Melbourne November 1956. Games of the XVI Olympiad. Rowing. Soviet athlete Vyacheslav IVANOV on his way to winning his first of three Olympic titles in the men's single sculls event. IVANOV successfully defended his title in 1960 and 1964. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum CollectionsBorn: 30 July 1938
Birthplace: Moscow (Russia)
Nationality: Russia
Sport: Rowing
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Melbourne / Stockholm 1956
Rome 1960
Tokyo 1964
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 3
Details
Other results:
World Championships
Gold: 1 (62)
Single Sculls Triple Winner
Vyacheslav Ivanov won his first gold medal in rowing's single sculls event in 1956. He trailed Stuart Mackenzie of Australia for 1,800m and then made a sensational sprint over the last 200m to win by 5½ seconds. In 1960, Ivanov won a second time, defeating East Germany's Achim Hill by 6¼ seconds.
Ivanov faced Hill again in 1964. This time he trailed Hill by 7 seconds with 500m to go, but finished so powerfully that he closed the gap and moved ahead. Ivanov made such a tremendous effort that he briefly lost consciousness fifty metres before the finish line. He awoke to find himself still in the lead, and went on to win by 3.73 seconds.
