Lev Kuznetsov

Born and raised in Moskva, Lev Kuznetsov was on the Soviet national team from 1951-62. Competing in sabre, the high point of Kuznetsov’s career came at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where at first he led the Soviet sabre team to a bronze medal, the first Olympic medal in Soviet fencing history, and then two days later, won an individual bronze in the individual sabre competition. At the World Championships, Kuznetsov was part of Soviet sabre teams that won silvers in 1957 and 1958 and bronzes in 1955, 1959 and 1962. Domestically Kuznetsov won the Soviet individual sabre title in 1959 and team titles in 1951-1954, 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1961. After finishing his sporting career, Kuznetsov worked as a fencing coach with CSKA Moskva from 1962-96. His most famous pupils were multiple Olympic team sabre champions Vladimir Nazlymov and Eduard Vinokurov. He was also head coach of the Soviet Olympic sabre teams from 1964-88.