Oleg Goncharenko, a former world champion speed...

Oleg Goncharenko, a former world champion speed skater, died after a long illness, the Tass news agency reported. He was 55.

Goncharenko was the first Soviet all-around world champion in his sport, winning the title in 1953, 1956 and 1958. He won bronze medals in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter events at the 1956 Olympics and won national and European titles several times, Tass said.