Vladimir Kuts

Vladimir Kuts, born Volodymyr Petrovych Kuts on 7 February 1927 in Oleksyne, was a Soviet long-distance runner. He won both the 5000 m and the 10000 m at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, setting Olympic records in each, and his 11 second winning margin in the 5,000 m remains the largest in Olympic history. In 1954 he won the 5000 m at the European Championships in a world record, defeating Emil Zátopek and Christopher Chataway, and in 1957 he improved the 5000 m world record to 13:35.0, a mark that stood until 1965. He retired in 1959 at the age of 32 and later worked as an athletics coach. He died in 1975.