Valeriy Brumel

Brumel was born in a far eastern Siberian village to a family of geologists exploring the region.[3] They later moved to Luhansk and taught at a local university.

The commemorative plaque at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, noting Valery Brumel's world record jump of 2.25 metres, set on 31 August 1961.

Brumel took up the high jump at age 12 in Lugansk, coached by P. S. Shtein; at aged 16 he cleared 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) using the then-dominant straight-leg straddle technique. He improved his skills under the coaching of V. M. Dyachkov in Moscow. In 1960, he broke the USSR record, 2.17 metres (7 ft 1 in), and was selected to the Olympic team. At the 1960 Summer Olympics, he cleared the same height as the winner Robert Shavlakadze, but made more attempts and thus was awarded a silver medal.[2]

In the 1961–1963 period, Brumel six times broke his own men's high-jump world record, improving from 2.23 metres (7 ft 4 in) to 2.28 metres (7 ft 6 in).[4] Brumel also won the high jump at the 1961 and 1963 editions of the Universiade; the 1962 European Championships; the 1964 Summer Olympics; and the USSR Championships, 1961–1963.[1][5]

In 1965, Brumel fractured his right shin and ankle in a motorcycle crash, the severity of which indicated amputation of the damaged lower leg. After three years and 29 surgeries that kept his injured leg in a plaster cast, Brumel sought medical treatment from Dr. Gavril Ilizarov, who thwarted amputation with leg-lengthening surgery and an Ilizarov apparatus, a type of external fixator for damaged limbs.[1][5]

In retirement Brumel turned to acting and writing. He starred in the film Sport, Sport, Sport (1970) and wrote the script for Pravo na pryzhok (The right on a jump, 1973). He also wrote numerous novels and plays, including the novel Don't Change Yourself (1979), which was translated into seven languages, and the libretto to Rauf Hajiyev's operetta Golden Caravel (Золотая каравелла).[1][5]

Valeriy Brumel had two brothers, Oleg Brumel (1944–2005) and Igor Brumel (1952) born in Rostov.[6] Brumel was married three times. His first wife, Marina, was a gymnastics instructress with whom Brumel had a son; the first marriage ended in 1965.[7] His second wife was the equestrienne Yelena Petushkova (1972 Olympic champion in dressage); they divorced in 1974 and the wife retained custody of their daughter, Vlada Petushkova.[8] His third wife was Svetlana Belousova with whom Brumel had a son, Viktor, and founded and managed the Valeriy Brumel Fund.[5][9]

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  Valeriy Brumel and Marina Brumel in 1963.
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  The high-jumper Valeriy Brumel in action.
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  Brumel walking with a crutch.
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  Valeriy Brumel holding an Ilizarov apparatus, in 1968.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Valeriy Brumel.

• Valeri Brumel. IMDb
• High Jump legend Brumel, dies after long illness. IAAF. 26 January 2003. Retrieved on 14 January 2011.
• IAAF Mourns Loss of Legendary High Jumper. IAAF. 28 January 2003. Retrieved on 14 January 2011.
• Frank Litsky, Valery Brumel Is Dead at 60; Russian Set High-Jump Marks. NYT 28 January 2003. Retrieved on 26 January 2014.
• Valeriy Brumel at Find a Grave