The Flying Elephant: Memoirs of an Olympic Champion is a 514-page English Kindle memoir by Alexander Savin, the Soviet volleyball middle blocker who won Olympic silver in 1976 and gold in 1980. Amazon lists it with a 26 October 2025 publication date. It suits readers who want an insider’s account of Soviet-era volleyball, not a standard motivational sports book.
Search this title and you will hit a wall of pages describing a flying animal, an aerial sport or a gymnast. None of that is true. The “flying elephant” is a nickname for a 200 cm volleyball player. I checked the facts below against primary sources so you do not have to sift through the noise.
Alexander Savin: The Verified Career Record
| Detail | Verified fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Born | 1 July 1957, Taganrog | Olympedia |
| Height and club | 200 cm, CSKA Moskva | Olympedia |
| 1976 Montreal Olympics | Silver, Soviet Union | Olympedia |
| 1980 Moscow Olympics | Gold, played all six matches | Wikipedia, Olympedia |
| Other titles | 1977 and 1981 World Cup, 1978 and 1982 World Championship | Wikipedia |
| Hall of Fame | Inducted 22 October 2010 | International Volleyball Hall of Fame |
| Coach on the national team | Yuri Tchesnokov | Hall of Fame profile |
Myth check from my desk: Some competitor pages credit Savin with “six World League titles between 1975 and 1985.” As far as I know, the FIVB World League did not exist until 1990, so I left that claim out. Treat any page repeating it with caution.
The Flying Elephant Memoirs of an Olympic Champion Amazon Kindle: Listing Details
These details come from the Amazon.in listing. Features can differ slightly by regional store.
| Attribute | Listing detail |
|---|---|
| Title | The Flying Elephant: Memoirs of an Olympic Champion |
| Author | Alexander Savin |
| Editor and translator | Andrei Savine |
| Co-editor | Julia Savine |
| Introduction | Peter Murphy |
| Translator | Alfredo Cabero |
| Print length | 514 pages |
| File size | 68.8 MB |
| ASIN | B0FXVDWW16 |
| Reader features | Screen Reader, Enhanced Typesetting, Word Wise, Page Flip |
| X-Ray | Not enabled |
Amazon’s tagline calls it a candid memoir that runs “from Olympic glory to coaching wisdom.” That wording suggests the story continues well past his playing days, which is where many sports memoirs stop.
Reading It on Kindle: What Actually Matters
The 68.8 MB file is big for a text book. Several reviewers attribute that to roughly 240 embedded photographs. I could not confirm that count from Amazon’s own snippet, so use Look Inside to judge the image content yourself.
Because of the image weight, a tablet or the Kindle app on a large phone will show the archive photos better than a basic e-ink device. Page Flip lets you skim ahead without losing your place, which helps in a book this long.
Note that X-Ray is not enabled. There is no built-in character tracker, and a memoir full of Soviet-era names can blur. I keep a short note of teammates and coaches while reading.
If you use the Screen Reader on a commute, a pair of noise-cancelling wireless earbuds makes long sessions far more comfortable.
Buying the Flying Elephant Memoirs of an Olympic Champion Kindle Edition Amazon: Step by Step
- Search the exact title. Use “The Flying Elephant Memoirs of an Olympic Champion” and add the author name, since similar titles exist.
- Confirm the ASIN. The listing should show B0FXVDWW16 under product details.
- Send the free sample. Check how the photos render on your device before paying.
- Check price and subscription status. Look for a Kindle Unlimited badge on your regional store. Price and availability change, so I will not quote them.
- Read on any screen. The free Kindle app works on phone, tablet and computer.
What the Memoir Offers Beyond a Medal List
The strongest draw is the setting. Savin played under Yuri Tchesnokov, a Hall of Fame coach, and the Hall of Fame notes he formed one of the most dominant setter-hitter pairs in the game with teammate Vyacheslav Zaytsev. A first-person account of that partnership is hard to find in English.
The 1980 gold also carries context. The Moscow Games took place after the US-led boycott, which kept many nations away. Reviewers say Savin addresses that directly. I have not read every chapter, so judge that from the sample.
Why the Nickname Fits
The nickname is widely credited to the Italian sports press. It describes a very tall, heavy-looking middle blocker who still got off the floor fast enough to shut down attacks at the net. Heavy and airborne in the same breath. It is a sporting nickname, not a literal story, and that clears up most of the confusion online.
Who Should Read It (and Who Might Skip It)
| Reader type | Fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Volleyball players and coaches | Strong | Training culture and team structure from the inside |
| Cold War and Olympic history readers | Strong | First-person view of the 1976 and 1980 Games |
| General motivation readers | Moderate | Lessons are there, but it is long and detailed |
| Readers wanting a quick weekend book | Weak | 514 pages is a real commitment |
If you enjoy athlete legacy profiles in other sports, our piece on the strategic legacy of Ryota Murata in professional boxing pairs well with this one.
My practical tip: Spend five minutes on Savin’s Hall of Fame biography before chapter one. The names and dates will land faster, and you will get more from the early sections.
FAQ on The flying elephant memoirs of an olympic champion kindle edition alexander savin
Is there an audiobook of The Flying Elephant?
I found no audiobook listing in my checks. Search Audible directly, since catalogs update often.
Do I need a Kindle device to read it?
No. The free Kindle app on a phone, tablet or computer is enough.
Was the book originally written in English?
No. The credits list Andrei Savine and Alfredo Cabero as translators, so the English edition is a translation.
How long does it take to read?
It depends on your pace. My rough estimate is 10 to 12 hours of reading time, though the photo sections will stretch that.
Are there enough reviews to trust the rating?
At the time of the Amazon.in snapshot I saw, it showed 5.0 stars from only two ratings. That is too small a sample to prove much.
Can I gift the Kindle edition?
Amazon generally allows gifting Kindle books by email in most regional stores. Check the option on your store’s listing.
Can I read it without an Amazon account?
Kindle files are tied to Amazon’s ecosystem, so you need an account to buy and sync the book.
