Pyotr Bolotnikov facts for kids
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| Nationality | Soviet Russian |
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| Born | March 8, 1930 Zinovkino, Krasnoslobodsky District, USSR |
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| Died | December 20, 2013 (aged 83) Krasnoslobodsk, Republic of Mordovia, Russia |
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| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 5000 meters, 10000 meters | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal best(s) | 5000 meters: 13:38.2 10,000 meters: 28:18.1 |
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Medal record
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Pyotr Grigoryevich Bolotnikov (born March 8, 1930 – died December 20, 2013) was an amazing Soviet athlete. He was famous for his long-distance running skills. His biggest achievement was winning the gold medal in the 10,000 metres race at the 1960 Summer Olympics. He was a true champion from the Soviet Union.
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Pyotr Bolotnikov: An Olympic Champion
Pyotr Bolotnikov was a legendary runner from the Soviet Union. He became famous for his incredible speed and endurance. He specialized in long-distance races like the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. His career was full of exciting wins and broken records.
Starting His Running Journey
Pyotr was born in Zinovkino, a village in what is now the Republic of Mordovia, Russia. He didn't start running until he was 20 years old. This was when he joined the Soviet Army. He trained hard with his coach, Grigory Nikiforov, at a sports club called VSS Spartak.
Becoming a National Star
In 1957, Pyotr won his first big national title. He won the 10,000 meters race, surprisingly beating the famous runner Vladimir Kuts. From 1958 to 1962, he was the top Soviet champion. He won both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters races multiple times. He also won the national 10,000 meters title again in 1964. In 1958, he even won a national cross-country race. By 1959, he was recognized as an Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR. This is a very high honor for athletes in the Soviet Union.
Golden Moment in Rome
Pyotr had competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics but didn't win any medals. However, at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, everything changed. He took control of the 10,000 meters race from the very beginning. He beat strong competitors like Hans Grodotzki from East Germany and Murray Halberg from New Zealand. Pyotr won the gold medal by a clear five seconds!
Just a few weeks later, on October 5, 1960, in Kiev, Pyotr set a new world record. He ran the 10,000 meters in an amazing 28 minutes and 18.8 seconds. This was almost 12 seconds faster than the previous record!
European Championship Wins
Pyotr continued his success at the 1962 European Championships in Athletics in Belgrade. Before the championships, on August 11, 1962, in Moscow, he broke his own 10,000 meters world record. He ran it in 28 minutes and 18.2 seconds. This made him the favorite to win the long-distance races.
He easily won the 10,000 meters gold medal at the European Championships. However, he was surprised to finish third in the 5,000 meters race, earning a bronze medal.
A Great Career Ends
After the 1964 Summer Olympics, where he didn't achieve the same success, Pyotr decided to retire from athletics in 1965. For his incredible achievements, he received the Order of Lenin in 1960. This was one of the highest awards in the Soviet Union.
Pyotr Bolotnikov passed away on December 20, 2013, at the age of 83. He is remembered as one of the greatest long-distance runners in Soviet history.
