Background
GONCHARENKO, Oleg was born in 1932 in in Kharkov.
GONCHARENKO, Oleg was born in 1932 in in Kharkov.
First engaged successfully in cycle racing. 1950 raced for crack “Dinamo” and “Sovetsky Soyuz” (Soviet Union) teams. Concurrently trained for speed skating and in the winter of 1950 competed as member, Kharkov “Dinamo” team, in championship at Gorky.
His first 500 meter heat ended in failure but in 3 and 5 kilometer events he took 2nd place. 1953 first of Soviet speed skaters at World Ice-skating Championship to win title Outright World Champion. At 1956 competition in Moscow won title Outright USSR Champion and Outright World Champion.
In 1958 speed skating Competitions at Helsinki won for third time title Outright World Ice-skating Champion and Outright USSR Champion. At 1960 Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley came sixth in 5 kilometer event.