Vladimir BELOUSOV

The 1968 Olympics were the first international competition for Vladimir Belousov, who had placed only 16th at the Soviet Championships previous year. In Grenoble Belousov first placed eighth on the Normal Hill, but a week later, Belousov surprised everyone by winning the gold medal on the Large Hill in a close competition with Czechoslovak favorite Jiří Raška, who had won the Normal Hill event. Belousov had the longest jumps in both rounds to win the only medal Soviet or Russian ski jumpers have won at the Olympic Games through 2006. A month after the Olympics, Belousov became the first and only Soviet or Russian ski jumping champion at Holmenkollen. In 1969 Belousov won his only Soviet Championship title and in 1970 he won again at Holmenkollen after placing sixth at the 1970 World Championships on the Normal Hill. After his sporting career Belousov worked as a ski jumping coach.