Sergey Punko (also spelled Sergei, born 10 January 1981 in Navapolatsk) is a formerly Belarusian,^[1] now Russian, Paralympic swimmer. He was born with a progressive eye disease, but had normal sight as a child.^[2] He started swimming at age 10, and competed nationally and internationally in able-bodied competition until he was 21.^[2] By that time, he had less than 5% vision. Classified S12, he began swimming in disability meets in 2002.^[2] He quickly broke long-standing world records, and was named World Disabled Swimmer of the Year in 2003.^[2]

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Sergey Punko

Personal information
Nationality	Russian
Born	(1981-01-10) 10 January 1981 (age 43) Navapolatsk, Belarus
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Club	Youth of Moscow
Coach	Vadim Labokha
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd Paralympic Games 4 6 3 World Championships 7 7 2 European Championships 2 3 1 Men's swimming Representing  Belarus Paralympic Games 2004 Athens 400 m freestyle S12 2004 Athens 200 m individual medley SM12 2008 Beijing 400 m freestyle S12 2004 Athens 100 m butterfly S12 2004 Athens 4x100 m freestyle relay 49pts 2004 Athens 100 m breaststroke SB12 2008 Beijing 100 m butterfly S12 2008 Beijing 100 m breaststroke SB12 2004 Athens 100 m freestyle S12 2004 Athens 4x100 m medley relay 49pts IPC World Championships 2006 Durban 400m Freestyle S12 2006 Durban 200m Individual Medley SM12 2006 Durban 100m Breaststroke S12 2006 Durban 5km Open water 2006 Durban 100m Freestyle S12 2006 Durban 100m Butterfly S12 2006 Durban 4x100m Freestyle relay 49pts 2006 Durban 4x100m Medley relay 49pts Representing  Russia Paralympic Games 2012 London 400 m freestyle S12 2012 London 100 m butterfly S12 2012 London 200 m individual medley SM12 IPC World Championships 2010 Eindhoven 400m Freestyle S12 2010 Eindhoven 4x100m Medley relay 49pts 2010 Eindhoven 5km Open water S11-13 2010 Eindhoven 200m Individual medley SM12 2010 Eindhoven 100m Butterfly S12 2013 Montreal 400m Freestyle S12 2010 Eindhoven 100m Freestyle S12 2013 Montreal 100m Breaststroke SB12 IPC European Championships 2009 Eindhoven 400m Freestyle S12 2009 Eindhoven 100m Breaststroke S12 2009 Eindhoven 100m Butterfly S12 2009 Eindhoven 200m Individual medley S12 2014 Eindhoven 400m Freestyle S12 2016 Funchal 400m Freestyle S13

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Up to the 2012 Paralympic Games he has won four gold, six silver and three bronze medals.^[3] At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, he won a gold and silver medals for Russia.^{[citation needed]}

In February 2013, Punko held S12 long course world records in 200, 400 and 800 metre freestyle and 200 metre butterfly events.^[4]