Lyudmila Kondratyeva

Lyudmila Kondratyeva, born on April 11, 1958, is a celebrated former Russian sprinter who made her mark as a formidable athlete for the Soviet Union. Her journey in athletics began at the tender age of eleven at the Children and Youth Sport School in Shakhty, where she was first coached by Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlenko. Two years later, she advanced to the Rostov on Don Children and Youth Sport School, under the guidance of Nina Vasilyevna Lazarchenko, setting the stage for her future successes.

By 1973, Kondratyeva had earned a spot on the Soviet Union National Youth Team, and just a year later, she joined the National Team. Her early career saw her competing at the 1975 European Youth Championships, where she finished fourth in both the 200 m and the 4 × 100 m relay. Her breakthrough came in 1978 when she clinched the gold medal in the 200 m at the European Championships, also contributing to a victory in the 4 × 100 m relay.

As a leading contender for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Kondratyeva achieved a remarkable feat by running a non-recognized World Record shortly before the games. The Olympic final was a nail-biting affair, with the top five athletes finishing within a tenth of a second. In a dramatic finish, she edged out Marlies Göhr of East Germany by a mere 0.01 seconds, although she suffered a hamstring injury that prevented her from competing in the 200 m or the relay events.

Due to the Soviet Union's boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics, Kondratyeva was unable to defend her title. After retiring from competitive athletics, she married Yuriy Sedykh, a two-time Olympic champion in hammer throw, with whom she had a daughter, Oksana, who also pursued a career in athletics. Kondratyeva made a return to the sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, where she reached the semi-finals of the 100 m and earned a bronze medal as part of the Soviet women's 4 × 100 m relay team.