Died: Vladimir Andreyev, 57
On April 16. The Russian walker won bronze in the 2000 Olympic 20K event. He also finished 13th in ’92 and 7th in ’04. He World Ranked 5 times, with No. 3s in ’00 and ’02.
Died: Gisela Birkemeyer, 92
On March 26, in Berlin. The East German won silver in the 80H in the ’56 Games and bronze in ’60. A 6-time World Ranker, she was No. 1 in ’59.
Died: Olga Fikotová-Connolly, 91
A 5-time Olympian, she won the discus gold for Czechoslovakia at the ’56 Olympics. Afterwards, she married hammer champion Hal Connolly and competed in four more Games for the U.S., carrying the flag in ’72. She ended up winning 5 AAU titles and World Ranked 3 times, with a No. 2 in ’56.
Died: Violeta Quesada, 76
On March 24, in Tampa, Florida; of a stroke. The Cuban sprinter won a silver in the ’68 Olympics for her leg on Cuba’s 4×1. Didn’t advance beyond the 100 heats.
Died: Allan Rushmer, 80
On April 23, in York, England. He World Ranked No. 10 in the 10,000 in ’66, the year he placed 5th in the European Championships race. Ran in the heats of the ’68 Olympic 5000.
Died: O.J. Simpson, 76
On April 10, in Las Vegas’ of prostate cancer. A famed football player, as a sprinter at USC he placed 6th in the ’67 NCAA 100, and ran on the winning 440 relay that set a World Record 38.6(A). It was the third WR that season for the Trojans.
Died: Luciano Sušanj, 75
On April 14, in Rijeka, Croatia. Won the ’74 European 800 gold for Yugoslavia in 1:44.07, the No. 3 performance in history at the time. He was No. 2 in the World Rankings in ’75, the best of his three ranked years. Finished 6th in the ’76 Olympics.
Died: Kenneth Taylor, 85
On April 24, in Alexandria, Virginia. A long-time USATF Board member, Taylor also served as treasurer and finance chair. He served as a USATF official for more than 30 years, covering all levels of the sport.
Died: Joyce Yakubowich, 70
On March 24, in Rutland, B.C. The Canadian sprinter won gold in the 400 at the ’75 Pan-Am Games and made it to No. 10 in the World Rankings that year. Ran in the 400 heats at the ’72 and ’76 Olympics and in the latter ran on the 8th-place 4×4.