Leonid Mikitenko

Soviet track and field athlete Leonid Mikitenko specialised in long-distance running, winning four national titles. Mikitenko won his first title in 1966 when he became the Soviet champion in the 10,000 metres, before winning another in the same distance two years later. He also won the 14 km cross-country title in 1967 and the 5,000 metres title in 1970. Mikitenko had his best result at an international championship when he won bronze in the 10,000 metres at the 1966 European Athletics Championships in Budapest. Two years later he ran in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the Mexico City Olympics, finishing 17th in the final of the latter. Mikitenko’s daughter-in-law Irina competed in various distance races at four Olympics from 1996 to 2012.

Personal Bests: 5000 – 13:36.4 (1967); 10000 – 28:12.4 (1968).