Maria Itkina facts for kids
Maria Itkina at the 1964 Olympics
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 3 May 1932 Roslavl, Russia |
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| Died | 1 December 2020 (aged 88) Minks, Belarus |
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| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 62 kg (137 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 60–400 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Spartak Minsk Dynamo Minsk |
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| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 100 m – 11.4 (1960) 200 m – 23.4 (1956) 400 m – 52.9 (1965) |
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Medal record
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Maria Leontievna Itkina (born May 3, 1932 – died December 1, 2020) was an amazing Soviet runner. She was known for being super fast in sprint races. Maria set many world records and won lots of championships during her career. She even competed in three Olympic Games!
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A Sprinting Star
Maria Itkina was a top athlete from the Soviet Union. She was born in Roslavl, Russia. Maria became famous for her incredible speed in track and field events. She specialized in short-distance races, also known as sprints. These races included the 60-meter, 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter dashes.
Setting World Records
Maria Itkina was truly one of the fastest runners of her time. She set many world records in different sprint events. A world record means she ran faster than anyone else in the world at that time. Her best times were 11.4 seconds for the 100 meters, 23.4 seconds for the 200 meters, and 52.9 seconds for the 400 meters.
Olympic Dreams
Maria Itkina competed in the Olympic Games three times. She represented the Soviet Union in 1956, 1960, and 1964. The Olympics are the biggest sports event in the world. Even though she was a world record holder, Maria finished in fourth place four times at the Olympics. This means she was very close to winning an Olympic medal!
European Championships Success
Maria Itkina had great success at the European Athletics Championships. She won several gold medals at these important competitions.
- In 1954, she won gold in the 200 meters race. She also won gold as part of the 4x100 meters relay team.
- In 1958, Maria won another gold medal in the 400 meters race. She also earned a bronze medal in the 200 meters.
- In 1962, she won her fourth European gold medal, again in the 400 meters.
National Champion
Besides her international achievements, Maria Itkina was also a champion in her own country. She won an amazing 17 Soviet sprint titles. This shows how dominant she was in her sport within the Soviet Union.
Later Life
Maria Itkina continued to be a respected figure in athletics. She passed away in Minsk, Belarus, on December 1, 2020. She was 88 years old. Maria Itkina is remembered as one of the greatest sprinters of her era.
