Bure competed for the Soviet Union at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics and won four medals: one in the individual 100 m and three in the relay. Additionally, Bure was a two-time European champion as well as a 17-time Soviet champion. He also won two silver medals at the 1973 and 1975 World Championships.^[2]

Bure was swimming coach at the Armed Forces Society in 1979–85. After that he served as Vice President of Exsport club (1985–91), where he managed eight different sports.^[2]

Vladimir, whose family originated from Furna, Switzerland, had a noble history: his ancestors made precious watches for Russian tsars from 1815 to 1917 and as craftsmen of the imperial family, were granted noble status.[4] Vladimir married Tatiana Bure^[3] and they had two sons born in Moscow - Pavel born on March 31, 1971^[4][5] and Valeri born on June 13, 1974.^[6]

In 1991, Vladimir and his sons Pavel and Valeri moved to North America. They settled initially in Los Angeles where Vladimir continued to train and coach both Valeri and Pavel in hockey and physical conditioning until Pavel embarked on a National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Vancouver Canucks^[7] However both sons became estranged from their father, along with his second wife Julia,^[8] and their half-sister Katya,^[9] by 1998. Neither brother has explained a reason for the split.^[10]

Vladimir joined Pavel, spending four seasons (1994–98) as fitness consultant with Vancouver Canucks. In the summer of 1999 he joined the New Jersey Devils as fitness consultant. He won the Stanley Cup twice with New Jersey, in 2000 and 2003. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 2003.^[2]

• Vladimir Bure's personal website^{[permanent dead link]}