Overview
- The Ukrainian-born thrower won gold at the 1972 Munich Games for the Soviet Union.
- In 1969 he set two world records, including the first hammer throw beyond 75 meters at 75.48 meters.
- His marks were surpassed in 1971 by Germany’s Walter Schmidt at 76.40 meters.
- After bronze at the 1976 Olympics, he moved into coaching with the Soviet program and later worked with Portugal and Kuwait.
- He mentored Yuriy Sedykh, whose 86.74 meter world record still stands, and later guided athletes in Canada such as Dylan Armstrong and Ethan Katzberg.