Aleksandr BLINOV

The 1980 equestrian games were not a top competition, like the other Olympic Games, because almost all the top riders missed the competition due to the boycott. In the eventing competition, the Soviets were favored in both the individual and team competition, as in the other equestrian events at the 1980 Olympics, but did not meet expectations. The Soviets were upset by Italian Federico Roman Euro, so Aleksandr Blinov had to settle for an individual silver, while taking gold in the team event. Besides his two Olympic medals, Blinov was Soviet champion in 1972, 1976 and 1986. After his sporting career, Blinov worked as an eventing coach with Spartak Moskva.