Biography

Nikolay Avilov is a retired Soviet and Ukrainian decathlete who competed at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics.

He won a gold medal in Munich 1972: Games of the XX Olympiad (1972), setting a new world record, a bronze in Montreal 1976: Games of the XXI Olympiad (1976), and finished fourth in Mexico City 1968: Games of the XIX Olympiad (1968).

Unusually tall for his time Avilov first played basketball, then changed to high jump in 1962, and only in 1966 turned to decathlon. He won that event at the 1970 Universiade and finished second in 1973. In 1971 he married Valentina Kozyr, an Olympic high jumper. Avilov retired in 1980 after finishing fifth at the Soviet Championships. He then coached athletics in Ukraine, Iraq, China, Egypt and the Seychelles.

- IMDb mini biography by: Tango Papa