Privalova Irina Anatolyevna - a famous athlete in athletics in the Soviet Union and Russia. The Olympic champion has repeatedly won prizes at world and European championships. She is an Honored Master of Sports. To achieve such indicators, Irina Privalova spent more than one year and survived many injuries. Currently, she is one of the most famous athletes in the world.
Childhood
Irina Privalova was born on November 22, 1968. From early childhood, father and mother paid great attention to their daughter's sports skills. One day, Irina's father met the famous Nikitin family, which used interesting methods for sports education. He really liked this, and he decided to build a similar sports complex at home. Privalov lived in a small communal apartment. It was in it that the father allocated several meters of space to accommodate all the necessary sports equipment. For little Irina, this corner in the apartment has become a favorite place.
Skates
At eight years old, Irina Privalova was not in the athletics section, but on the rink. The girl knew how to stand perfectly on skates and performed jumps difficult enough for her age. Then Ira got into the theater on ice, but Irina was not very good at performing in the theater. At that moment, the former coach advised Privalova to test herself in ice skating. Irina Privalova readily changed her profile.
Athletics
Ira managed to get into athletics unexpectedly. It happened in 1979. Near the house of Ira built a running complex. Once, passing by, Irina Privalova decided to look at the arena closer. A mentor noticed her near the entrance and, mistaking her for an athlete, ordered her to go to the locker room and to train. The first lesson Ira liked very much, and she decided to continue her studies in the section.
The following year, Ira combined skating and athletics. However, after she decided to give all the time to athletics. Irina Privalova, whose biography is filled with various achievements, achieved her first significant achievement by passing the rate to a master of sports in running a hundred meters and long jumps. Similar results began to attract sports leaders. Irina Privalova, whose athletics was getting better and better, in 1985 got the opportunity to get into the youth team of the country. Four years later, it was included in the basic structure of the USSR.
Moscow State University and career development
Already in these years, athletics has become one of the main tasks in life. At Moscow State University, Irina Privalova was enrolled in 1986. She studied at the faculty of journalism. In her student years, she took part in competitions from the university team, and also achieved the title of master of sports of international class.
In 1989, Irina was able to attract special attention and become the main representative of the country at most tournaments. Irina was the only white-skinned runner who could overtake black athletes.
Performance history
- 1989 year. Third place in the 100 meters at the European Championships.
- 1991 year. Gold at sixty meters and silver at two hundred meters at the World Cup in Spain. The Summer World Championships in Tokyo brought silver at the 4x100 relay. Three gold medals at the European Cup.
- 1992 year. Third and second place at the Olympics in Barcelona.
- 1993 year. This year brought Irina eight medals of various denominations in various tournaments.
- 1994 year. European Championship - two golds, one silver. World Cup - two golds, one silver.
- 1995 year. World Championship - one gold. World Championship in Gothenburg - one silver and bronze. European Cup - two gold.
- 1998 year. European Championship - gold, silver and bronze.
There were no equal to Irina Privalova in competitions held in the USSR and Russia. On her account six world records and six European records.
Injuries
Throughout his career, like many athletes, Irina Privalova was accompanied by a variety of injuries. In 1997, at the World Cup, she got a gap in the back of her thigh. After such an injury, she was no longer considered an outstanding sprinter. At that moment, Ira began to think about ending her career. To help get out of such a difficult situation helped her husband, and part-time and coach. After weighing everything, they decided that Ira should go four hundred meters with barriers. This news surprised many fans. Many believed that at this age (31 years) it was too late to make such transitions. And the world of athletics has never seen anything like it before.
Nevertheless, the results exceeded all expectations. At the Sydney Olympic Games at 400 meters with barriers, Irina managed to win a gold medal and surprise everyone. The rivals who were considered the favorites were also surprised.
Soon, Irina came to the decision to go to a distance of 800 meters, but the coaches began to persuade her to continue speaking at a distance with barriers. The result was an injury and the final transition to 800 meters.
Irina Privalova leads a very eventful lifestyle. She is interested in computers, astronomy and fishing.