Born: 27 June 1969

Birthplace: Odessa (Ukraine)

Nationality: Ukraine

Sport: Skating

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Calgary 1988

Albertville 1992

Lillehammer 1994

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 1

Bronze: 1

Other results:

World Championships

Gold 1: (1992)

Silver 2: (1990, 1991)

Winning in the Long Run

In 1988, Viktor Petrenko finished third in men's figure skating. He hoped to achieve even more at the next Olympics in Albertville in 1992. However, Petrenko had a difficult history to overcome. At the last two world championships, in 1990 and 1991, he had ranked first after the short program, only to lose to Kurt Browning of Canada because Petrenko wilted towards the end of his long program.

Once again, in Albertville, he led after the short program, and once again he wilted in the second half of his long program, even falling once. But this time Browning also faltered and Petrenko was able to take away the gold medal. Petrenko competed in the Olympics one last time in 1994. Only ninth after the short program, he performed an excellent long program to finish in fourth place overall.