KUTS, VLADIMIR

born Feb. 7, 1927, Aleksino, Ukraine, U.S.S.R. died Aug. 16, 1975, Moscow, Russia Soviet distance runner who held the world record in the 5,000-metre race (195455, 195765), the 10,000-metre race (195660), and the three-mile race (1954). An officer in the Soviet army and a member of the Communist Party from 1955, Kuts won gold medals for both the 5,000- and 10,000-metre races at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. He was the European champion in the 5,000-metre race in 1954 and was also Soviet champion at that distance and in the 10,000-metre race (195357). After 1957, illness forced him to retire from running, but he continued as a coach.