Background
Press, Tamara was born on May 10, 1937 in Khar’kov.
Press, Tamara was born on May 10, 1937 in Khar’kov.
Leningrad Construction Engineering Institute and Higher Party School of Central Committee of CPSU.
Between 1959 and 1965 she set 11 world records: five in the shot put and six in the discus. Domestically, she held 16 national titles, nine in the shot put (1958–66) and seven in the discus (1960–66). Her younger sister Irina Press was also a prominent track athlete, but mostly in the sprint events.
Press was born to Jewish parents in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Her father died fighting in World War II in 1942, while her mother took the daughters to Samarkand, where they started training in athletics. In 1955 Press moved to Saint Petersburg to train under the renowned coach Viktor Alekseyev.
Next year she was shortlisted for the Olympic team, but lost due to a strong domestic competition in the throwing events. Both sisters were accused of being men or hermaphrodites, and therefore sometimes called the "Press Brothers". They retired in 1966, before gender verification became mandatory.
In retirement Press worked as an athletics coach and official in Moscow. She also wrote several books on sport, social and economical subjects. She was awarded the Order of Lenin (1960), Order of the Badge of Honour (1964) and Order of Friendship (1997).
CPSU since 1962.