Vladimir Kazantsev

Vladimir Dmitriyevich Kazantsev (, 6 January 1923 – 22 November 2007) was a Russian long-distance runner who won a silver medal in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 1952 Olympics. He set the world's best times in this event in 1951 and 1952 and won the Soviet title in 1950–53. In the Olympic final he had a 20 m lead with 700 m remaining but injured a tendon in a bad landing after a water jump and was overtaken by Horace Ashenfelter. Besides his KGB service Kazantsev taught physical education at the Soviet Police Academy and worked as an athletics coach, preparing the Soviet team for the 1964 Olympics.