Ruudi Toomsalu

Ruudi Toomsalu was a talented all-round track and field athlete from Estonia who first began competing in sports in 1927. From 1933 to 1938 Toomsalu won 15 Estonian titles with six in the 100 metres, five in the 200 metres, and four in the long jump. He was also a seven-time national champion in the 4 x 100 metres relay. During the 1930s he set multiple Estonian records in the 100 metres, 200 metres, 200 metres hurdles, long jump, and the relay. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics he competed in both the 100 metres and the long jump. Two years later he finished fifth in the long jump at the 1938 European Championships in Paris.

After his athletics career Toomsalu worked as a sports coach, eventually becoming the vice-chair and then chair of the Estonian Athletics Federation. He was a skilled academic who published scientific and sports historical research, in addition to compiling athletics textbooks. In 1992 he became an honorary member of the Estonian Sports History Society.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.7 (1935); LJ – 7.415 (1937).