Uliana Donskova

Uliana Vyacheslavovna Donskova (Russian: Ульяна Вячеславовна Донскова; born 24 August 1992) is a Russian group rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2012 Olympics Group All-around champion, the 2011 World Group All-around silver medalist, the 2010 World Group All-around bronze medalist, the 2012 European Group All-around gold medalist and the 2010 European Group All-around gold medalist.

Uliana Donskova
Donskova at the 2012 RG New Year's
master class
Personal information
Full nameUliana Vyacheslavovna Donskova
Alternative name(s)Juliana Donskova
Country represented Russia
Born (1992-08-24) 24 August 1992
Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Rostov Oblast, Russia
DisciplineRhythmic gymnastics
LevelSenior elite
GymNovogorsk
Head coach(es)Irina Viner
Retired2012
Medal record
Group rhythmic gymnastics
Representing  Russia
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2012 LondonGroup All-around
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Mie 5 Hoops
Gold medal – first place 2010 Moscow 3 Ribbons/ 2 Ropes
Gold medal – first place 2010 Moscow 5 Balls
Gold medal – first place 2011 Montpellier 5 Balls
Silver medal – second place 2011 Montpellier Group All-around
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Mie Group All-around
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Mie 3 Ribbons/ 2 Ropes
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Moscow Group All-around
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Bremen Group All-around
Gold medal – first place 2010 Bremen 5 hoops
Gold medal – first place 2010 Bremen 3 Ribbons/ 2 Ropes
Gold medal – first place 2012 N.Novgorod Group All-around
Gold medal – first place 2012 N.Novgorod 5 Balls
Junior European Championships
Gold medal – first place2007 Baku10 Clubs
World Cup Final
Gold medal – first place2012 MinskGroup All-around
Gold medal – first place2012 Minsk5 Balls
Gold medal – first place2012 Minsk3 Ribbons/ 2 Hoops

Career
Donskova (right) at the 3 Ribbons +
2 Hoops final in 2012 Summer Olympics

Donskova started training in gymnastics when she was five years old. She started competing with the Russian Group in 2007. They won gold medal in 10 Clubs Final at the 2007 European Championships in Baku. She competed in her first World Championship on August 12, 2009 in Japan, in Mie. There she together with the other Russian group received a gold medal and two bronze medals. She was again part of the Russian Group at the European Championships in Bremen and at the 2010 and 2011 World Championships.

She won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the group all-around event together with other group members (Ksenia Dudkina, Anastasia Bliznyuk, Alina Makarenko, Anastasia Nazarenko, Karolina Sevastyanova).[1] Donskova admitted the group believed they would win gold in London "It was a long time with hard work. We believed in our victory, but we didn't allow ourselves to relax. We didn't think about the medal".[2]

It was Russia's 4th consecutive win in the Group since the 2000 Summer Olympics. Donskova said: "We had no idea that we were going for four in a row." When asked to explain the secret of Russia's success in rhythmic gymnastics, she added: "We're born as rhythmic gymnasts."[3] For six months leading up to the Olympic Games, the Russian gymnasts ate only buckwheat.[4] Donskova retired from rhythmic gymnastics after the 2012 Olympics.

Personal life

Donskova is a student at the Lesgaft National State University of Physical Culture, Sport & Health in Saint Petersburg, Russia. On June 25, 2014, Donskova married former CSKA Moskva Ice Hockey player Ruben Begunts. The couple had their first child in August 2015.

Detailed Olympic results
(L-R) Ksenia Dudkina, Alina Makarenko, Anastasia Nazarenko, Uliana Donskova and Anastasia Bliznyuk in 5 Balls final at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Year Competition Description Location Music [5] Apparatus Rank Score-Final Rank Score-Qualifying
2012 Olympics London All-around 1st 57.000 1st 56.375
Giselle by Adolphe Adams 5 Balls 1st 28.700 1st 28.375
( Knock on Wood / Tough Lover / At Last / Oye )
by Safri Duo / Christina Aguilera / Kenny G / Gloria Estefan		 3 Ribbons / 2 Hoops 1st 28.300 1st 28.000

References
  1. "Russia take Group gold". London2012.com. August 12, 2012. Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  2. "Russia dominate once again - London 2012 - Rhythmic Gymnastics - Olympic News".
  3. "Russia's golden reign". reuters.com. August 12, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  4. Рассказова, И. (August 21, 2012). Олимпийская чемпионка Анастасия Близнюк: Вечером после победы в Лондоне ужинали… пять раз!. Sovetsky Sport (in Russian).
  5. "Russia Group RG music list". rgforum.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Uliana Donskova.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.