Nikolay Kamensky

Nikolay Kamensky was the first Soviet world class ski jumper. Kamensky made his international début at the 1954 World Championships, where he finished 22nd. Kamensky first rose to prominence during the 1955-56 season, when he surprisingly won the Four Hills Tournament, by finishing fourth in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Bischofshofen, sixth in Innsbruck, and seventh in Oberstdorf. The next season at the Four Hills Tournament, Kamensky placed first in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and second in Bischofshofen and Innsbruck, but did not place overall, as he did not compete in the first event at Oberstdorf. During the 1957-58 season, Kamensky won another event during the Four Hills Tournament, placing first in Oberstdorf, and although he placed second in Innsbruck and seventh in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Kamensky finished only third overall due to finishing 18th in the last event in Bischofshofen.

At the 1958 World Championships, Kamensky finished ninth and at the 1958-59 Four Hills Tournament he was fifth. At the 1960 Olympics, he finished fourth and at the 1962 World Championships, Kamensky became the first Soviet ski jumper to medal at a major international by finishing second on the normal hill. Kamensky retired from sports after the 1964 Olympics and later worked as a ski jumping coach in Moscow.