Veniamin Soldatenko

Who is Veniamin Soldatenko?

Veniamin Vasilievich Soldatenko is a former Soviet athlete who competed mainly in the 50 km walk. He trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Alma-Ata. He acquired Kazakhstani citizenship after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Soldatenko began athletics in 1962 and became a member of the USSR National Team in 1967. He competed for the USSR in the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, West Germany in the 50 kilometre walk where he won the silver medal. He won a silver medal at the 1970 World Race Walking Cup, a gold medal at the 1976 World Championships in 50 km walk and bronze, gold and silver medals at the European Championships in 1969, 1971 and 1978. Soldatenko was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1972.

Soldatenko was the first ever IAAF world champion and remains the oldest male world champion in athletics, having taken his 50 km walk title at 37 years and 258 days.