Greetings, all My sad, sad duty to share this:
MOSCOW (AP) -- Valery Brumel, an Olympic champion and world record holder in the high jump for the Soviet Union, died Sunday at 60. Brumel died at a Moscow hospital after a protracted illness, the ITAR-Tass news agency said. He won the silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics and the gold at the 1964 Tokyo Games in which he beat John Thomas, his American friend and rival. In Tokyo, Brumel and Thomas each jumped 7-foot-1, an Olympic record at the time, but Brumel was awarded the gold because of fewer misses. Brumel was the Soviet champion from 1961-63 and the world record holder from 1961-71. He set six world records from 1961 to 1962. In 1963, he cleared 7-5, a record that stood until 1971. The Russian was awarded a Soviet state order for outstanding sports achievements in 1964. In 1965, his right foot was smashed in an accident while riding on the back of a motorcycle. He spent six years working to regain his form and eventually cleared 6-11. Me again: Brumel made a masters comeback in his 50s, competing in the 1997 Durban WAVA meet. He was set to jump at Gateshead in 1999, but he had a visa problem and couldn't attend. American masters jumper had his picture taken with Brumel in South Africa: http://www.masterstrack.com/photos/zzzMISbrumel.html I'm honestly crushed. Brumel was God. Ken Stone http://www.masterstrack.com
