Ukrainian biathlete Vita Semerenko: Biography, career and personal life

Vita Semerenko, biography and racing career is described in this article is known Ukrainian biathlete. Among her achievements - gold and silver Olympic Games in Sochi, as well as numerous awards from the world and continental championships.

Biographical data

Vita Semerenko (photo taken by athletes in the article) was born in January 1986 in the village of Krasnopole (Sumy region). She was born just 15 minutes before her twin sister - Valentina, who is also Olympic champion in biathlon. Besides Wali, from Vita there are older (4 years) sister Oksana.

The first sporting steps

As in his native town of Vita Semerenko of sports clubs were the only football and skiing, she, along with her sister chose the latter. A few years later the girls were considered very promising racer. But the advice of coach Grigory Ivanovich Shamrai, the sisters decided to go to biathlon.

From the first training shooting Vita Semerenko was almost perfect. And after several years of hard training we gave the first fruits. World Youth Championships in Kontiolahti biathlon 19-year-old became the first second in the individual race, and then with her sister, they won the silver medal in the relay.

Unfortunately, due to the strong competition Vita could not break into the national team at the Olympics in Turin.

to sporting glory Way

At the Universiade-2007, held in Turin, Valya and Vita Semerenko made a real splash. They won 4 awards, and in the pursuit race they finished first, holding hands.

In the 2006/2007 season Vita also made its debut at the World Cup. Her best result was 12th place in the sprint at the World Championships in Antholz.

The following year, Vita Semerenko first ascended the podium. At the world championships in Ostersund Sweden it is in the national team of Ukraine took the second place.

In the season 2008/2009 the first biathlete to win a medal in the individual race. At first she was second in the sprint in Hochfilzen, and then showed the third result in the individual race in Vancouver. But best of all the Vita spoke at the World Cup in Oberhof, where together with the Valley became the first in the relay.

At the 2010 Olympics Semerenko sisters went for medals, but they failed to win them over. The best result of the Vita was in sixth place in the relay.

The following season, Ukrainian biathlete continued successful performance at the World Cup. She was on the podium three times, and several times fell into the flower ceremony.

Season 2011/2012 was one of the best for the Vita Semerenko. It regularly ranks high in finishing protocols. At the World Championships in Ruhpolding Ukrainian won the third place in the sprint, and the next stage in the Khanty-Mansiysk first repeated her success, and the pursuit was the third. The next year, Vita, along with his team regularly took prizes in the relay race. Good for her to get the World Championship in the Czech Nove Mesto. Vita here first came in third in the sprint, and then the second - in the relay.

Olympic success and break into a sports career

At the Olympic Games in Sochi Ukrainian biathletes were driving, perhaps as the only real candidates for medals. Best hope believed in the relay team, which included experienced and titled athlete - Valya and Vita Semerenko, Olena Olena Pidhrushna Jim and Julia. However, the first medal for Ukraine was not earned in this discipline.

In the sprint race pleasant surprise was the good performance of the Vita. When she became a flawless shooting third, second only to Slovakian Anastasia Kuzmina and Russian Olga Viluhinoy. In addition, because of the disqualification of the last in 2017 silver medal was awarded to Vita.

A few days later held a relay race. Vita Semerenko was running at the first stage is quite successful, allowing only one mistake in two firing lines. As a result, the Ukrainian team won in this discipline at the finish line ahead of the Russians and Norwegians.

After the triumph at the Olympic Games Vita Semerenko not very expressive results finished the season, and then paused in a sports career. At first she was healing multiple injuries, which are not allowed to compete at full strength. Another year went to recovery after childbirth. In the season 2017/2018 Vita Semerenko returned to the sport. And she did it very well: at the second stage of the World Cup in Hochfilzen was the fourth in the sprint, and then in the "golden" Quartet won second place in the relay. The next stage in the French Annecy began even more successful: in the sprint race Vita finished third, behind only Kuzmina and laura dahlmeier.

Life

Vita Semerenko and her husband - former player of PFC "Sumi" Andrew Patsyuk - met over 10 years ago, when they lived in the neighborhood. The tight schedule of training and competition does not interfere with love, and the 2016 Olympic champion has given birth to a son, whom they named Marc.

After returning to the sport Vita insisted that her husband and son were by her side, not only on the training camp, but also accompanied her at the event.