Russian race walker who won gold at the 2011 World Championships and set multiple world records in the 20km walk. Known for her dominant performances in the early 2010s.
Anisya Kirdyapkina is a Russian race walker who has left an indelible mark on the sport, with a career spanning over a decade and numerous accolades to her name. Known for her remarkable endurance and technique, Kirdyapkina has been a force to be reckoned with in the world of race walking, earning her a reputation as one of the most successful athletes in her field.
Born on October 23, 1989, in Saransk, Russia, Kirdyapkina was discovered by renowned race walking coach Konstantin Nacharkin at the tender age of nine. Under his guidance, she honed her skills, and her natural talent soon became apparent. Her big break came in 2007, when she won the Russian Winter Championships, the European Race Walking Cup, and the European Junior Championships, all in the 10 km race.
In 2009, Kirdyapkina finished fourth at the World Championships, a feat that was later upgraded to bronze due to the disqualification of the original gold medalist. This marked a turning point in her career, as she went on to win the summer and winter Russian titles in 2010, setting a new personal best of 1:25.11. Her success continued in 2011, when she won a bronze medal at the World Championships.
The 2012 Olympics saw Kirdyapkina qualify for the event by beating Tatyana Sibileva at the Russian National Championships. Although she finished fifth at the Olympics, her determination and perseverance were evident. Her performance at the 2013 Universiade in Kazan, Russia, where she led a Russian one, two, three with a championship record of 1:29.30, solidified her position as a top contender in race walking.
In 2019, Kirdyapkina faced a setback when she was banned for three years due to doping allegations, resulting in the disqualification of all her results from 2011 to 2013. However, her spirit and dedication to the sport remained unwavering, and she continues to inspire aspiring athletes around the world.
Anisya Kirdyapkina's remarkable journey serves as a testament to her unwavering commitment to race walking. Despite the challenges she has faced, she remains an icon in the sport, inspiring future generations of athletes to follow in her footsteps.
52 Years Old
A trailblazing athlete who became the first Chinese-born person to compete for Spain in the Olympic Games, earning recognition for breaking cultural barriers in sports.
35 Years Old
A Chinese athlete who won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and set multiple world records in the 20km and 50km race walk events. Known for his exceptional endurance and technique.
