Vitaly Chernobay

Ukrainian-born Vitaly Chernobay took up several sports, including swimming, skiing, and track and field athletics, after World War II, when he entered a trade school. His specialty in the latter was the pole vault, and it was in this event that he was entered at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics as a representative of the Soviet Union. At the Games, he placed 13th due to an injury suffered shortly before the tournament. He continued to compete until 1963, after which he retired to become a professor of athletics at the Lviv State University of Physical Culture. During the course of his career, he was a three-time (1955, 1956, and 1958) Soviet and four-time (1954, 1957, 1960, and 1961) Ukrainian Champion in the pole vault. He was the runner-up in the former tournament in 1957 and the latter in 1952 and 1959.

Personal Best: PV – 4.52 (1957).