Igor Avrunin
Maccabi Tel Aviv | |
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| Updated on December 30, 2023. | |
Igor Avrunin (sometimes spelled Igor Avronin; Russian: Игорь Аврунин, 16 July 1957 – 7 January 2020[1]) was a USSR-born Israeli track and field athlete.[2][3]
Early life
Igor Avrunin was born in 1957 in Gomel into a Jewish family. His father was a college physical education teacher and played a significant role in fostering and developing his son's athletic abilities. Avrunin's sports career began in the Youth Sports School of the Olympic Reserve. After graduating from the college in Gomel, he relocated to Kaunas, Lithuania, where he participated in various track and field competitions, and achieved multiple champion titles in the Lithuanian track and field championships.[3][4]
Sport career
Dinamo Kaunas
Avrunin trained under the guidance of the coach
Maccabi Tel Aviv
In 1990, Igor Avruninas repatriated to Israel,[6] marking a significant shift in his athletic journey. The transition did not hinder his achievements, as he continued to leave a lasting impact on Israeli track and field.[3][1]
He set Israeli record in the men's discus throw on 1 June 1991 at 62.24 m and in the men's shot put on 22 June 1991 at 19.09 m.[7] He is still the current Israeli record holder. His discus throw record in Israel remains unbroken, showcasing the enduring legacy of his achievements.[7]
Avrunin further solidified his position in Israeli track and field, claiming victory in discus throw at the Israeli Championship in 1991 and 1992. Additionally, he secured first place in shot put in 1991, 1992, 1995, and 1996 in various tournaments and competitions.[3]
IAAF controversy
Igor Avrunin emigrated to Israel in 1990.
The agreement enabled Israel to add three athletes — Igor Avrunin in the shot-put and discus, Vadim Bavikin in the javelin and Vladimir Ostrovskiy in the 20-kilometer walk — to its team of Rogel Nachum (men's triple jump) and Orit Kolodni (women's 200 and 400 meters).[8]
Thanks to this agreement Avrunin was able to participate at 1991 World Championship[9] in Tokyo and the 1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships[9] in Seville, Spain.[8]
Post-athletic career
After retiring from professional sports, Avrunin pursued diverse interests. He dedicated his time to teaching mathematics and physics, worked in a metal processing factory for four years, and independently explored his passion for computers. He later completed programming courses and became a skilled software engineer. His journey exemplifies a successful transition from athletic achievements to professional proficiency in a different field.[3]
In his free time, Avrunin shared his expertise by mentoring young discus throwers and shot put athletes. His commitment to nurturing the next generation showcased his dedication to the sport beyond his own competitive years.[3]
Avrunin died in Ashdod, at age 62, on 7 January 2020, after a long battle with cancer.[4]
Personal life
Avrunin stood 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in) tall and weighed 125 kilograms (276 lb) during his active career.[2]
Avrunin's family includes his son, Artur, a basketball player, and his daughter, Angelina, who followed in her father's footsteps to become an accomplished discus thrower.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b "זורק הדיסקוס איגור אברונין הלך לעולמו". YNET (in Hebrew). January 7, 2020. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ a b "Igor Avrunin's profile at World Athletics".
- ^ ISBN 978-5-904885-80-9.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ a b "IN MEMORIAM: IGORIS AVRUNINAS (1957-2020)". Lietuvos Lengvosios Atletikos Federacija (in Lithuanian). January 7, 2020. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ "СДЮШОР ППО РУП "ГОМСЕЛЬМАШ"" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ "זו היתה מלחמה בין צברים לעולים": כשהוא החל להתחרות בישראל, האחרים פרשו". Haaretz, June 12, 2020.
- ^ a b "Israeli Athletics Association official website" (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on July 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c Janofsky, Michael (August 22, 1991). "New Rule for Soviet Emigres. The New York Times". The New York Times. Vol. Section B. p. 20. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ a b "Igor Avrunin's profile at TheSport.org".
