Olga RUKAVISHNIKOVA

Olga Rukavishnikova has the distinction of having set one of the most transient world records. At the 1980 Olympics, Olga Kuragina finished first in the final event of the pentathlon, the 800 metres, in 2:03.6, totaling 4,875 points, and breaking her own world record of 4,856 points. Rukavishnikova crossed the line second with a time of 2:04.8, breaking that world record with 4,937 points, but just a mere 0.4 seconds later, Nadiya Tkachenko crossed the line third, scoring 5,083 points, to break Rukavishnikova's short-lived mark. In addition to her Olympic silver, she won a pentathlon bronze at the 1975 Universiade. After the IAAF changed to the heptathlon after the 1980 Olympics, Rukavishnikova continued to compete for a few seasons, but with less success. She set her personal best of 6,047 in heptathlon at the 1981 Soviet Championships and her best placement in heptathlon at a major international was fourth at the 1981 Universiade. Rukavishnikova won the Soviet long jump title in 1977 and pentathlon silver in 1980.

Personal Best: Pen – 4937 (1980).