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Barry Strassler Responds to Rafael Pinchas Letter (Jan/Feb 1996)

    A letter to the editor reopened the case of Skomorokhov, whose story appeared in the Nov/Dec issue. This letter is to make clarifications.

    As typos are a way of life in the publication field, a 110-meter hurdle was erroneously written as 100-meter hurdle.

    Was Skomorokhov an intelligent person or dissociated himself from the sleazy Russian crowd and did not die from assassination? Or was it the opposite? There are always conflicting views of episodes which take place every day. The writer interviewed several people while gathering material for the story. They unanimously cast Skomorokhov in a negative light.

    Why didn't Skomorokhov run in the 400-meter hurdles finals at the 1977 World Games for the Deaf that Ruberry, an American upstart, won? Again, there are conflicting versions. The consensus was that he was too proud to be defeated by an upstart and chose to be a no-show. It happened 18 years ago and the principals involved are either dead or do not remember exactly why.

    Skomorokhov, without doubt, is the greatest deaf Jewish trackster ever to exist. His no-show in the 1977 race is not going to detract from his athlete luster. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for his off-track pursuits.