Pavel Shishkin

Pavel Vladimirovich Shishkin (born 11 April 1970) is a Russian businessman, philanthropist and former professional volleyball player.

Shishkin got his first international gold medal at U21 World Cup in 1989, still being a student of Olympic Reserve sports school.

A year earlier he made his professional debut in Iskra Odintsovo.

At 1990 Shishkin became of 24 members of the USSR men's national volleyball team, the next year joining the core 12.

‘Sportpress Italia’ praised him as one of the strongest mercenaries of 1990th, ranking 6 among 30 outstanding volleyball players of the decade.

Master of sports of international grade, in 1991—1997 Shishkin played for national teams of USSR,

Former Soviet Republics and Russia.

In 1991 Shishkin transferred to CSKA Moscow.

Playing for the USSR national squad he won World Cup 1991, in 1992 he competed at World League tournament and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

An acknowledged hitter of exceptional skill, won numerous international tournaments, competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1996 Summer Olympics.

In the season Shishkin 1992–93 made his debut at the Italian Volleyball League for Zinella Volley Bologna, playing for this team he spent two consecutive seasons in top Serie А1.

For his forceful spikes nicknamed Shishkin “Terminator Russo’ (“The Russian Terminator’).

"I’ve caught the time when volleyball matches lasted three hours and more, like in golf. I played for USSR, for CIS (at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona) and for Russia. Only at the very end of my career the rules were changed and the games grew shorter. Before those alterations a game could rarely last less than an hour, it could happen only if the opponent turned out to be really weak. But usually a match would last at least a couple of hours."

In 1995 together with a partner from national squad Ruslan Olikhver, Shishkin was invited into brazilian club ‘Report’ Suzano.

Both sportsmen recall the training schedule to be rigorous, while psychological climate — arduous.

At the time Shishkin faced serious health issues: due to circulatory disturbance his right hand went numb.

“It [the hand] turned black, then pale.

And completely cold.

The disease progressed <…> With any load bloodflow simply stopped.” According to Shishkin, when Viacheslav Platonov called him up to a national team before the 1996 Summer Olympics, the doctors prohibited any training loads and suggested vein replacement surgery.

The first couple of matches he was watching the game from the bench, but still fielded when the situation got critical.

Only later the disease was cured by the means of alternative medicine.

Playing for the international clubs, Shishkin remained active in the national team and competed in all World League tournaments in seasons 1996-93, missing only World Championship 1994.

Shishkin represented Russia at 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta as a member of the first-team squad, still Russia lost to Cuba in the quarter-finals.

For his impressive performance Shishkin was called the strongest player of that match and one of only two “players, whom Platonov observed approvingly”.

Later in 1996, Shishkin was offered a contract with JT Thunders Hiroshima with annual salary as much as $300.000.

Replacing another russian player Evgeni Mitkov, Shishkin stayed in Japan for full 3 seasons.

Season 1996-97 was remarkably successful for JT Thunders: the club won silver medal in nationals, while Shishkin was honored with special titles of best spiker, best back court spiker, best server.

He was also ranked one of six leading players of the tournament.

In 1997 after 85 matches Shishkin left the national team, finishing with European Volleyball Championship.

From 2002 Shishkin is an owner and CEO of holding company Tactics Group, leading investment, redevelopment and construction business projects in Moscow.

His other enterprises include a canteen and catering chain ‘Smart Food’ and ‘Hair Shop’ brand, specialized in hair extensions industry with its own production, multiple salons, retail shops.

Founder of the charity fund “Detskiy dom” (lit. ‘House of children’).

Pavel Shishkin was born in Moscow to a couple of scientists.

Together with his sibling Julia he underwent training in specialized sports school № 111 at Zelenograd, coached by Venera Jakubova.

As Shishkin himself recalls, he dreamed of being a professional volleyball player since childhood: as early as at the seventh grade of school he bet with his classmates that once he would become a member of a national squad.

Him being significantly shorter than his peers threatened to ruin all the hopes for sports career, nevertheless Shishkin was determined to overcome this obstacle: he studied multiple medicine volumes and developed a personal ‘growth system’:

"I tilted my bed at an angle of 45°....Tied the legs down and slept headfirst. My sleeping place became something between torture rack and Ilizarov apparatus. I tried to lengthen my spine in any possible way. When riding in the trolley bus — drew myself up to the hand-rail. Maybe that all was merely a delusion, but I was 165 cm tall and then reached 200."

Upon graduation from sports school, Pavel Shishkin gained a diploma at Smolensk State State Academy of Physical Education, Tourism and Culture.

After leaving professional volleyball, he got an MBA degree in Grenoble.

Later, in 2008 he also got a DBA degree at RANEPA.