Romuald KLIM

Romuald Klim from Belorussia was virtually unknown before the 1963 season, but quickly established himself as one of the best hammer throwers of the World in the mid-1960s. Klim took up athletics seriously after service with the Soviet Navy in 1955, but was noticed by Soviet sports officials only in 1963, after winning bronze at the Znamensky Brothers Memorial, winning the Riga Cup and taking silver at the 1963 Soviet Championships. Klim was selected to the Soviet national team and was sent to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, which was his first international. Although Klim had established himself as one of the top hammer throwers of the world at the time of 1964 Olympics, he was not considered as the main favorite for gold. After three rounds at the Olympic Games, Klim was third behind Gyula Zsivótzky of Hungary and world record holder Hal Connolly, but then threw 69.74 in the fourth round to win a surprising gold medal. After his Olympic victory, Klim established himself as the best hammer thrower in the world by winning the European Championships in 1966, the European Cup in 1965 and 1967, three Soviet Championships (1966-1968), and went to the 1968 Olympics as the clear favorite for Olympic gold. But at the Olympics, Klim was beaten by Zsivótzky, who had been his closest rival between the Olympics and whom, despite holding the world record, Klim had beaten every previous time in head-to-head competition. After the Olympics, Klim won silver at the 1969 European Championships and his fourth Soviet title in 1971. In 1969, Klim also set his only world record (74.52) and won the hammer throw at the Znamensky Brothers Memorial five times (1964, 1966, 1968-69, 1972). After finishing his sporting career in 1973, Klim became an athletics coach and referee. From 1989 until his death, Klim worked as a professor with the Belorussian Academy of Physical Culture and Sports and since 1976 a hammer throwing competition has been held in Minsk in his honor.

Personal Best: HT – 74.52 (1969).