Nelson Prudêncio

Nelson Prudêncio
Nelson Prudêncio in 1968
Personal information
Born(1944-04-04)April 4, 1944
Lins, São Paulo
DiedNovember 23, 2012(2012-11-23) (aged 68)
São Carlos, São Paulo
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight71 kg (157 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventTriple jump
Achievements and titles
Personal best17.27 m (1968)
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Olympic Games
1968 Mexico CityTriple Jump
1972 MunichTriple jump
Pan American Games
1967 WinnipegTriple Jump
1971 CaliTriple jump

Nelson Prudêncio (April 4, 1944 – November 23, 2012) was a Brazilian athlete who competed in the triple jump. He won silver medals at the 1967 and 1971 Pan American Games and 1968 Summer Olympics, and a bronze at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Prudêncio was ranked world's #2 in 1968, #3 in 1972, #5 in 1975, and #8 in 1971.

Prudêncio's jump of 17.27 metres (56 feet 8 inches) at the 1968 Olympics was the world record before Viktor Saneyev extended it to 17.39 metres (57 feet 1 inch) a few minutes later.

Prudêncio was Professor of Physical Education at the Federal University of São Carlos and vice-president of Confederação Brasileira de Atletismo (Brazilian Athletics Confederation). He died of lung cancer on November 23, 2012, in São Carlos. He was 68 years old.