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Mariya Itkina

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameMariya Leontyevna•Itkina
Used nameMariya•Itkina
Original nameМария Леонтьевна•Иткина
Born3 May 1932 in Roslavl, Smolensk (RUS)
Died1 December 2020 in Minsk, Minsk (BLR)
Measurements166 cm / 62 kg
AffiliationsSpartak Minsk, Minsk (BLR) / FK Dinamo Minsk, Minsk (BLR)
NOC Soviet Union
Nationality Belarus

Biography

Maria Itkina started athletics in Ivanovo, when she studied at an obstetric school. After leaving school in 1954, she moved to Minsk, where she began to seriously engage in running as a sprinter. She won four gold medals at the European Championships – with golds in 1954 in the 200 and 4x100 relay, and in 1958 and 1962 in the 400 metres. She also won a bronze medal in the 200 metres in 1958.

In 1957 Itkina won the 200 m race at the World University Games. She won 32 USSR Championships. After the end of her sports career in 1966, she headed the track and field team of the sports society for Dynamo, Minsk. In 1991 she was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Itkina has the unfortunate distinction of having placed fourth at the Olympics the most times of any athlete, four, without ever winning a medal.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.4 (1960); 200 – 23.4 (1956); 400 – 52.9 (1965).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1956 Summer Olympics Athletics URS BLR Mariya Itkina
200 metres, Women (Olympic) 4 h1 r2/3
4 × 100 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) Soviet Union 4
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics URS BLR Mariya Itkina
100 metres, Women (Olympic) 4
200 metres, Women (Olympic) 4
4 × 100 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) Soviet Union 4
1964 Summer Olympics Athletics URS BLR Mariya Itkina
200 metres, Women (Olympic) DNS
400 metres, Women (Olympic) 5
4 × 100 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) Soviet Union DNS

Special Notes