12 Facts About Viktor Chukarin

Viktor Ivanovich Chukarin was a Ukrainian gymnast who competed for the Soviet Union.

Viktor Chukarin won eleven medals including seven gold medals at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics and was the all-around world champion in 1954.

Viktor Chukarin was the most successful athlete at the 1952 Summer Olympics.

Later Viktor Chukarin studied at the Institute of Physical Education in Kyiv.

Viktor Chukarin was wounded in action, taken prisoner of war near Poltava and sent to a prisoner camp in Sandbostel.

Viktor Chukarin was not accepted back to the sports institute in Kyiv, and studied in a similar institution in Lviv.

Viktor Chukarin became the all-around Soviet champion in 1949 and repeated this achievement in 1950,1951,1953 and 1955.

Viktor Chukarin won five more Olympic medals at the 1956 Summer Olympics, including a silver on the floor.

Viktor Chukarin led the Soviet team to the victory at the 1954 World Championships, winning gold in the team all around and the individual all around.

In 1957 along with Larisa Latynina, Viktor Chukarin was awarded the first ever Order of Lenin given to an athlete.

Viktor Chukarin recounted his sport career in the 1955 book entitled The Road to the Peaks.

Viktor Chukarin died in 1984 and was buried at the Lychakiv Cemetery.