Mykola Avilov

Mykola Avilov

File:Mykola Avilov 1972.jpg Mykola Avilov in 1972
Personal information
Born	6 August 1948 (1948-08-06) (age 76) Odessa, Ukraine
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	89 kg (196 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Decathlon
Club	Dynamo Odessa
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	8,466 (1972)
Medal record Representing Soviet Union Olympic Games 1972 Munich Decathlon 1976 Montreal Decathlon Universiade 1970 Turin Decathlon 1973 Moscow Decathlon

Nikolay Avilov (Ukrainian: Микола Вікторович Авілов, Russian: Николай Викторович Авилов, born 6 August 1948) is a retired Soviet decathlete (Odessa) who competed at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics. He won a gold medal in 1972, setting a new world record, a bronze in 1976, and finished fourth in 1968.

Unusually tall for his time Avilov first played basketball, then changed to high jump in 1962, and only in 1966 turned to decathlon. He won that event at the 1970 Universiade and finished second in 1973. In 1971 he married Valentyna Kozyr, an Olympic high jumper. Avilov retired in 1980 after finishing fifth at the Soviet Championships. He then coached athletics in Ukraine, Iraq, China, Egypt and the Seychelles.

References

Records
Preceded by Bill Toomey	Men's decathlon world record holder 8 September 1972 – 10 August 1975	Succeeded by Bruce Jenner