Valentina KOZYR

Ukrainian high jumper Valentyna Kozyr was selected for the Soviet national team in 1966 after winning a silver at the 1966 European Junior Championships. The apex of Kozyr’s career was the 1968 Olympics, where she won a surprising bronze medal. This would remain her only major international medal as she was fourth at the 1969 European Indoor Championships and did not get past qualifying at the 1969 European Championships. Kozyr never won a Soviet title, but won silver at the 1968 Soviet Championship and bronzes at the 1969 and 1971 Soviet Championships. In 1971 Kozyr married fellow Ukrainian athlete, the 1972 Olympic decathlon champion Mykola Avilov, and ended her sports career.

Personal Best: HJ – 1.82 (1968).