"An oak of a man,"[1] the Western press described him as a "tank" and a typical product of communism.

[6][7][8] Khlebnikov's first medal as a sprinter came in 1981, when he finished second in the world sprint championship in Grenoble, after Boucher fell in the 500 meters.

The next year, in Helsinki, a fall in the 500 meter race meant he lost the crown to Akira Kuroiwa.

[4] In 1984, he finished second in the world sprint championship in Trondheim after leading on the first day,[10] but the next year, his career as the strongest Soviet sprinter was over, Igor Zhelezovski ("Igor the Terrible") having become world sprint champion in 1985.

In Sarajevo he competed in the 500 meters event as well, but a false start cost him the chance at a medal.