Vladimir Golubnichy

Ukrainian Vladimir Golubnichy was among the world’s top race walkers for nearly two decades, exclusively competing in the 20 km walk. He competed in five Olympics, winning four Olympic medals and set two 20 km walk world records. Golubnichy took up athletics in 1953, and although he set his first 20 km walk world record in 1955 (1-30:36) and his second and last world record in 1959 (1-27:04), he was not selected to the Soviet national team until the 1960 Olympics.

At the 1960 Olympics, Golubnichy won his first Olympic title, a feat he repeated at the 1968 Olympics. Golubnichy also won silver at the 1972 Olympics and bronze in 1964, while finishing seventh in 1976, in his last international tournament. At the European Championships, Golubnichy won a full set of medals, gold in 1974, silver in 1966 and bronze in 1962. He was also six times Soviet champion in 20 km walk (1960, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1972, 1974). After his retirement from sports, Golubnichy worked as an athletics coach in his native Sumy, Ukraine. Since 2006, an annual 20 km walk race has been held in his honor in Sumy.

Personal Best: 20kmW – 1-23:55 (1976).