Anatoly Starostin

Anatoly Starostin was one of the best Soviet modern pentathletes in the 1980s. Competing in two Olympics 12 years apart, Starostin won two golds in 1980, while adding a team silver in 1992. Starostin was also World individual champion in 1983 and a team champion four times (1982, 1983, 1985 and 1990). In addition he also won individual silvers in 1982, 1985, 1990, team silver in 1989 and one team bronze in 1979 at the World Championships. Starostin also won the 1989 European team title. While very successful in international competition, Starostin was less so in domestic competitions, winning his only Soviet title in 1979. At the 1986 World Championships, Starostin also finished in first position, but was later caught with a doping positive for a β-blocker and was disqualified, resulting him also missing the 1987 and 1988 seasons. After his sporting career, Starostin became a modern pentathlon coach.