Faina Melnik
Encyclopedia
Faina Grigorievna Veleva-Melnik ' onMouseout='HidePop("21869")' href="/topics/Bakota,_Ukraine">Bakota
, Khmelnytskyi Oblast
, Ukrainian SSR
) was a Ukrainian-born Soviet discus thrower, a 1972 Summer Olympics
champion in the discus event.
Melnik, who is considered to be one of the most dominant track and field athletes of the 1970s, set the world record twice and held the # 1 ranking in women's discus from 1971–77, the third longest world's # 1 ranking streak in women's track and field history. She set 11 world records.
, Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. She competed for VSS Sevan Yerevan
(Armenian SSR
) (1969–73), and later for VSS Spartak Moscow
(1976–80).
At the 1971 European Championships in Helsinki
, during her international début, she set a world record in the discus throw (64.22 m).
In 1972 at the Munich Olympic Games
, she established another world record (with her final throw) of 66.62 metres. During the contest she broke the Olympic record three times, with each of her three final throws.
She took her second European title in 1974 at Rome with a throw of exactly 69.00 metres.
Melnik was the first woman to break the 70-meter mark in 1975. Her personal best was 70.50 m in 1976. At the Olympic Games in 1976
she received a 4th place.
In 1977, she won the first World Cup discus competition in Düsseldorf
.
A member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
, Melnik is currently a teacher in Moscow
.
Bakota, Ukraine
Bakota was a historic town in the Halych-Volhynian Kingdom, modern-day Khmelnytskyi Oblast in western Ukraine. The village lies within the Dniester River Valley and is located in the historical Podillia region....
, Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Khmelnytskyi Oblast is an oblast of western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Khmelnytskyi.The current estimated population is around 1,401,140 .-Geography:...
, Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
) was a Ukrainian-born Soviet discus thrower, a 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
champion in the discus event.
Melnik, who is considered to be one of the most dominant track and field athletes of the 1970s, set the world record twice and held the # 1 ranking in women's discus from 1971–77, the third longest world's # 1 ranking streak in women's track and field history. She set 11 world records.
Career
Melnik is Jewish, and was born in BakotaBakota
The Bakota are a Bantu ethnic group from the northeastern region of Gabon. The language they speak is called iKota, but is sometimes referred to as Bakota, ikuta, Kota, and among the Fang, they are known as Mekora. The language has several dialects, which include: Ndambomo, Mahongwe,...
, Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. She competed for VSS Sevan Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
(Armenian SSR
Armenian SSR
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet...
) (1969–73), and later for VSS Spartak Moscow
Spartak (sports society)
Spartak is the International Fitness and Sports Society of Nikolai Starostin.-Overview:Spartak was the first and the largest All-Union Voluntary Sports Society of workers of state trade, producers' cooperation, light industry, civil aviation, education, culture, health service etc...
(1976–80).
At the 1971 European Championships in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, during her international début, she set a world record in the discus throw (64.22 m).
In 1972 at the Munich Olympic Games
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, she established another world record (with her final throw) of 66.62 metres. During the contest she broke the Olympic record three times, with each of her three final throws.
She took her second European title in 1974 at Rome with a throw of exactly 69.00 metres.
Melnik was the first woman to break the 70-meter mark in 1975. Her personal best was 70.50 m in 1976. At the Olympic Games in 1976
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
she received a 4th place.
In 1977, she won the first World Cup discus competition in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
.
A member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
, Melnik is currently a teacher in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
See also
- List of select Jewish track and field athletes