Between 1962 and 1966 he set seven European records, four in the 200 m butterfly and three in the 4 × 100 m medley relay. During 1959–1966 he also set 24 national records and won 20 national titles in butterfly and medley events.
After retirement from senior swimming he competed in the masters category and won two national titles in 1989. He had a PhD in economical sciences and was a professor at the Moscow State University. Between 1989 and 2005 he worked in Chile with the United Nations. After returning to Russia he took part in European championships in Sweden.
References
{{Commons category}}{{Footer European Champions 200m Butterfly Men}}{{Footer European Champions 4x100m Medley Men}}{{Footer Universiade Champions 200m Butterfly Men}}{{Authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuzmin, Valentin}}{{Russia-swimming-bio-stub}} 10 : 1941 births|2008 deaths|Russian male swimmers|Male butterfly swimmers|Olympic swimmers of the Soviet Union|Swimmers at the 1960 Summer Olympics|Swimmers at the 1964 Summer Olympics|Swimmers at the 1968 Summer Olympics|European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming|Universiade medalists in swimming