Jüri Tarmak
Jüri Tarmak is a former Estonian high jumper who competed for the Soviet Union.
Tarmak took up athletics in 1963, following his father Aadu Tarmak, who was the Soviet champion in the discus throw in 1943–44. In 1970 he became a member of the Soviet national team. He won a silver and a bronze medal at European indoor championships in 1971 and 1972, and an Olympic gold medal in 1972. For this achievement he was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor. Tarmak was the last Olympic champion who used the straddle technique. In 1974 he retired from competitions, and next year graduated in economics from the Saint Petersburg State University. In 1985 he defended a PhD in economics and in 1985–1990 lectured at the same university. After the breakup of the Soviet Union he returned to his native Estonia where in 1990 founded an investment company, Broker Baltic AS. He later became a vice-president and consultant with the Tallinn Stock Exchange. He remained involved with sport and between 2001 and 2012 headed the sports club Kompass Tallinn.
