# Valeriy Brumel

> Soviet high jumper

**Wikidata**: [Q319789](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q319789)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valeriy_Brumel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/valeriy-brumel

## Summary
Valeriy Brumel was a Soviet high jumper renowned for dominating the event in the early 1960s, setting multiple world records and winning an Olympic silver medal. As a prominent athlete during the Soviet era, he held the world high jump record from 1963 to 1967 and was honored with the prestigious Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR title.

## Biography
- **Born:** 14 April 1942
- **Died:** 26 January 2003
- **Nationality:** Soviet Union (later Russia)
- **Known for:** Setting five world records in the high jump (1961–1963); winning Olympic silver (1960); dominating the event before a tragic leg injury.
- **Affiliations:** Soviet athletics system (Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR, recipient of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and Medal "For Labour Valour").

## Contributions
Brumel's primary contributions centered on advancing the high jump event through athletic performance:
- **World Records:** Set five official world records in the high jump between 1961 and 1963, culminating in a height of 2.28 meters (7 ft 5¾ in) achieved in Moscow on 22 June 1963. This record stood for nearly four years.
- **Olympic Medal:** Won the silver medal in the high jump at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
- **Competitive Dominance:** Remained unbeaten in official high jump competitions from 1961 to early 1965, establishing himself as the world's premier high jumper during this period.

## FAQs
**What nationality was Valeriy Brumel?**  
Brumel held Soviet citizenship, representing the Soviet Union in international competition. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he would be associated with Russia as the successor state.

**What major awards did Valeriy Brumel receive?**  
He was honored as the Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR and received two civilian awards from the Soviet Union: the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the Medal "For Labour Valour".

**How long did Valeriy Brumel hold the world high jump record?**  
Brumel set his final world record of 2.28 meters in 1963. This record stood until 1967 when it was broken by American athlete John Thomas.

**Why did Valeriy Brumel's athletic career end prematurely?**  
His promising career was cut short in 1965 due to a severe motor vehicle accident that resulted in a debilitating leg injury, preventing him from competing at the peak level thereafter.

## Why They Matter
Valeriy Brumel mattered because he embodied the peak of Soviet athletic excellence during the early Cold War era. His dominance in the high jump and string of world records showcased Soviet prowess on the global sports stage, contributing to the ideological competition with the West. Beyond records, his story highlighted the fragility of athletic careers and the resilience required after devastating injury, becoming a cautionary tale and symbol of perseverance within the Soviet sports narrative. He significantly raised the profile and technical standards of the high jump event worldwide during his prime.

## Notable For
- Setting five world high jump records (1961–1963), culminating in 2.28 m (1963).
- Holding the world high jump record for nearly four years (1963–1967).
- Winning the silver medal in the high jump at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
- Being unbeaten in official high jump competitions from 1961 to early 1965.
- Receiving the prestigious Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR title.
- Earning the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and Medal "For Labour Valour" from the Soviet state.
- Being the dominant figure in men's high jump before a career-ending injury in 1965.

## Body

### Early Life and Background
Valeriy Nikolayevich Brumel was born on 14 April 1942. He held citizenship of the Soviet Union. While specific details about his birthplace or early education beyond his athletic identity are not provided in the source material, his career and honors firmly place him within the context of Soviet state-sponsored sports.

### Athletic Career and Dominance
Brumel rose to prominence as a high jumper, becoming a central figure in Soviet athletics during the early 1960s. His competitive period is documented from approximately 1960 to 1965. He was a representative of the Soviet Union in international competitions, most notably the Olympics. His primary field was athletics, specifically the high jump event. He was affiliated with the Soviet sports system, which provided the structure and support for his athletic development and competition.

#### Records and Achievements
Brumel achieved remarkable success through his athletic prowess:
- **World Records:** Between 1961 and 1963, he established five official world records in the high jump. His final and highest record was 2.28 meters (7 feet 5¾ inches), set in Moscow on 22 June 1963. This record stood as the world best until surpassed by American John Thomas in 1967.
- **Olympic Performance:** He won the silver medal in the high jump at the 1960 Summer Olympic Games held in Rome.
- **Competitive Streak:** From 1961 until early 1965, Brumel maintained an unbeaten record in official high jump competitions, marking him as the undisputed best high jumper globally during that span.

#### Honors and Recognition
His exceptional contributions to Soviet sports were formally recognized by the state with several prestigious awards:
- **Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR:** This highest title for Soviet athletes was awarded to him, recognizing his outstanding achievements in high jumping.
- **Order of the Red Banner of Labour:** A Soviet civilian honor awarded for contributions to labor, bestowed upon him for his sporting excellence.
- **Medal "For Labour Valour":** Another civilian labor award of the Soviet Union, also granted to Brumel in recognition of his significant achievements.

### Career End and Context
Brumel's highly promising athletic career was tragically interrupted in 1965. A severe motor vehicle accident resulted in a serious leg injury. This injury prevented him from continuing to compete at the elite level, effectively ending his competitive prime before the 1964 Olympics (where he did not compete, likely due to the injury's onset or aftereffects). Despite his retirement from top-level competition, his legacy within Soviet and Russian sports history remains significant due to the heights he reached and the records he set.

### Legacy and Association
Brumel is remembered as one of the greatest high jumpers of the 20th century, particularly representative of the Soviet Union's sporting achievements during the Cold War era. His life and career, marked by both phenomenal success and a dramatic setback, are documented through photographic evidence (e.g., "Valeriy Brumel 1963.jpg") and numerous identifiers in library and sports archives (VIAF, ISNI, LCCN, etc.). His name and records are intrinsically linked to the history of athletics in both the Soviet Union (1922–1991) and the Russian Federation (established 1991).

## References

1. Find a Grave
2. general catalog of BnF
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. BnF authorities
5. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
6. World Athletics database
7. filmportal.de
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013