Nélson Prudêncio

Nélson Prudêncio also won two medals in triple jump at the Pan American Games, with silver in 1967 and a bronze in 1971. At the 1975 Pan American Games he finished fourth in triple jump. Prudêncio broke the world record during the 1968 Olympic competition with 17.27 but that was later bested by gold medal winner Viktor Saneyev. Prudêncio was world ranked #2 in 1968 behind Saneyev and was ranked 3rd in 1972, 5th in 1975, and 8th in 1971. He studied physical education at the São Carlos na Escola de Educação Física de São Carlos and later became a professor at the Universidade Federal de São Carlos. He was also vice-president of the Brazilian Athletics Federation. In Brazil Prudêncio was awarded the Medalha do Mérito Desportivo Militar.

Personal Best: TJ – 17.27 (1968).