Valentin Gavrilov

Valentin Aleksandrovich Gavrilov (Russian Валентин Александрович Гаврилов, English transcription Vladimir Gavrilov, . Born July 26, 1946 in Moscow ) is a retired Russian high jumper who competed for the Soviet Union.

At the European Championships in Budapest in 1966, he finished with skipped 2.06 m in seventh place. In 1967 he was with 2.12 m of Soviet masters. At the European Indoor Games 1968 in Madrid, he won with 2.17 m silver behind his teammate Valery Skvortsov, who had crossed the same height.

The high jump competition at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City went down in history because Dick Fosbury took with his new jump style and won with 2.24m. Behind him the second American Ed Caruthers silver medal with 2.22 m, 2.20 m with Gavrilov was the best European competition and was awarded the bronze medal.

About Gawrilows victories height at the European Indoor Games 1969 in Belgrade ruled many years lack of clarity. Some sources called 2,17 m, 2,14 m other sources mentioned. The explanation is seen today is that his jump height was indeed registered of 2.17 m in the score sheet, but on the scoreboard 2.14 m were displayed. This 2.14 m were then published in numerous press reports.

In the summer Gavrilov won with 2.15 m at the Soviet Championship. At the European Championships 1969 in Athens Gavrilov won with 2.17 m gold at the same level for Finns Reijo Vahala ( silver) and the Italian Erminio Azzaro (bronze). In the summer of 1969 Gavrilov set at 2.21 m on his personal best.

1970 European indoor games have been replaced by the European Indoor Championships. At the premiere in Vienna Gavrilov won with 2.20 m in front of Gerd Dührkop from the GDR. In the summer of 1970 Gavrilov won at the Universiade with 2.18m. At the European Championships 1971 in Helsinki Gavrilov covered with 2.11 m in tenth place.

Valentin Gavrilov is 1,91 m tall and weighed 78 kg in his playing days.