Viktor Markin

Viktor Markin, who started athletics at the late age of 19, was completely unknown until the 1980 Olympic Games, with a personal best of only 45.34. But in the Olympic final, Markin was fifth at the halfway point, and still three metres behind of the leader Frank Schaffer at the head of the stretch, but a very strong finish led to an Olympic gold with a European record and world seasonal best of 44.60, which is still, as of January 2012, a Russian national record. Markin captured his second gold in the 4×400 relay when he outran the East German Volker Beck on the anchor leg. After the Olympics, Markin took a break from sports to complete his studies in medicine and returned at the 1982 European Championships, where he won two bronze medals (400, 1600 relay). In the first World Championships in Helsinki in 1983, Markin won a gold in the 4x400 relay, but decided to retire after the Soviets decided to boycott the 1984 Summer Olympics. Markin was also the Soviet 400 champion in 1981 and 1983 and 4x400 m champion in 1981-1983. After finishing his sporting career, Markin worked as a physician in his native Novosibirsk. From 1999-2000 he was the chairman of the Novosibirsk regional sports committee and since 2001 he has been an advisor to the Russian president in sports matters in the Siberian Federal District.

Personal Best: 400 – 44.60 (1980).