Ukraine's first track/field medal is bronze in hammer throw (08/04/96)

Ukraine's first track/field medal is bronze in hammer throw

by Roman Woronowycz

ATLANTA - Ukraine won its first medal in the track and field (athletics) portion of the Summer Olympics when Oleksiy Krykun took the bronze in the hammer throw, averaging heaves of 80.03 meters.

Until the last throw, he and countryman Andriy Skvaruk dueled for the third spot, but Skvaruk shirked his last toss and ended up in fourth with a score of 79.92

Balasz Kiss of Hungary won the gold medal, averaging 81.24 a throw, followed by Lance Deal of the United States, who averaged 81.12.

The following day, Ukraine won another bronze, when Oleksander Bahach took third in the shot put with a heave of 20.75 meters. He finished behind two Americans, John Godina, who took the bronze (20.79 meters) and gold medal winner Randy Barnes (21.62 meters).

The track and field competition began Friday, July 26, and ends on August 4 with the traditional running of the men's marathon.

| Home Page |