Jump to content

Valentyna Semerenko: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →‎Career: clean up, typo(s) fixed: Nevertheless → Nevertheless,
 
(43 intermediate revisions by 28 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Ukrainian biathlete}}
{{Infobox skier
{{Infobox biathlete
| name = Valentyna Semerenko
| name = Valentyna Semerenko
| image = Валентина Семеренко (cropped).JPG
| image = Валентина Семеренко (cropped).JPG
Line 7: Line 8:
| fullname = Valentyna Oleksandrivna Semerenko
| fullname = Valentyna Oleksandrivna Semerenko
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|1|18|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|1|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Krasnopillia]], [[Sumy Oblast]], [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Ukrainian SSR]], [[Soviet Union]], now [[Ukraine]]
| birth_place = [[Krasnopillia (town)|Krasnopillia]], [[Sumy Oblast]], [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Ukrainian SSR]], now [[Ukraine]]
| height = 160
| height = 1.61 m
| club = Dynamo
| weight = 54 kg
| personalbest = 1
| disciplines = [[Biathlon]]
| seasons = 2005–
| club = [[Dynamo (Ukraine)|Dynamo Ukraine]]
| wins = 1
| wcdebut = 2016
| olympicteams = '''4''' ([[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006]]–[[Biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics|2018]])
⚫
| totalpodiums = 8
| olympicmedals = '''1'''
⚫
| olympicgolds = 1
| worldsteams = '''10''' ([[Biathlon World Championships 2007|2007]]–[[Biathlon World Championships 2019|2019]])
| worldsmedals = '''6'''
| worldsgolds = 1
| wcseasons = 2005–2023
| wcwins = 2
| wcpodiums = 11 (incl. 3 at World Champ.)
| show-medals = no
| medaltemplates =
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry | {{UKR}} }}
{{MedalCountry | {{UKR}} }}
Line 25: Line 35:
{{MedalBronze| [[Biathlon World Championships 2013|2013 Nové Město]] | [[Biathlon World Championships 2013 – Women's individual|15 km individual]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[Biathlon World Championships 2013|2013 Nové Město]] | [[Biathlon World Championships 2013 – Women's individual|15 km individual]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[Biathlon World Championships 2015|2015 Kontiolahti]] | [[Biathlon World Championships 2015 – Women's sprint|7.5 km sprint]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[Biathlon World Championships 2015|2015 Kontiolahti]] | [[Biathlon World Championships 2015 – Women's sprint|7.5 km sprint]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[Biathlon World Championships 2019|2019 Östersund]]|[[Biathlon World Championships 2019 – Women's relay|4 x 6 km relay]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Biathlon European Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Biathlon European Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | {{nowrap|[[Biathlon European Championships 2008|2008 Nové Město]]}} |Relay}}
{{MedalGold | {{nowrap|[[Biathlon European Championships 2008|2008 Nové Město]]}} |Relay}}
Line 32: Line 43:
{{MedalGold | {{nowrap|[[Biathlon European Championships 2012|2012 Osrblie]]}} |[[Biathlon European Championships 2012 – Women's 4 x 6 km Relay|Relay]]}}
{{MedalGold | {{nowrap|[[Biathlon European Championships 2012|2012 Osrblie]]}} |[[Biathlon European Championships 2012 – Women's 4 x 6 km Relay|Relay]]}}
{{MedalGold |[[Biathlon European Championships 2015|2015 Otepää]] |Relay}}
{{MedalGold |[[Biathlon European Championships 2015|2015 Otepää]] |Relay}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Biathlon European Championships 2010|2010 Otepää]] | [[Biathlon European Championships 2010 – Women's 4 x 6 km Relay|4Relay]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2020 IBU Open European Championships|2020 Raubichi]]|Mixed relay}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Biathlon European Championships 2010|2010 Otepää]] | [[Biathlon European Championships 2010 – Women's 4 x 6 km Relay|Relay]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Biathlon European Championships 2012|2012 Osrblie]] | [[Biathlon European Championships 2012 – Women's sprint|7.5 km sprint]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Biathlon European Championships 2012|2012 Osrblie]] | [[Biathlon European Championships 2012 – Women's sprint|7.5 km sprint]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Biathlon European Championships 2012|2012 Osrblie]] | [[Biathlon European Championships 2012 – Women's pursuit|10 km pursuit]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Biathlon European Championships 2012|2012 Osrblie]] | [[Biathlon European Championships 2012 – Women's pursuit|10 km pursuit]]}}
Line 42: Line 54:
{{MedalCompetition | [[Universiade]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Universiade]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[2007 Winter Universiade|2007 Turin]] | Relay}}
{{MedalSilver| [[2007 Winter Universiade|2007 Turin]] | Relay}}
{{MedalSilver| [[2007 Winter Universiade|2007 Turin]] | Sprint}}
{{MedalBronze| [[2007 Winter Universiade|2007 Turin]] | 12.5 km mass start}}
}}
}}
⚫
'''Valentyna Oleksandrivna Semerenko''' ({{lang-uk|Валентина Олександрівна Семеренко}}), known also as '''Valya Semerenko''' ({{audio|Valj semerenko.ogg|listen}}) and featuring in statistics as '''Valj Semerenko''' (born 18 January 1986) is a Ukrainian [[Biathlon|biathlete]]. She is [[Winter Olympics|Olympic]] and [[Biathlon World Championships|World champion]], multiple World championships medalist, and one of the most successful Ukrainian winter athletes.

⚫
'''Valentyna Oleksandrivna Semerenko''' ({{lang-uk|Валентина Олександрівна Семеренко}}), known also as '''Valya Semerenko''' ({{audio|Valj semerenko.ogg|listen}}) and featuring in statistics as '''Valj Semerenko''' (born 18 January 1986) is a Ukrainian [[Biathlon|biathlete]]. She is [[Winter Olympics|Olympic]] and [[Biathlon World Championships|World champion]], multiple World championships medalist and one of the most successful Ukrainian winter athletes.


==Career==
==Career==
When she was in the fourth grade of elementary school, she took up [[cross-country skiing]] together with her twin sister [[Vita Semerenko|Vita]]. But later they decided to switch to biathlon. She began competing internationally year earlier than Vita. In 2004 she took part at [[Biathlon Junior World Championships|Junior World Championships]] in [[Maurienne]], [[France]]. In 2005 she won two medals at Junior World and one at [[Biathlon European Championships|Junior European]] Championships. On December 17, 2005, she debuted in [[Biathlon World Cup]]. She finished her first World Cup sprint competition in [[Osrblie]], [[Slovakia]], ranking 47th. Valja managed to qualify for [[2006 Winter Olympics]] where she took part only in individual race finishing 46th.
When she was in the fourth grade of elementary school, she took up [[cross-country skiing]] together with her twin sister [[Vita Semerenko|Vita]]. But later, they decided to switch to biathlon. She began competing internationally a year earlier than Vita. In 2004 she took part at [[Biathlon Junior World Championships|Junior World Championships]] in [[Maurienne]], [[France]]. In 2005 she won two medals at Junior World and one at [[Biathlon European Championships|Junior European]] Championships. On 17 December 2005, she debuted in [[Biathlon World Cup]]. She finished her first World Cup sprint competition in [[Osrblie]], [[Slovakia]], ranking 47th. Valja managed to qualify for [[2006 Winter Olympics]], where she took part only in individual race, finishing 46th.


For the first time she participated at the World Championships in [[Biathlon World Championships 2007|2007]] in [[Rasen-Antholz|Antholz-Anterselva]], [[Italy]]. Actually, Valja missed almost the half of the [[2006-07 Biathlon World Cup]]. Next season was more successful. She won the silver medal in 4×6 km relay event at the [[Biathlon World Championships 2008]]. First [[Biathlon World Cup|World Cup]] relay victory came on January 7, 2009, in [[Oberhof, Germany|Oberhof]], [[Germany]].
For the first time, she participated at the World Championships in [[Biathlon World Championships 2007|2007]] in [[Rasen-Antholz|Antholz-Anterselva]], [[Italy]]. Valja missed almost half of the [[2006-07 Biathlon World Cup]]. The next season was more successful. She won the silver medal in the 4×6 km relay event at the [[Biathlon World Championships 2008]]. First [[Biathlon World Cup|World Cup]] relay victory came on 7 January 2009, in [[Oberhof, Germany|Oberhof]], [[Germany]].


She represented Ukraine at the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in [[Vancouver, British Columbia]], [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-biathlon/athletes/valj-semerenko_ath1003454Cb.html |title=Valj Semerenko, Biathlon |publisher=Vancouver 2010 |accessdate=21 February 2010}}</ref> In all races she placed between 13 and 23.
She represented Ukraine at the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in [[Vancouver, British Columbia]], [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-biathlon/athletes/valj-semerenko_ath1003454Cb.html |title=Valj Semerenko, Biathlon |publisher=Vancouver 2010 |access-date=21 February 2010}}</ref> In all races she placed between 13 and 23.


First individual podium Valja celebrated on February 4, 2011, in [[Presque Isle, Maine|Presque Isle]], [[United States]], in sprint. At the [[Biathlon World Championships 2013|2013 World Championships]] Valja won bronze in [[Biathlon World Championships 2013 – Women's individual|individual]] race and silver in [[Biathlon World Championships 2013 – Women's relay|relay]]. On December 15, 2013, Valja won a pursuit race in [[Annecy]], [[France]], which was her first individual World Cup victory.
First individual podium Valja celebrated on 4 February 2011, in [[Presque Isle, Maine|Presque Isle]], [[United States]], in sprint. At the [[Biathlon World Championships 2013|2013 World Championships]], Valja won bronze in [[Biathlon World Championships 2013 – Women's individual|individual]] race and silver in [[Biathlon World Championships 2013 – Women's relay|relay]]. On 15 December 2013, Valja won a pursuit race in [[Annecy]], [[France]], which was her first individual World Cup victory.


[[File:Stamp of Ukraine s1368.jpg|thumbnail|Stamps of Ukraine, 2014]]
[[File:Stamp of Ukraine s1368.jpg|thumbnail|Stamps of Ukraine, 2014]]


Together with [[Juliya Dzhyma]], [[Vita Semerenko]] and [[Olena Pidhrushna]] she won the gold medal in the [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Women's relay|Women's relay]] at the [[2014 Winter Olympics]], in [[Sochi]], [[Russia]].<ref name=sref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/se/valj-semerenko-1.html |title=Valj Semerenko |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |work=SR/Olympic Sports |accessdate=11 December 2014 }}</ref>
Together with [[Juliya Dzhyma]], [[Vita Semerenko]] and [[Olena Pidhrushna]] she won the gold medal in the [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Women's relay|Women's relay]] at the [[2014 Winter Olympics]], in [[Sochi]], [[Russia]].<ref name=sref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/se/valj-semerenko-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418001126/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/se/valj-semerenko-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Valj Semerenko |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |work=SR/Olympic Sports |access-date=11 December 2014 }}</ref>


[[2014-15 Biathlon World Cup|2014-15 season]] was the most successful as of January 2018. That season she had 4 individual podiums and finished third in World Cup classification, being the second ever Ukrainian biathlete to finish a season in Top-3 after [[Olena Zubrilova]]. After [[Christmas]] Valja together with [[Serhiy Semenov]] she won [[World Team Challenge]]. The most memorable achievement was victory in [[Biathlon World Championships 2015 – Women's mass start|mass start]] at [[Biathlon World Championships 2015|2015 World Championships]] in [[Kontiolahti]], [[Finland]]. Next two seasons weren't very successful due to illnesses and weak physical conditions. Valja was forced to miss a lot of races.
[[2014-15 Biathlon World Cup|2014–15 season]] was the most successful as of January 2018. That season she had four individual podiums and finished third in World Cup classification, being the second-ever Ukrainian biathlete to finish a season in Top-3 after [[Olena Zubrilova]]. After [[Christmas]], Valja together with [[Serhiy Semenov]], she won [[World Team Challenge]]. The most memorable achievement was victory in [[Biathlon World Championships 2015 – Women's mass start|mass start]] at [[Biathlon World Championships 2015|2015 World Championships]] in [[Kontiolahti]], [[Finland]]. The next two seasons weren't very successful due to illnesses and weak physical conditions. Valja was forced to miss a lot of races.


She qualified to represent [[Ukraine at the 2018 Winter Olympics|Ukraine]] at the [[2018 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biathlon.com.ua/comments.php?id=8239|title=Ukrainian squad for the 2018 Winter Olympics|publisher=Ukrainian Biathlon Federation|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref> Her best personal result at the Games was 19th place in the mass start. She expected to run in the women's relay but wasn't included in the roster. Later she accused coaches of ignoring her results and including not so successful at the Games [[Iryna Varvynets]] and [[Anastasiya Merkushyna]] in the relay team. Her sister [[Vita Semerenko]] later told in an interview that Valja cried for hours after discovering that she wouldn't participate in the relay. In the evening before the competition, Valja posted on [[Facebook]] that "we don't have any team", "our team is just ***" and so on, and that she has something more to unveil about the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zik.ua/news/2018/02/22/u_zhinochiy_zbirniy_ukrainy_z_biatlonu_u_phonchhani_rozgorivsya_skandal_1271745|title=Scandal in Ukrainian women's biathlon team|publisher=ZIK|access-date=22 February 2018}}</ref> Next day she said that she may finish her sport career immediately after the Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sport.unian.ua/olympics2018/10018676-biatlonistka-semerenko-ogolosila-pro-zakinchennya-kar-yeri-i-ne-zbirayetsya-vidmovlyatisya-vid-svojih-sliv-pro-treneriv-komandi.html|title=Valja Semerenko claims to finish her career and she won't refuse her words about national team coaches|publisher=UNIAN|access-date=23 February 2018}}</ref> Nevertheless, she competed in World Cup after the Games.
She qualified to represent [[Ukraine at the 2018 Winter Olympics|Ukraine]] at the [[2018 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biathlon.com.ua/comments.php?id=8239|title=Ukrainian squad for the 2018 Winter Olympics|publisher=Ukrainian Biathlon Federation|accessdate=January 20, 2018}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Line 76: Line 89:
| [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics|2010]] ||style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Vancouver]], [[Canada]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's individual|13]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's sprint|23]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's pursuit|23]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's mass start|19]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's relay|6]] ||
| [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics|2010]] ||style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Vancouver]], [[Canada]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's individual|13]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's sprint|23]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's pursuit|23]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's mass start|19]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's relay|6]] ||
|-
|-
| [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics|2014]] ||style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Sochi]], [[Russia]] || [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics - Women's individual|19]] || [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics - Women's sprint|12]] || [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Women's pursuit|5]] || [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics - Women's mass start|12]] || bgcolor="gold"| '''[[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics - Women's relay|1]]''' ||
| [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics|2014]] ||style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Sochi]], [[Russia]] || [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics - Women's individual|19]] || [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics - Women's sprint|12]] || [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics - Women's pursuit|5]] || [[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics - Women's mass start|12]] || bgcolor="gold"| '''[[Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics - Women's relay|1]]''' ||
|-
|-
| [[Biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics|2018]] ||style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Pyeongchang]], [[South Korea]] || || || || || ||
| [[Biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics|2018]] ||style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Pyeongchang]], [[South Korea]] || [[Biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics - Women's individual|25]] || [[Biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics - Women's sprint|46]] || [[Biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics - Women's pursuit|DNS]] || [[Biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics - Women's mass start|19]] || ||
|-
|[[Biathlon at the 2022 Winter Olympics|2022]]
|style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|China}} [[Beijing]], [[China]]
|DNF
|
|
|
|
|13
|}
|}


Line 103: Line 125:
|-
|-
| [[Biathlon World Championships 2017|2017]] ||style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Hochfilzen]], [[Austria]] || || [[Biathlon World Championships 2017 – Women's sprint|80]] || || || ||
| [[Biathlon World Championships 2017|2017]] ||style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Hochfilzen]], [[Austria]] || || [[Biathlon World Championships 2017 – Women's sprint|80]] || || || ||
|-
|[[Biathlon World Championships 2019|2019]]
|style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Östersund]], [[Sweden]]
|36
|29
|38
|
| bgcolor="cc9966"|3
|
|-
|[[Biathlon World Championships 2020|2020]]
|style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Rasen-Antholz]], [[Italy]]
|42
|36
|43
|
|
|
|-
|[[Biathlon World Championships 2021|2021]]
|style="text-align: left;"| {{flagicon|SLO}} [[Pokljuka]], [[Slovenia]]
|
|50
|DNF
|
|
|
|}
|}


Line 195: Line 244:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{IBU profile}}
* [http://services.biathlonresults.com/athletes.aspx?IbuId=BTUKR21801198601 IBU Database]
* [http://www.biathlon.com.ua/profile.php?id=322 Biathlon.com.ua]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121216111527/http://biathlon.com.ua/profile.php?id=322 Biathlon.com.ua]


{{Footer Olympic Champions Biathlon Relay Women}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Biathlon Relay Women}}
{{Footer World Champions Biathlon 12.5km Mass Start Women}}
{{Footer World Champions Biathlon 12.5km Mass Start Women}}
{{2018 Ukraine Winter Olympic team}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Semerenko, Valya}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Semerenko, Valya}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
⚫
[[Category:People from Krasnopillya, Sumy Oblast]]
[[Category:Ukrainian female biathletes]]
[[Category:Ukrainian female biathletes]]
[[Category:Olympic biathletes of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Olympic biathletes for Ukraine]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2018 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2018 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Twin people from Ukraine]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2022 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Twin sportspeople]]
[[Category:Ukrainian twins]]
[[Category:Biathlon World Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Biathlon World Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Ukraine]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Ukraine]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in biathlon]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in biathlon]]
[[Category:Dynamo sports society athletes]]
[[Category:Dynamo Sports Club sportspeople]]
[[Category:Universiade medalists in biathlon]]
[[Category:Winter World University Games medalists in biathlon]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games silver medalists for Ukraine]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 2007 Winter Universiade]]
[[Category:Laureates of the Prize of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for special achievements of youth in the development of Ukraine]]
⚫
[[Category:Sportspeople from Sumy Oblast]]

Latest revision as of 16:03, 4 June 2024

Valentyna Semerenko
Personal information
Full nameValentyna Oleksandrivna Semerenko
Born (1986-01-18) 18 January 1986 (age 38)
Krasnopillia, Sumy Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, now Ukraine
Height1.61 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight54 kg (119 lb)
Professional information
SportBiathlon
ClubDynamo Ukraine
World Cup debut2016
Olympic Games
Teams4 (2006–2018)
Medals1 (1 gold)
World Championships
Teams10 (2007–2019)
Medals6 (1 gold)
World Cup
Seasons2005–2023
Individual victories2
Individual podiums11 (incl. 3 at World Champ.)
Medal record
Representing  Ukraine
Women's biathlon
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Sochi 4 x 6 km relay
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Kontiolahti 12.5 km mass start
Silver medal – second place 2008 Östersund 4 x 6 km relay
Silver medal – second place 2013 Nové Město 4 x 6 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Nové Město 15 km individual
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Kontiolahti 7.5 km sprint
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Östersund 4 x 6 km relay
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2008 Nové Město Relay
Gold medal – first place 2009 Ufa Relay
Gold medal – first place 2010 Otepää Sprint
Gold medal – first place 2011 Ridanna Relay
Gold medal – first place 2012 Osrblie Relay
Gold medal – first place 2015 Otepää Relay
Gold medal – first place 2020 Raubichi Mixed relay
Silver medal – second place 2010 Otepää Relay
Silver medal – second place 2012 Osrblie 7.5 km sprint
Silver medal – second place 2012 Osrblie 10 km pursuit
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Bansko Relay
Junior World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2005 Kontiolahti Girl's relay
Junior European Championships
Silver medal – second place 2005 Novosibirsk Relay
Universiade
Silver medal – second place 2007 Turin Relay
Silver medal – second place 2007 Turin Sprint
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Turin 12.5 km mass start

Valentyna Oleksandrivna Semerenko (Ukrainian: Валентина Олександрівна Семеренко), known also as Valya Semerenko (listenⓘ) and featuring in statistics as Valj Semerenko (born 18 January 1986) is a Ukrainian biathlete. She is Olympic and World champion, multiple World championships medalist, and one of the most successful Ukrainian winter athletes.

Career

[edit]

When she was in the fourth grade of elementary school, she took up cross-country skiing together with her twin sister Vita. But later, they decided to switch to biathlon. She began competing internationally a year earlier than Vita. In 2004 she took part at Junior World Championships in Maurienne, France. In 2005 she won two medals at Junior World and one at Junior European Championships. On 17 December 2005, she debuted in Biathlon World Cup. She finished her first World Cup sprint competition in Osrblie, Slovakia, ranking 47th. Valja managed to qualify for 2006 Winter Olympics, where she took part only in individual race, finishing 46th.

For the first time, she participated at the World Championships in 2007 in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. Valja missed almost half of the 2006-07 Biathlon World Cup. The next season was more successful. She won the silver medal in the 4×6 km relay event at the Biathlon World Championships 2008. First World Cup relay victory came on 7 January 2009, in Oberhof, Germany.

She represented Ukraine at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[1] In all races she placed between 13 and 23.

First individual podium Valja celebrated on 4 February 2011, in Presque Isle, United States, in sprint. At the 2013 World Championships, Valja won bronze in individual race and silver in relay. On 15 December 2013, Valja won a pursuit race in Annecy, France, which was her first individual World Cup victory.

Stamps of Ukraine, 2014

Together with Juliya Dzhyma, Vita Semerenko and Olena Pidhrushna she won the gold medal in the Women's relay at the 2014 Winter Olympics, in Sochi, Russia.[2]

2014–15 season was the most successful as of January 2018. That season she had four individual podiums and finished third in World Cup classification, being the second-ever Ukrainian biathlete to finish a season in Top-3 after Olena Zubrilova. After Christmas, Valja together with Serhiy Semenov, she won World Team Challenge. The most memorable achievement was victory in mass start at 2015 World Championships in Kontiolahti, Finland. The next two seasons weren't very successful due to illnesses and weak physical conditions. Valja was forced to miss a lot of races.

She qualified to represent Ukraine at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[3] Her best personal result at the Games was 19th place in the mass start. She expected to run in the women's relay but wasn't included in the roster. Later she accused coaches of ignoring her results and including not so successful at the Games Iryna Varvynets and Anastasiya Merkushyna in the relay team. Her sister Vita Semerenko later told in an interview that Valja cried for hours after discovering that she wouldn't participate in the relay. In the evening before the competition, Valja posted on Facebook that "we don't have any team", "our team is just ***" and so on, and that she has something more to unveil about the team.[4] Next day she said that she may finish her sport career immediately after the Games.[5] Nevertheless, she competed in World Cup after the Games.

Personal life

[edit]

Biathlete Vita is her twin sister. Valja is married to Oleksiy Prokhor. She graduated from Sumy State Pedagogical Makarenko University.

Results

[edit]

Winter Olympics

[edit]
Year Event IN SP PU MS RL MRL
2006 Italien Torino, Italien 46
2010 Kanada Vancouver, Kanada 13 23 23 19 6
2014 Russland Sochi, Russland 19 12 5 12 1
2018 Südkorea Pyeongchang, Südkorea 25 46 DNS 19
2022 China Beijing, China DNF 13

World Championships

[edit]
Year Event IN SP PU MS RL MRL
2007 Italien Rasen-Antholz, Italien 36 9
2008 Schweden Östersund, Schweden 32 16 20 18 2
2009 Südkorea Pyeongchang, Südkorea 26 15 38 16 DNF 11
2011 Russland Khanty-Mansiysk, Russland 11 10 24 16 DSQ
2012 Deutschland Ruhpolding, Deutschland 49 57 DNF 6
2013 Tschechische Republik Nové Město na Moravě, Tschechische Republik 3 22 43 DNF 2
2015 Finnland Kontiolahti, Finnland 15 3 19 1 6 11
2016 Norwegen Oslo, Norwegen 44 38 26 5 4
2017 Österreich Hochfilzen, Österreich 80
2019 Schweden Östersund, Schweden 36 29 38 3
2020 Italien Rasen-Antholz, Italien 42 36 43
2021 Slowenien Pokljuka, Slowenien 50 DNF

World Cup

[edit]

Individual podiums

[edit]
Season Place Competition Placement
2010–11 Vereinigte Staaten Presque Isle, Vereinigte Staaten Sprint 3
2012–13 Deutschland Oberhof, Deutschland Pursuit 3
2013–14 Frankreich Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand, Frankreich Sprint 3
Frankreich Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand, Frankreich Pursuit 1
2014–15 Schweden Östersund, Schweden Individual 3
Schweden Östersund, Schweden Pursuit 2
Slowenien Pokljuka, Slowenien Sprint 3
Slowenien Pokljuka, Slowenien Pursuit 3

Relay podiums

[edit]
Season Place Competition Placement
2008–09 Deutschland Oberhof, Deutschland Relay 1
2010–11 Österreich Hochfilzen, Österreich Relay 2
2012–13 Österreich Hochfilzen, Österreich Relay 2
Deutschland Oberhof, Deutschland Relay 1
Russland Sochi, Russland Relay 2
2013–14 Schweden Östersund, Schweden Mixed relay 3
Österreich Hochfilzen, Österreich Relay 1
Deutschland Ruhpolding, Deutschland Relay 3
Frankreich Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand, Frankreich Relay 2
2014–15 Italien Antholz, Italien Relay 3
Tschechische Republik Nové Město, Tschechische Republik Mixed relay 3
2015–16 Österreich Hochfilzen, Österreich Relay 3
Deutschland Ruhpolding, Deutschland Relay 1
2017–18 Österreich Hochfilzen, Österreich Relay 2

Positions

[edit]
  • Position (and scores) are shown in the table.
Season Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass starts TOTAL
2006–07 26 (32) 53 (20) 55 (8) 47 (60)
2007–08 37 (14) 28 (83) 28 (58) 30 (35) 28 (190)
2008–09 25 (56) 30 (105) 33 (61) 14 (115) 24 (349)
2009–10 8 (102) 19 (195) 14 (125) 20 (97) 14 (538)
2010–11 2 (159) 14 (240) 12 (161) 14 (127) 11 (678)
2011–12 29 (32) 25 (129) 21 (122) 23 (73) 22 (356)
2012–13 9 (86) 21 (160) 25 (107) 23 (85) 20 (438)
2013–14 8 (59) 10 (186) 6 (233) 13 (75) 8 (553)
2014–15 11 (74) 5 (328) 3 (255) 2 (210) 3 (865)
2015–16 50 (15) 51 (43) 37 (67) 46 (14) 47 (139)
2016–17 74 (11) 73 (13) 79 (24)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Valj Semerenko, Biathlon". Vancouver 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Valj Semerenko". SR/Olympic Sports. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Ukrainian squad for the 2018 Winter Olympics". Ukrainian Biathlon Federation. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Scandal in Ukrainian women's biathlon team". ZIK. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Valja Semerenko claims to finish her career and she won't refuse her words about national team coaches". UNIAN. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valentyna_Semerenko&oldid=1227240288"