Yevgeny Arzhanov

Yevgeny Arzhanov played basketball and football in his youth and did not take up athletics until 1965, when he was already 17-years-old. Within two years, however, in 1967, he was selected for the Soviet national team and was one of the top European half milers in the early 1970s. Arzhanov first competed internationally at the 1968 Olympics, where he reached the semi-finals and then was fourth at the 1969 European Championships. In 1970 he won his first major international title by winning the 1970 European Indoor Championships and in 1971 won both the European indoor and outdoor titles. At the 1972 Olympics, Arzhanov was the clear favorite for the gold. He was leading the Olympic final coming ino the home stretch, but American Dave Wottle was closing fast and overtook Arzhanov in the last few strides to push him back to silver by just 0.03 seconds. In 1973 Arzhanov won gold at the Universiade, but after finishing only third at the 1975 Soviet Championships, retired from athletics. He also won 800 gold and silver at the 1970 and 1973 European Cup, respectively. Besides his 1975 bronze, he was Soviet Champion in 1970-71 and 1973 and won silver in 1969. After finishing his sports career, Arzhanov worked as a track & field commentator with Ukrainian SSR national television and national radio. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Arzhanov worked as an athletics coach, serving as coach of the South Korean and Vietnamese national teams.

Personal Best: 800 – 1:45.3 (1972).