Aleksandr Spiridonovich Kanaki (russian: Александр Спиридонович Канаки, 29 March 1912 – 1995) was a Soviet athlete. He initially competed in

decathlon The decathlon is a combined event in Athletics (sport), athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word "decathlon" was formed, in analogy to the word "pentathlon", from Greek language, Greek δέκα (''déka'', meaning "ten") and ...

and placed third at the 1936 Soviet Championships. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

his right hand was irreversibly injured in action. Hence after the war Kanaki changed to

hammer throw The hammer throw is one of the four throwing events in regular track and field competitions, along with the discus throw, shot put and javelin. The "hammer" used in this sport is not like any of the tools also called by that name. It consis ...

, where his handicap was less impeding than in other throwing events. He set multiple records in hammer throw in the late 1940s and placed fifth at the 1950 European Championships.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanaki, Aleksandr 1912 births 1995 deaths People from Simferopolsky Uyezd Honoured Masters of Sport of the USSR Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Recipients of the Order of the Red Star Soviet Athletics Championships winners Soviet decathletes Soviet male discus throwers Soviet male hammer throwers Soviet male hurdlers Soviet male shot putters