Nina Otkalenko

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]

Nina Otkalenko

Otkalenko with Vladimir Kuts
Personal information
Born	23 May 1928[1] Kursk Oblast, Russia
Died	13 May 2015 (aged 86)[2] Moscow, Russia
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	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 Representing the  Soviet Union European championships 1954 Bern 800 m

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]

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. Nina Otkalenko. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 17 May 2015.
2. Former world record-holder and 1954 European 800m champion Otkalenko dies. IAAF (14 May 2015). Retrieved on 17 May 2015.
3. "IAAF World Championships: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Daegu 2011" (PDF). Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2011. pp. 595, 597. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
4. Women, 1500 m World record progression. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 17 May 2015.
5. World Student Games (UIE). GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 9 December 2014.

External links

• Profile(archived)
• (in 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