Valeri Borzov - fastest human in 1972 - A 'Commie'

Premasara EPASINGHE

At the conclusion of 100 m and 200 at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, when the 22 year old "Soviet Express" VALERI BORZOV, won both 100, 200 metres "New York Times" carried a Headline THE FASTEST HUMAN IS A COMMIE".

Borzov was the only world class sprinter to emerge from the old Soviet Union and the only one to come out of the "Eastern Bloc, in the Montreal Olympic 1972.

Valeri Borzov was born in 1949, in a town called SAMBOR in the LVOV Region of the UKARINE. Young Borzov spent many hours playing in sand dunes near his home which made him to strengthen his legs. This was his first practice ground. He was fond of running.

At the age of 12 years, he was spotted by a Soviet Athletic coach named BORIS VOLTOI. He coach motivated him. Later, this talented boy sprinter, was handed over to teach him the scientific approach of running 100, 200, 400 m to senior lecturer Valentine Petrovesky of Kiev's Institute of Physical Culture where Borzov studied the Biomechanics of the Art of Fast sprinting.

In school championships at Ukraine at the age of 17 Valeri Borzov, ran 160 mtrs in 10.5 secs. In 1968, he won the European Junior Sprint title and equalled the world indoor 60 metre in 6.4 secs. In a Soviet championship meet on a rain affected soaked floodlit track, he finished first in an electrifying 10 seconds flat. In 1969, running in an European championship meet in Athens in a Tartan Track, he won 100 m title easily. In a USA - USSR Dual Meet, the Soviet Athletes showed their superiority. Borzov, became the cynosure of all eyes. On American soil, Valeri Borzov, defeated the reigning American champion sprinters like Ivory Crockett, Delan Meriweather, and Herb Washington.

In every competition, he developed some kind of "Tactical Variation" in his running style. His speed was so much, he was called the "Human Rocket" Robot by Western papers. This great Russian Athlete, Valeri Borzov, was an unassuming personality and he was always with a smile.

The acid test of how good an athlete would be judged in the greatest sports extravaganza - Olympic Games.

In the Munich Olympic Games 1972, Borzov took part in the 100 m first heat on Thursday August 31, 1972. Three Americans Hart, Robinson and Borzov won the first heat.

Due to a lapse on the part of US athletic coach, their athletes were not properly briefed about the time of the quarter finals and they were sadly deprived in participating.

Borzov, lifted the official who did not allow him to enter the track. He ran to the blocks.

Valeri Borzov, really regretted when Americans Hart and Robinson were deprived of participating in the quarter finals. In the final, although Hart and Robinson were out. Robert Taylor, Miller, Crawfort and Borzov and his teammate Aleksandi Kornelyuk took part and Borzov won the 100 metres finals, with a time of 10.14 seconds pushing Taylor and Miller to 2nd and 3rd places.

The stadium was filled to capacity - 80,000 spectators.

The soviet star of the games, was given the honour of carrying their country's flag at the closing ceremony, despite the threat that a bomb would be thrown at the team flag bearer.

There was a dark shadow cast in the Munich 1972 olympics, as Arab Terrorists, claimed the lives of 8 (eight) Israeli athletes.

The highlight of Valeri Borzov was after winning the gold in 100 m, he completed the double by annexing the gold in 200 m with a timing of 20 secs.

In the sprint relay soviet won a silver medal.

During the olympic games, Pravda, gave wide publicity to the soviet union team.

On the same day when the Soviet Union athletes stole the show, one time Soviet Union hero Boris Spansky was defeated by American Chess champion Bobby Fischer, Moscow newspaper Pravda gave him only three lines.

Later in 1974, he came back to the track. But, he was not the old Valeri Borzov. Through the passage of time, he could not perform at a very high standard.

Valeri Borzov, married the four time Gold Medal winner the outstanding champion gymnast - Lyudmila Turishcheva, in 1977.

After retiring from athletics, he lived, worked in Kiev - Ukraine, and became the Deputy Director of state committee for physical culture and sports.

When Ukraine gained Independence in 1991, Munich Olympic fastest man was appointed as the President of the Ukrainian Olympic committee and became a tireless worker in the International Olympic Committee.

There are only about five or six olympic 100 m, champions, who stand out in Elite Company. Valeri Borzov is high up in the short list.