Boris Nikitin

Boris Nik’it’ini was the best Soviet middle distance freestyle swimmer at the end of the 1950s. Nik’it’ini rose into fame in 1956 when he won his first Soviet 4×100 freestyle relay title and was a member of the Soviet 4×200 relay team that set a world record of 8:24.5 just a month before the 1956 Olympics. At the Olympics itself, however, Nik’it’ini and the Soviet 4×200 freestyle relay team were less successful, finishing only in third place behind Australia (who broke the world record), and the United States, with a time 10 seconds slower than the world record they had set a month earlier. At the 1958 European Championships Nik’it’ini won gold in the 4×200 free relay and silver in the 400 freestyle. Domestically, Nik’it’ini won six Soviet titles (1956-60: 400 freestyle; 1957: 1500 freestyle) and two bronze medals at the Soviet championships (1958: 1500 freestyle; 1963: 400 IM).

Personal Bests: 200 m freestyle – 2:06.7 (1956); 400 m freestyle – 4:30.1 (1957); 800 m freestyle – 9:32.8 (1958); 1500 m freestyle – 18:25.2 (1957); 400 m individual medley – 5:07.1 (1963).