After placing fifth in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1975 European Junior Championships, Vasily Arkhipenko made his senior début at the 1978 European Indoor Championships, where he was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 400 metres flat. At the 1978 European Championships, Arkhipenko won a bronze medal in the 400 hurdles, while at the 1980 Olympics he won a silver medal. He also won silver at the 1979 Universiade, silver at the 1979 European Cup, bronze at the 1979 World Cup and competed at the 1982 European Championships, where he was fourth in the 400 hurdles. As the leading Soviet low hurdles specialist in the late 1970s, Arkhipenko won five Soviet 400 hurdles titles (1977-81), adding a silver in 1982 and bronze at the 1984 Soviet Championships.
Personal Best: 400H – 48.34 (1979).