Born: 27 April 1929
Died: 19 August 2016
Biography:
Nina Apollonovna Ponomaryova (née Romashkova; Russian: (); 27 April 1929 – 19 August 2016) was a Russian discus thrower and the first Soviet Olympic champion.
Ponomaryova became interested in athletics in 1947 when she entered the Physical Training Faculty of the Stavropol Pedagogical Institute. She quickly emerged as a talented athlete and her first official performance was in 1948 at the Stavropol Krai Championships, where she set a new regional record at 30.53 meters. Within just three years of training, Ponomaryova established herself as one of the leading Soviet athletes.
In 1949, Ponomaryova finished third at the USSR Championships. It was at this time that she began working with experienced coach Dmitry Markov. In 1951, she became the Soviet champion, a success she repeated in 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1959.
In 1952, Ponomaryova participated as a member of the Soviet team in the Olympic Games for the first time in history. The Olympic record at the time was held by Gisela Mauermayer, who set it at 47.63 meters during the 1936 Summer Olympics. Ponomaryova qualified for the final round with a throw of 45.05 meters. After her first attempt in the final, she was lying in second place with a throw of 45.16 meters, behind her teammate Nina Dumbadze’s 45.85 meters. However, on her second attempt, Ponomaryova shattered the Olympic record by a remarkable margin of over 3 meters, throwing 50.84 meters. She didn’t stop there; on her third attempt, she set a new Olympic record at 51.42 meters, securing the first Olympic gold medal for the Soviet Union.
Less than a month after her triumph at the 1952 Summer Olympics, on August 9, 1952, in Odessa, Ponomaryova set a new world record with a throw of 53.61 meters. Her incredible achievements made her a national hero and a symbol of female strength and excellence in the Soviet Union.
In 1954, Ponomaryova continued her success by winning the European title. Two years later, she captured a bronze medal at the 1956 Olympics. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to sports, she was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1957.
Ponomaryova’s dedication and talent led her to another Olympic gold medal in 1960, solidifying her place as one of the greatest discus throwers of her time. After retiring from her athletic career in 1966, Ponomaryova transitioned into coaching. She first worked as a coach in Kiev and later in Moscow starting from 1998.
Personal life:
Soon after her victory at the 1952 Olympics, Ponomaryova married and became a mother to a son. She reflected on her success, saying, Only after I had felt a heavy golden circle in my hand, I realized what happened. I am the first Soviet Olympic Champion, you know, the first record-holder of the 15th Olympiad… Tears were stinging my eyes. How happy I was!
Nina Ponomaryova passed away on August 19, 2016, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a trailblazer in women’s sports and a symbol of Russian athletic excellence.
Awards:
– Olympic gold medal (1952)
– World record in discus throw (53.61 meters, 1952)
– European champion (1954)
– Olympic bronze medal (1956)
– Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1957)
– Olympic gold medal (1960)