Vladimir Dmitriyevich Kazantsev (Russian: Владимир Дмитриевич Казанцев, 6 January 1923^[2] – 22 November 2007) was a Russian long-distance runner who won a silver medal in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 1952 Olympics. He set world's best times in this event in 1951 and 1952 and won the Soviet title in 1950–53. In the Olympic final he had a 20 m lead with 700 m remaining but injured a tendon in a bad landing after a water jump and was overtaken by Horace Ashenfelter.^[3]

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Vladimir Kazantsev

Personal information
Born	(1923-01-06)January 6, 1923 Alekseyevka, Khvalynsky Uyezd, Saratov Governorate, RSFSR, Soviet Union
Died	November 22, 2007(2007-11-22) (aged 84) Moscow, Russia
Height	176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	66 kg (146 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Steeplechase, 5000 m, 10,000 m
Club	Dynamo Moscow
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	3000 mS – 8:48.6 (1952) 5000 m – 14:08.8 (1952) 10,000 m – 30:20.0 (1950)[1]
Medal record Representing the  Soviet Union Olympic Games 1952 Helsinki 3000 m steeplechase

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Ashenfelter was an FBI agent, while Kazantsev was a KGB officer who retired in the rank of lieutenant colonel. He fought as a private in the German-Soviet War at the Kalinin Front, was wounded in action in 1942, and awarded the Order of the Patriotic War.^[4] Besides his KGB service Kazantsev taught physical education at the Soviet Police Academy and worked as an athletics coach, preparing the Soviet team to the 1964 Olympics.^[3]