Full name: Leonid Vasilyevich Spirin
Original name: Ðеонид ÐаÑилÑÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ Ð¡Ð¿Ð¸Ñин
Gender: Male
Born: August 20, 1932 in Zhavoronki, Moskva, Russia
Died: February 23, 1982
Affiliations: Metalurg Moskva
Country: Soviet Union
Sport: Athletics
Medals: 1 Gold (1 Total)
Leonid Spirin was introduced to race walking in the early 1950s, when he started to work as a laboratory assistant at the Moskva Metallurgical Plant Serp i Molot, and he was considered as one of the worldâs best race walkers at shorter distances in the late 1950s. The apex of Spirinâs career was the 1956 Olympics, where he won the 20 km walk gold medal. He also won 20 km silvers at the 1958 European Championships and 1957 World Student Games and won his only Soviet title in 1958, also over 20 km. Spirin set the 20 km track walk world record of 1-28:45.2 in 1956, 15 km track walk world records of 1-05:45.8 and 1-05:18.0 in 1957, and a 20 km road walk worldâs best of 1-27:29 in 1959. Spirin worked as a race walking coach in Moskva after finishing his sports career. Personal Best\: 20kmW â 1-27:29 (1959). |
Games | Age | City | Sport | Event | Team | NOC | Rank | Medal | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1956 Summer | 24 | Melbourne | Athletics | Men's 20 kilometres Walk | Soviet Union | URS | 1 | Gold | OR |
Games | Age | City | Sport | Country | Phase | Unit | Rank | T | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1956 Summer | 24 | Melbourne | Athletics | Soviet Union | Final Standings | 1 | OR | 1-31:27.4 |