Valentin MURATOV

After his father went missing in action, the young Valentin Muratov worked in a munitions factory to support his mother. He went back to school after the war, where he was introduced to gymnastics. He soon emerged as one of the top gymnasts in the Soviet Union, and between 1952 and 1956 he was one of best in the world. After winning the team all-around competition at the 1952 Olympics, he won four world titles at the 1954 World Championships (team and individual all-around, horizontal bar and floor exercise). He took home four medals from the 1956 Olympics, winning the team all-around, floor exercise, and horse vault, while placing second on the rings. He won his last international title in 1958, in the team event. Injuries then forced him to retire, but he soon returned as a coach of the national team (1960-1968), leading the Soviet team to many successes. The 1960 Olympic team included his wife, Sofiya Muratova, an eight-time Olympic medallist. They both died within a few weeks in autumn 2006.