Mark Tolstikhin, a former Russian 4x1000m relay champion, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for a series of robberies and phone thefts. The 35-year-old, who had been wanted by Russian authorities for a significant period, was arrested on February 4, 2025, after security cameras at a Moscow metro station captured him in the area. Nine days later, he was convicted by the Meshansky District Court, facing charges of robbery and assault.
According to victims, Tolstikhin’s criminal activities were deceptive. One store worker shared their experience, stating, “He came in asking about an iPhone, and we spent a long time discussing it. Then he suddenly said, ‘I’ll buy it.’ As I was processing the sale, he snatched the phone and ran away.” Another victim recalled a similar incident: “He pretended to book a nail appointment for his girlfriend, but then grabbed my phone while it was charging and dashed out. I couldn’t catch him.”
Tolstikhin’s fall from grace was attributed to gambling debts, according to his former coach, Yuri Kukanov. Tolstikhin often borrowed money from friends and teammates but failed to repay them, which may have contributed to his criminal behavior.
Tolstikhin’s criminal record dates back to 2017 when he was first convicted of robbery and assault. Two years later, he was arrested for stealing a phone but only received a community service sentence. Instead of completing his sentence, Tolstikhin fled, eventually becoming a federal fugitive in Russia.
Born in Smolensk, Russia, Tolstikhin had an impressive athletic career, winning multiple national titles and competing in European and world-level events. He earned a silver medal at the 2007 European Junior Athletics Championships and a bronze at the European Junior Mountain Running Championships.
Tolstikhin’s remarkable athleticism, especially his speed, allowed him to escape from victims during his robberies. His running skills made it nearly impossible for anyone to catch him in the act.
