Pankrashkin only came to basketball at the age of 17. Because of his height, he was noticed by an army basketball coach. After a short time with different army teams he came to CSKA Moscow, where he spent 10 years. In addition to his height, he had an enormous arm length so that he could stand on his heel and touch the basketball ring. With these physical virtues, blocked shots became his trademark. He won five Soviet championships in a row with CSKA. He celebrated his greatest triumph in 1988 when he won the gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul as a member of the Soviet national team. After 1988, CSKA got a new coach, with whom Pankraschkin fell out. He left Moscow and joined the new Armenian club Urartu in Yerevan. In terms of sport, however, his most successful period was over.
Disease
As early as 1986 Pankrashkin was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He initially kept the disease a secret. The further progression of the disease made it impossible to play basketball from 1992 onwards. He died of this disease on July 24, 1993.
