Let's make this birthday one to remember.

53 years old (Born on November 16, 1971)

Happy Birthday, Alexander Popov! You're the only swimmer who made gliding through water look easier than walking on land. With your legendary Olympic gold medals in Barcelona '92 and Atlanta '96, you didn't just swim—you practically flew across pools faster than most of us can say "freestyle."

Even today, we still marvel at how effortlessly you dominated sprint swimming events. Your iconic battles against rivals remain timeless classics that inspire swimmers worldwide to chase their dreams (and maybe even perfect their flip turns). Here's wishing a birthday filled with laughter—and hopefully fewer chlorine-scented memories this time around!