Galina ZYBINA

Galina Zybina was the world's top female shot putter in the 1950s, winning a full set of medals at the Olympic Games and setting eight world records between 1952-56. At the Olympic Games, Zybina won gold in 1952, silver in 1956 and bronze in 1964, placing seventh in 1960. She also finished fourth in the javelin at the 1952 Olympics. At the European Championships, Zybina won shot in 1954, a javelin bronze in 1950, discus bronze in 1954, and shot put bronze in 1962. She also won the shot put at the 1953, 1955 and 1957 Universiade and was a six-time Soviet champion, from 1952-55 in the shot and in 1952 and 1957 in javelin throw. In 1953, Zybina became the first woman to break the 16 metre barrier in the shot put, throwing 16.20 in Malmö. Her other world records were 15.28 (in the 1952 Olympic final), 15.37, 15.42 (also 1952), 16.28 (1954/1955), 16.67 (1955) and 16.76 (just a month before the 1956 Olympics). Zybina finished her sporting career after she was not selected for the Soviet 1968 Olympic team. Since the early 1970s, Zybina and her husband Yury Fyodorov, who from 1964-85 worked as the commander of the Russian cruiser Aurora (then already a museum ship), where the 1917 Russian October revolution started, have lived in Värska, Estonia, where Zybina has worked as an athletics coach.

Personal Bests: SP – 17.50 (1964); DT – 48.62 (1955); JT – 54.98 (1958).