Vladimir Kuts
Encyclopedia
Vladimir Petrovich Kuts (February 7, 1927 – August 16, 1975) was a Soviet
long distance runner. He is alternatively known as Volodymyr Kuts, the Ukrainian
spelling, as Kuts was born in Aleksino
, which is in present-day Ukraine.
Kuts, who was an army officer during his sportive career, was first noticed internationally in 1954. At the European Championships in Bern, he defeated the favourites - Czech star Emil Zátopek
and Britain's Christopher Chataway
- in the 5000 m, en passant setting a new world record
. Kuts lost the World Record months later to Chataway (who beat him narrowly), only to take it back again 10 days later.
Having lost his World Record again in 1955, Kuts was still one of the favourites for the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne
. His chief opponent in the 5000 m was British runner Gordon Pirie
, who had broken the world record earlier that year. However, Kuts had set a new world record in the 10000 m shortly before the Games. In the first final, the 10000 m Kuts - as always - led from the start, finally breaking Pirie's spirit 4 laps from the end, finally winning by a wide margin. He broke away from Pirie with a final, desperate sprint, having briefly surrendered the lead and admitted later that had Pirie stayed with him on that sprint, he would probably have dropped out as he was then so tired. The 5000 m final (5 days later) was ended as a race quite early on when Chataway moved ahead of his British colleagues, Pirie and Ibbotson, then suffered an attack of stomach cramp on a bend - he had been picked on past performance having lacked first class competition for a year or so and the pace that Kuts was setting was faster than anything he had run. It allowed Kuts to open up a gap and although Pirie and Ibbotson chased him, the Russian was able to exploit it. With Kuts having broken contact, Pirie ran what was virtually a front race for the latter part of the race but was still strong enough to hold off a late challenge by Ibbotson for second place. It seems likely that had he been able to maintain contact with Kuts he would probably have won as he had beaten him easily over the distance in world record time in Bergen, early that year but due to Chataway's mishap, Kuts gained his second gold of the Games. The British press was anti-Pirie as he had once criticised them in a televised speech at a Sportsman of the Year presentation and partly because of this and also due to their general lack of understanding of the sport, they reported the race as an easy win for Kuts.
Kuts improved the 5000 m WR in 1957 to 13:35.0, a time which would remain unbeaten until 1965, when it was bettered by Ron Clarke
. Although he was only beaten on a couple of occasions, Kuts retired at the age of 32 in 1959. He had often suffered from stomach pains - there were allegations that the was drugged for his races - and although he had denied that he had had operations, he found training difficult. That was confirmed by the fact that former runners who met him in his later years said that he looked badly overweight. It was possibly because of that that he died of a heart attack
, aged only 48, in Moscow
.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
long distance runner. He is alternatively known as Volodymyr Kuts, the Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
spelling, as Kuts was born in Aleksino
Aleksino
Aleksino may refer to:*Aleksino, Istrinsky District, Moscow Oblast, a village in Istrinsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia*Aleksino, Naro-Fominsky District, Moscow Oblast, a village in Naro-Fominsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia...
, which is in present-day Ukraine.
Kuts, who was an army officer during his sportive career, was first noticed internationally in 1954. At the European Championships in Bern, he defeated the favourites - Czech star Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life...
and Britain's Christopher Chataway
Christopher Chataway
Sir Christopher John Chataway is a British former middle- and long-distance runner, television news broadcaster, and a Conservative politician...
- in the 5000 m, en passant setting a new world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
. Kuts lost the World Record months later to Chataway (who beat him narrowly), only to take it back again 10 days later.
Having lost his World Record again in 1955, Kuts was still one of the favourites for the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. His chief opponent in the 5000 m was British runner Gordon Pirie
Gordon Pirie
Douglas Alistair Gordon Pirie was an English long-distance runner and orienteerer.He was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England and died of stomach cancer in Lymington, Hampshire....
, who had broken the world record earlier that year. However, Kuts had set a new world record in the 10000 m shortly before the Games. In the first final, the 10000 m Kuts - as always - led from the start, finally breaking Pirie's spirit 4 laps from the end, finally winning by a wide margin. He broke away from Pirie with a final, desperate sprint, having briefly surrendered the lead and admitted later that had Pirie stayed with him on that sprint, he would probably have dropped out as he was then so tired. The 5000 m final (5 days later) was ended as a race quite early on when Chataway moved ahead of his British colleagues, Pirie and Ibbotson, then suffered an attack of stomach cramp on a bend - he had been picked on past performance having lacked first class competition for a year or so and the pace that Kuts was setting was faster than anything he had run. It allowed Kuts to open up a gap and although Pirie and Ibbotson chased him, the Russian was able to exploit it. With Kuts having broken contact, Pirie ran what was virtually a front race for the latter part of the race but was still strong enough to hold off a late challenge by Ibbotson for second place. It seems likely that had he been able to maintain contact with Kuts he would probably have won as he had beaten him easily over the distance in world record time in Bergen, early that year but due to Chataway's mishap, Kuts gained his second gold of the Games. The British press was anti-Pirie as he had once criticised them in a televised speech at a Sportsman of the Year presentation and partly because of this and also due to their general lack of understanding of the sport, they reported the race as an easy win for Kuts.
Kuts improved the 5000 m WR in 1957 to 13:35.0, a time which would remain unbeaten until 1965, when it was bettered by Ron Clarke
Ron Clarke
Ronald William "Ron" Clarke, MBE is a former Australian athlete, writer, and current Mayor of the Gold Coast. He is one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s, notable for setting seventeen world records.- Early life and family :He attended Melbourne High School...
. Although he was only beaten on a couple of occasions, Kuts retired at the age of 32 in 1959. He had often suffered from stomach pains - there were allegations that the was drugged for his races - and although he had denied that he had had operations, he found training difficult. That was confirmed by the fact that former runners who met him in his later years said that he looked badly overweight. It was possibly because of that that he died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, aged only 48, in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.