Dmitry Nikolayevich Sakunenko (January 7, 1930 – April 8, 2000) was a Soviet speed skater who competed at the international level during the 1950s. He is best known for setting a world record in the allround combination and for representing the Soviet Union in the Winter Olympic Games.
Born in Talmenka, Altai Krai, Sakunenko emerged as a prominent figure in Soviet speed skating during a decade of high performance for the national program. His most significant athletic achievement took place on January 9–10, 1955, at the Medeo high-altitude rink near Alma-Ata. During this competition, he recorded an allround score of 184.638 points, establishing a new world record. This mark was notable for being the first time a speed skater officially surpassed the 185-point barrier in the allround event.
Sakunenko participated in the 1956 Winter Olympics held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. He competed in the 5,000-meter race, where he finished in 16th place with a time of 8:10.5. Beyond the Olympics, he competed in various World Allround Speed Skating Championships and European Speed Skating Championships, consistently ranking among the top Soviet skaters of his era, although he did not achieve a podium finish at these specific international championships.
In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Sakunenko was awarded the title of Master of Sports of the USSR. He spent much of his later life in Vladimir, Russia, where he died in 2000. His world record performance in 1955 remains a significant milestone in the history of the allround speed skating discipline.