Pyotr Bolotnikov

Pyotr Grigoryevich Bolotnikov (Russian Пётр Григорьевич Болотников, English transcription Pyotr Bolotnikov, . Born March 8, 1930 in Sinowkino, Mordvinian Autonomous Oblast, † December 20, 2013 ) was a Soviet long distance runner.

Career

Bolotnikov only began at the age of 20 years with the Athletics Training, when he completed his service in the Red Army. It was established in 1957 for the first time national champion over 10,000 meters when he surprisingly large Volodymyr Kuz defeated. Bolotnikov was 1958-1962 each double -Soviet champion in the 5000m and 10,000 m. In 1964 he was again champion in the 10,000 m.

At the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956, he was ninth in the 5000m and 10,000 m came on the 16th Place. At the Olympic Games in Rome in 1960 Bolotnikov controlled at the 10,000 - meter race from the start and won the race with five seconds ahead. In the same year Bolotnikov improved the world record over 10,000 m to almost twelve seconds, and ran a time of 28:18,8. Due to these achievements he was awarded the Order of Lenin.

1962 Bolotnikov improved his own world record by six tenths of a second on 28:18,2. At the European Athletics Championships in Belgrade, he was his role as favorite to win the race over 10,000 m by a large margin. In the 5000 -meter run, he was unexpectedly only third.

The Olympics in Tokyo in 1964 ran for Bolotnikov with a 25th place in the 10,000 m disappointing. A year later he announced his retirement.