Pyotr Bolotnikov
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Pyotr Grigorevich Bolotnikov (Петр Григорьевич Болотников) (born March 8, 1930) is a former Soviet athlete, winner of 10 000 m at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Born in Zinovkino, Krasnoslobodsky District, Mordvinian ASSR (now Mordovia Republic), Pyotr Bolotnikov started athletics only at age 20, when he joined the Red Army.
Bolotnikov won his first national championship title in 10 000 m in 1957, when he surprisingly beat the great Vladimir Kuts in a finishing straight by 0.2 seconds. He became the double Soviet champion in 5000 m and 10 000 m from 1958 to 1962. He also won the national 10 000 m title in 1964 and national cross country title in 1958.
Bolotnikov participated already at the 1956 Summer Olympics, but without any success. At the Rome Olympics in 1960, Bolotnikov controlled the 10 000 m race from the start to end, beating the main favourites Hans Grodotzki from East Germany and Murray Halberg from New Zealand by five seconds. Later on that year, Bolotnikov lowered the 10 000 m world record almost by twelve seconds to 28:18.8.
Just two weeks before the 1962 European Championships in Belgrade, Bolotnikov lowered his own 10 000 m world record by 0.6 seconds to 28:18.2, thus becaming the main favourite at long distances at the Championships. He won easily the 10 000 m run, but was surprisingly beaten to third in 5000 m.
After the unsuccessful 1964 Summer Olympics, Bolotnikov decided to retire from athletics in 1965. He received the Order of Lenin in 1960.
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