinuk Gym for over a decade and is now based in Auckland, New Zealand. He is known for his signature knee strikes.

Belarusian professional basketball-player Artsiom Parakhouski became Big South Player of the Year twice and NCAA rebounding leader once during his college-career. He commenced his professional career in 2010 and achieved several feats playing for different teams. These include winning King Mindaugas Cup Finals (2019) with Rytas Vilnius and becoming King Mindaugas Cup MVP; and winning ABA League Supercup (2019) with Partizan.  

Soviet Greco-Roman wrestler Mark Slavin had chosen wrestling as a means to defend himself against anti-Semitic attacks. He moved to Israel 4 months before the Munich Olympics and represented Israel in the event. At 18, he was the youngest victim of the Munich massacre and died during a failed rescue attempt.

Belarusian tennis player Olga Govortsova has had a career-high ranking of 35 in singles and 24 in doubles. She has played for the Springfield Lasers and the Sacramento Capitals in the mixed-gender tennis league World TeamTennis. She has also competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Melitina Staniouta is a Belarusian former individual rhythmic gymnast. She represented Belarus in World Championships and European Championships where she won many silver and bronze medals. Melitina Staniouta is perhaps best known for winning two gold medals at the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia.

Retired Belarusian rhythmic gymnast Katsiaryna Halkina has won numerous medals, including 4 silver medals at both the World and European Championships. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, she had scored 6th in the individual all-around final. Post-retirement, she moved to Moscow, where she joined a master’s degree.

Belarusian professional tennis player Egor Alekseyevich Gerasimov made his ATP main draw debut in 2014 and won his first Grand Slam match at the 2019 US Open. On February 24, 2020, he attained his career high ATP singles ranking of World No. 65 and on March 2, 2015, he attained his career high ATP doubles ranking of World No. 263.

Aliaksandra Herasimenia is a Belarusian retired swimmer best known for winning two silver medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. At the 2016 Olympics, she won a bronze medal in the 50 metre freestyle event. Aliaksandra Herasimenia has also won gold medals at World Championships and European Championships.

Vera Lapko is a Belarusian tennis player who has won several singles and doubles titles on the ITF Circuit so far. She also competes in Grand Slam events and has represented her country in important tournaments like the Billie Jean King Cup.

Jerzy Giedroyc was a Polish political activist and writer. He also served for several years as the editor of the influential literary-political magazine, Kultura. The magazine was so influential that it helped lay the groundwork for Poland's eastern policy after the downfall of communism. Today, his name is synonymous with Kultura.

Belarusian tennis player Victoria Azarenka has been a 2-time Australian Open champion, scripting history as the first Belarusian player to earn a Grand Slam singles title. She is also a 3-time US Open finalist and has a mixed-doubles gold and a singles bronze at the Olympics.

Iryna Shymanovich is a Belarusian professional tennis player who won the silver medal in the girls' singles event at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. She has also represented Belarus in important tournaments like the Billie Jean King Cup. Iryna Shymanovich also competes on the ITF Women's Circuit, where she has won many titles.

Belarusian chess player Sergei Zhigalko received the FIDE title of Grandmaster in 2007. His achievements as a player so far include winning Under 14 division at World Youth Chess Championships and European Youth Chess Championships in 2003; Under 18 division at European Youth Championships in 2006; the Belarusian Chess Championship thrice (2009, 2012, 2013) and Baku Open twice (2011, 2012).

Hanna Kanapatskaya is a Belarusian politician, lawyer, entrepreneur, and former MP. She achieved popularity in 2020 when she ran in the presidential elections. Hanna Kanapatskaya is also popular for leading a political campaign that condemns the Russian interference in the political affairs of Belarus.

Siarhei Rutenka is a Belarusian retired handball player who also played for the Slovenia national handball team from 2004 to 2007, apart from playing for the Belarus national team. While representing Slovenia in 2006 at the European Men's Handball Championship, Rutenka was the top goalscorer of the tournament. Rutenka also played for popular clubs like FC Barcelona and Arkatron Minsk.

Retired Belarusian tennis player Olga Barabanschikova had a career-high ranking of 49 in singles. A 2-time Olympian, she achieved her best Grand Slam performance in 2000, when she reached the last 16 at Wimbledon. After a tendon injury ended her career, she took to sports broadcasting on TV.

Alexander Hleb is a Belarusian retired football player who played as a midfielder for the Belarus national team from 2001 to 2019. Renowned for his agility, dribbling, and passing ability, Hleb was named Belarusian Footballer of the Year on six occasions. He also played for popular clubs like Arsenal and Barcelona, winning the 2009 UEFA Champions League with the latter.

Maksim Bahdanovič was a Belarusian poet, translator, journalist, historian of literature, and literary critic. Widely regarded as one of the progenitors of modern Belarusian literature, Bahdanovič was the first poet to bring several new lyrical forms into Belarusian literature. Maksim Bahdanovič is also remembered for translating the works of famous poets like Paul Verlaine, Alexander Pushkin, Heinrich Heine, and Horace.

Hanna Huskova is a Belarusian professional freestyle skier who specializes in aerials. She is best known for winning the gold medal in the women's aerials event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Hanna Huskova also won a silver medal at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. 

Part of the bronze-winning team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Alexander Artemev is the son of former Soviet gymnasts Vladimir and Svetlana Artemev. Competing for the US, he scripted history by becoming the first male gymnast from the county to earn a world pommel horse medal since 1979.

Olga Dihovichnaya is a Belarusian-born Russian actress, director, and producer. After starting her career as a TV host, Dihovichnaya went on to establish herself as a successful actress and director. Olga Dihovichnaya is also credited with directing many documentaries.

Vladimir Samsonov is a Belarusian retired table tennis player. Renowned for his superb all-around style, Samsonov took part in six successive Olympic Games between 1996 and 2016. Samsonov is also known for winning the Table Tennis World Cup thrice and the European Championship on six occasions. He also won two silver medals and one bronze medal at the World Championships.

Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has had a career-high singles ranking of 2. She has 2 Grand Slam doubles titles in her kitty and is the current world number 1 in doubles. Her unique tiger tattoo on her left arm has earned her the nickname The Tiger.

Apart from winning an Olympic silver medal, retired Belarusian rhythmic gymnast Yulia Raskina has also been a 2-time European champion. Born to sports-loving parents, she began training at age 7. She has also been part of Cirque du Soleil's Corteo and now serves as the coach of the German national rhythmic gymnastic team.

Belarusian former tennis player Max Mirnyi, a doubles specialist, won ten grand slam titles including two US Open titles and four French Open titles in doubles; and three US Open titles and one Wimbledon title in mixed-doubles. He attained World No.1 doubles ranking in June 2003. His achievements also include winning gold in mixed doubles at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Lidziya Marozava is a Belarusian professional tennis player who achieved popularity in 2015 when she won the gold medal in the mixed doubles event at the Summer Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea. Lidziya Marozava has also represented her country at the Billie Jean King Cup.

Bolshevik revolutionary Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, also known as Iron Felix, was born into a Polish noble family. Though Lenin considered him a hero, he often disagreed with Lenin’s views. He had been the director of Cheka. He died of a heart attack after finishing a 2-hour speech.