Valentin Mankin

As of 2022, Ukrainian Valentin Mankin is the only sailor to have won Olympic golds in three different classes. Mankin made his Olympic début at the 1968 Olympics, where he won gold in the Finn Class. At the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, Mankin competed in the Tempest Class, winning gold in 1972 with crew member Vitaliy Dyrdyra and silver in 1976 with crew member Vladyslav Akymenko. And at the 1980 Olympics, Mankin won gold in Star Class with crew member Aleksandrs Muzičenko.

Besides his Olympic success, Mankin was World Champion in Tempest in 1973 with Akymenko and European Champion in Star in 1979 with Muzičenko. Mankin also won silver in Finn at the 1967 World Championships, silver in Finn at the 1965 European Championships, bronze in Tempest at the 1972 European Championships with Dyrdyra, silver in Star at the 1980 European Championships (with Muzičenko) and bronzes in Star at the 1977 European Championships (with Muzičenko) and 1981 European Championships (with Aleksandr Zõbin).

Domestically, Mankin won 14 Soviet titles – in 1959, 1961-63 and 1967 in Finn Class, in 1970, 1972 and 1974-76 in Tempest Class and in 1977-81 in Star Class. After finishing his sporting career, Mankin worked as a sailing coach, first in the Soviet Union and beginning in 1988 in Italy, where he was the technical director and coach of the Italian Sailing Federation. His most famous pupils were Luca Devoti and Alessandra Sensini.