Valentin Prokopov

Outside of the Soviet Union, Valentin Prokopov is probably best known as the water polo player who struck Hungarian Ervin Zádor in the infamous “blood in the water match” at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, causing Zádor to bleed profusely and symbolize the tensions between the Hungarians and the Soviet over the latter’s recent invasion of Hungary. The Hungarians went on to win the gold medal, while Prokopov and the Soviets settled for bronze. Prokopov was also a member of the 1952 Soviet Olympic water polo squad, which placed seventh, and individually he was scheduled to compete in the 1,500 metres freestyle event, although he did not start. Nationally, Prokopov was a three-time water polo champion, in 1956, 1959, and 1964.