Photo: Leo Medvedev/Лев Леонидович Медведев—CC BY-SA 4.0

Faina Melnik

URSWomen

Birth dateJun 9, 1945

BirthplaceBakota, Ukraine

Height1.74 m

Weight88 kg

Faina Grigorievna Veleva-Melnik (Russian: Фаина Григорьевна Велева-Мельник; Ukrainian: Фаїна Григорівна Велєва-Мельник, romanized: Faina Hryhorivna Velieva-Melnyk; née Melnik; 9 June 1945 – 16 December 2016) was a Soviet discus thrower, a 1972 Summer Olympics champion in the discus event During her career she set 11 world records. During her career she set 11 world records.

Throughout their competitive career, they maintained exceptional standards in track and field athletics.

Their dedication to the sport exemplified the highest ideals of athletic competition and personal achievement.

Key facts

Discus Throw

70.50

Shot Put

20.03

#86 all-time

1982 season best

60.80

Aug 8, 1982 · Moskva (URS)

1982 season best

Medals

Olympic Games: 1 gold

Age

81 years old

As of Sep 13, 2026: Discus Throw 70.50, Shot Put 20.03 (#86 all-time), 1982 season best 60.80 (Aug 8, 1982, Moskva (URS)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold · 81 years old

Personal bests

20.03

#86 all-time

70.50

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	1	-	-	1

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
1982	SP	19.31	-	Aug 6, 1982	↓	Moskva (URS)
1982	DT	60.80	-	Aug 8, 1982	↑	Moskva (URS)
1981	DT	66.80	-	Jul 15, 1981	↑	-
1980	SP	19.32	-	Feb 17, 1980	↓	Moskva (URS) (i)
1980	DT	69.60	-	Sep 9, 1980	↑	Donetsk (URS)
1979	DT	67.34	-	May 20, 1979	↑	Riga (LAT)
1978	DT	70.34	-	Jun 25, 1978	↑	Vilnius (LTU)
1977	SP	20.01	-	May 20, 1977	↓	Sofia (BUL)
1977	DT	68.60	-	Jul 2, 1977	↑	Sochi (URS)
1976	SP	20.03	-	Jun 2, 1976	↓	Bratislava (TCH)
1976	DT	70.50	-	Apr 24, 1976	↑	Sochi (URS)
1975	DT	70.20	-	Aug 20, 1975	↑	Zürich (SUI)
1974	SP	18.61	-	Mar 9, 1974	↓	European Indoor Championships, Scandinavium, Göteborg (i)
1974	DT	69.90	-	May 27, 1974	↑	Praha (TCH)
1973	SP	18.51	-	Sep 15, 1973	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1973	DT	69.48	-	Sep 7, 1973	↑	Edinburgh (GBR)
1972	DT	66.76	-	Aug 4, 1972	↑	Moskva (URS)
1971	DT	64.88	-	Sep 4, 1971	↑	München (GER)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
DT	60.80	-	Aug 8	Moskva
SP	19.31	-	Aug 6	Moskva

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
DT	65.08	-	Sep 25	-
DT	66.80	-	Jul 15	-
DT	65.00	-	May 23	-

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
DT	69.60	-	Sep 9	-
DT	69.60	-	Sep 9	Donetsk NC, Donetsk
DT	66.82	-	Aug 30	-
DT	53.76	-	Jul 31	The XXII Olympic Games
DT	68.32	-	Jul 12	Podolsk
DT	68.32	-	Jul 12	-
DT	66.70	-	Jun 21	-
SP	19.32	-	Feb 17	Moskva URS Indoor Championships, Moskva (i)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
DT	65.02	-	Aug 31	-
DT	67.00	-	Aug 26	Riga
DT	64.60	-	Aug 19	Gomel
DT	65.78	-	Aug 11	Kaunas
DT	62.34	-	Jul 1	European Cup Semi Final, Sittard
DT	67.24	-	Jun 6	-
DT	66.00	-	May 29	-
DT	67.34	-	May 20	-

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
DT	62.30	-	Aug 31	Praha European Championships, Stadion Evžena Rošického, Praha
DT	62.30	-	Aug 29	Praha European Championships, Stadion Evžena Rošického, Praha
DT	64.48	-	Aug 13	Riga
DT	63.38	-	Jul 7	Berkeley, CA
DT	67.60	-	Jul 1	-
DT	67.60	-	Jul 1	Dortmund
DT	70.34	-	Jun 25	Vilnius
DT	68.44	-	Jun 10	Bratislava
DT	68.72	-	Jun 7	Golden Spike of Europe, Ostrava
DT	68.16	-	Jun 4	Sofia
DT	69.02	-	May 28	Sofia

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
DT	68.10	-	Sep 4	-
DT	68.10	-	Sep 4	Düsseldorf IAAF World Cup, Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf
DT	66.82	-	Aug 25	Edinburgh GBR-URS, Edinburgh
DT	66.82	-	Aug 25	-
DT	68.08	-	Aug 13	European Cup Final A, Helsinki
DT	67.92	-	Jul 28	Moskva NC, Moskva
DT	66.68	-	Jul 27	-
DT	66.80	-	Jul 17	European Cup Semi Final, Bucureşti
DT	62.52	-	Jul 10	Moskva
DT	68.60	-	Jul 2	-
DT	68.60	-	Jul 2	Sochi URS-USA, Sochi
DT	67.00	-	Jun 25	Karl Marx Stadt GDR-URS-POL Int. Match, Karl Marx Stadt
DT	66.98	-	Jun 5	Sochi URS-FRG, Sochi
SP	20.01	-	May 20	Sofia

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
DT	66.86	-	Aug 19	Warszawa
DT	69.14	-	Aug 6	College Park, MD
SP	18.07	-	Jul 31	The XXI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Montréal
DT	66.40	-	Jul 29	The XXI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Montréal

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Faina Melnik's Discus Throw personal best?

Faina Melnik's Discus Throw personal best is 70.50, set on Apr 24, 1976 in Sochi (URS).

Which events does Faina Melnik compete in?

Faina Melnik competes in the Discus Throw and Shot Put.

How did Faina Melnik perform in 1982?

1982 season best: 60.80, set on Aug 8, 1982 in Moskva (URS).

How many medals has Faina Melnik won?

Faina Melnik has won 1 Olympic Games medal.

Faina Melnik

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

Honours

Frequently asked questions