Vladimir Sinyavsky took up wrestling in 1950, when he started to work at the Kharkiv Electromechanical Plant UkrElektroMash that was, and still is, the leading manufacturer of short-circuit rotor induction motors in Ukraine. Sinyavsky soon rose to be one of the world’s top lightweight freestyles in the late-1950s. He first competed internationally at the 1958 World Cup, where he won gold. In 1959 Sinyavsky won the World title and went to the 1960 Olympics as a clear favorite for the freestyle lightweight gold. At the Olympics, however, Sinyavsky lost by decision to American Shelby Wilson in the fourth round and had to settle for a silver medal. Sinyavsky last competed internationally at the 1961 World Championships, where he again won silver behind Iranian Mohammad Ali Sanatkaran. Domestically, Sinyavsky won four Soviet freestyle lightweight titles (1957-59, 1961) and one silver (1960). After finishing his sporting career in 1966, Syniavskiy worked as wrestling coach in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Soviet Union
Ukraine