born Yakiv Yakymenko (Akimenko) in Kharkiv, in the Russian Empire (in present-day Ukraine). Stepovy's older brother, Theodore Akimenko [fr]), was also a composer...

Barshim won a high quality contest for the host nation. Barshim, Mikhail Akimenko and Ilya Ivanyuk all cleared 2.35 m (7 ft 8+1⁄2 in) before the home athlete...