Valeriy_Podluzhniy
Valeriy Pidluzhny
Ukrainian athlete (1952–2021)
Valeriy Vasylyovych Pidluzhny (Ukrainian: Підлужний Валерій Васильович; 22 August 1952 – 4 October 2021) was a long jumper who represented the Soviet Union. Born in Donetsk, Ukrainian SSR, he trained at the city's Trudovye Rezervy. A three-time Olympian,[1] he won two silver medals at the European Athletics Indoor Championships as well as a gold medal at the 1974 European Athletics Championships and a bronze medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics.[2][3][4] His personal best was 8.18 m (26 ft 10 in), set in the 1980 Olympic final in Moscow.[5]
His first international medals of note were three gold medals at the 1970 European Athletics Junior Championships.[6] Senior gold medals followed at the 1973 Summer Universiade and the 1973 European Cup.[7][8] He achieved his highest international ranking that year, placing third with a best of 8.15 m (26 ft 8+3⁄4 in).[5]
Pidluzhny won nine national titles in long jump during his career, including five straight wins at the Soviet Athletics Championships from 1973 to 1977 and four titles at the Soviet Indoor Athletics Championships between 1973 and 1980.[9][10]
