The Flying Elephant Memoirs of an Olympic Champion Kindle Edition Amazon: Alexander Savin Book Guide
Table of Contents
The Flying Elephant: Memoirs of an Olympic Champion is the candid sports memoir of Soviet volleyball legend Alexander Savin, published as a Kindle edition on Amazon. The title comes from the unforgettable nickname the Italian sports press gave him — a big man who seemed to fly above the net. This guide explains what the book is, who Savin is, and what the Kindle edition offers.
Quick Info
| Full title | The Flying Elephant: Memoirs of an Olympic Champion |
| Author | Alexander Savin (born July 1, 1957, Taganrog, Russia) |
| Format | Kindle Edition (also in hardcover and paperback), 514 pages, ASIN B0FXVDWW16 |
| Published | October 26, 2025, on Amazon; Kindle Unlimited eligible |
| Olympic medals | Silver — 1976 Montreal Olympics; Gold — 1980 Moscow Olympics |
What Is The Flying Elephant?
The Flying Elephant: Memoirs of an Olympic Champion is a sports memoir in which Alexander Savin shares his unfiltered journey through the golden age of Soviet volleyball and beyond — from childhood dreams to Olympic glory and then to coaching. The Amazon listing describes it as an inspiring memoir of a volleyball champion, and the book runs to 514 pages. The nickname in the title was coined by the Italian sports publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, marvelling at how a tall, powerful player could seem to hang in the air above the net.

The memoir was published on October 26, 2025, as a Kindle edition on Amazon, with Andrei Savine as editor and translator, Julia Savine as editor, an introduction by Peter Murphy, and translation work by Alfredo Cabero. It is also available in hardcover and paperback, and the Kindle edition is eligible for Kindle Unlimited.
Who Is Alexander Savin?
Alexander Savin was born on July 1, 1957, in Taganrog, a city in the Rostov region of Russia. He became one of volleyball’s greatest players with the Soviet Union national team, winning silver at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The International Volleyball Hall of Fame identifies him as a Soviet volleyball legend and inducted him on October 22, 2010. His career spanned the era when Soviet volleyball dominated the world game, and the memoir covers both the triumphs and the hard training, politics, and personal costs behind them.

After his playing career, Savin moved into coaching, and the book carries his story from Olympic glory to coaching wisdom. For readers, the value of the memoir is that it comes from the player himself rather than a biographer — his own memories of the matches, the teammates, and the world of elite Soviet sport.
The Kindle Edition on Amazon
As a Kindle edition, the memoir can be downloaded instantly to Kindle devices and apps, with adjustable fonts and syncing across devices. The Amazon listing is the official place to buy it — search for the title or the ASIN B0FXVDWW16. Readers should note the book’s large file size, which Amazon flags as taking longer to download, and that the Kindle edition contains the core text of the memoir. If you prefer print, the same title is listed in hardcover and paperback editions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote The Flying Elephant: Memoirs of an Olympic Champion?
Alexander Savin, the Soviet volleyball champion who won Olympic silver in 1976 and gold in 1980.
Why is it called The Flying Elephant?
The nickname was given to Savin by the Italian sports publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, because of the way the tall, powerful player seemed to fly above the net.
When was the Kindle edition published?
October 26, 2025, on Amazon. It has 514 pages and is eligible for Kindle Unlimited.
What is the ASIN of the Kindle edition?
B0FXVDWW16.
Is The Flying Elephant based on a real Olympic athlete?
Yes. It is the genuine autobiography of Alexander Savin, a decorated Olympic gold medallist, sharing his own stories from his playing career and life after competition.
Read more: Roger Federer and Sam Zell — Ethnicity, Roots & Background | The Flying Elephant on Amazon