Ardalion IGNATYEV

Ardalion Ignatyev was the best Soviet long sprinter in the 1950s. He won a 400 bronze at the 1956 Olympics and was eliminated in the 400 semi-finals at the 1952 Olympics. At the 1954 European Championships, Ignatyev won gold in the 400 and silver in 200 metres, and also won the 400 at the 1953 and 1955 World Student Games. Ignatyev won 15 Soviet titles – 200 in 1953-56; 400 in 1952-56 and 1959; and 4x400 in 1953, 1955-56, and 1958-59. After finishing his sports career, Ignatyev worked as a director of the sports school in Cheboksary and from 1970-96 was a lecturer at the Yakovlev Chuvash State Pedagogical University.

Personal Best: 400 – 46.0 (1955).