Viktor Manakov

Viktor Manakov had a long career as a track cyclist, becoming a junior, world, and Olympic champion. In 1977 Manakov competed at the World Juniors Track Cycling Championships in Austria, winning bronze in the team pursuit. He returned to the juniors a year later, this time winning gold in the same event in Washington, D.C. Moving up to the senior ranks, Manakov made his début at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 1979, winning silver. His consistent performances earned him a place on the Soviet Olympic team for their home Games in Moskva, where he won gold in the team pursuit with his compatriots. A few weeks after the Games he also won silver in the points race at the Track Cycling World Championships.

Manakov continued to have success in the team pursuit at the World Championships, winning silver in 1981 and bronze in 1986, before finally winning the coveted gold in 1987. Three years earlier he also won gold in the team pursuit at the Summer Universiade, along with silver in the individual event. After his retirement he worked as a coach and a lecturer.

Manakov was married to fellow cyclist Jolanta Polikevičiūtė, who represented Lithuania at three Olympic Games. Jolanta’s twin sister, Rasa, also cycled at three Olympics. Viktor and Jolanta’s son, also named Viktor, was the European track cycling champion in the omnium in 2013.