Died: Aleksandr Barishnikov, 75
On September 15, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The shot bronze medalist in the ’76 Olympics, he added a silver in ’80. A 5-time World Ranker, the Soviet was No. 1 in ’76, the year in which he became the first spinner to set a WR.
Died: Kurt Bendlin, 81
On August 29, in Paderborn, Germany. The bronze medalist in the ’68 Olympic decathlon, he set a WR of 8319 a year earlier. The West German World Ranked No. 1 in ’67, the best of his six years in the Rankings.
Died: Les Bond, 80
On August 14, in Manteca, California; of pancreatic cancer. The runner-up in the ’64 NCAA triple jump for San José State, he also finished 7th in the ’63 long jump, and 8th in ’64. He twice was U.S.-ranked in the triple, with a No. 5 in ’65 and No. 8 the next year.
Died: Rebecca Cheptegei, 33
On September 05, in Endebess, Kenya, burned by gasoline in a domestic attack (her attacker also died). The Ugandan marathoner, a 2:22:47 performer who also won the Mountain Running World Championship in ’22, placed 44th in the Olympic marathon.
Died: Otis Davis, 92
On September 14, in North Bergen, New Jersey. A basketball player at Oregon who switched to track, he placed 7th in the NCAA 440 in ’59. The next year he won gold in the 400 and the 4×4 at the Rome Olympics and was the first to break 45 with his 44.9. He World Ranked three times: No. 5 in ’59, 2 in ’60 and 3 in ’61. He’s one of the athletes featured on the tower at Hayward Field
Died: Miheala Peneș, 77
On August 29. The Romanian javelin thrower won the gold medal in ’64 at age 17, then silver in Mexico City. She World Ranked 5 seasons, with No. 1s in ’64 & ’65.
Died: Hermes Ramírez, 76
On September 04. He ran on Cuba’s silver-medal winning 4×1 in ’68. Was 4 times World Ranked in the 100, with a high of No. 2 in ’69.