A third straight national title outdoors came at the 1979 Soviet Spartakiad, seeing off a challenge from American Benn Fields. He was a bronze medallist in the high jump at both the 1979 European Cup and the 1979 IAAF World Cup. He gained selection for the Soviet Union at the 1980 Summer Olympics and reached eighth in the final on home turf. He took his final national title at the 1981 Soviet Championships.