Nina Otkalenko
 Otkalenko in Paris in 1959 | ||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
23 May 1928[1] Kursk Oblast, Russia | |||||||||
| Died |
13 May 2015 (aged 86)[2] Moscow, Russia | |||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||
| Event(s) | 400–1500 m | |||||||||
| Club | CSKA Moscow | |||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||
| Personal best(s) |
400 m – 55.0 (1955) 800 m – 2:05.0 (1955)[1] | |||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||
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Nina Grigoryevna Otkalenko (née Pletnyova; Russian: Нина Григорьевна Откаленко; 23 May 1928 – 13 May 2015) was a Soviet middle-distance runner. She won a European title in the 800 m at the inaugural 1954 European Athletics Championships and set multiple world records in this event in 1951–54. She missed the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, where women's middle-distance events were not part of the program, and the 1960 Olympics due to an injury.[2]
In the 1950s Otkalenko became the most successful record breaker in the women's 800 m event. Starting with a world record of 2:12.0 minutes in 1951, she went on to improve her own 800 metres world record four more times. Spearheading a significant improvement in women's times in the event over her career, her last world record of 2:05.0 minutes in 1955 stood for almost five years, before it was beaten by her compatriot Lyudmila Shevtsova.[3] She ranked number one in the world in the 800 m every year from 1951 to 1958, bar 1956 and 1957 when she ranked second to Lyudmila Lysenko and Yelizaveta Yermolayeva. She also set world records in the pre-IAAF era, with a 400 m record of 55.5 in 1954 and a 1500 m record of 4:37.0 minutes in 1952.[1][4]
Outside of her European title, she won medals at the World Festival of Youth and Students, twice winning the 800 m title in 1953 and 1955, as well as taking 400 metres silver medals at both those championships.[5] She was highly successful in domestic competition, ending her career with a total of 22 Soviet titles in track and field and cross country disciplines.[2]
Personal bests
- 400 metres – 55.0 seconds (1954)
- 800 metres – 2.05.0 minutes (1955)
- 1500 metres – 4:37.0 minutes (1952)
International competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | World Festival of Youth and Students | Bucharest, Romania | 2nd | 400 m | 56.7 |
| 1st | 800 m | 2:10.5 | |||
| 1954 | European Championships | Bern, Switzerland | 1st | 800 m | 2:08.8 CR |
| 1955 | World Festival of Youth and Students | Warsaw, Poland | 2nd | 400 m | 55.5 |
| 1st | 800 m | 2:09.4 |
References
- 1 2 3 Nina Otkalenko. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 17 May 2015.
- 1 2 3 Former world record-holder and 1954 European 800m champion Otkalenko dies. IAAF (14 May 2015). Retrieved on 2015-05-17.
- ↑ "IAAF World Championships: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Daegu 2011.". Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2011. pp. 595, 597. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ↑ Women, 1500 m World record progression. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 17 May 2015.
- ↑ World Student Games (UIE). GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 9 December 2014.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nina Otkalenko. |
- Profile(archived)
- (Russian) Nina Otkalenko's profile in the Modern Museum of Sports includes photos of her and her awards and decorations
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Valentina Pomogayeva |
Women's 800 metres world record holder 26 August 1951 – 3 July 1960 |
Succeeded by Lyudmila Shevtsova |