Yelena Soboleva: History of victories and doping scandals

Yelena Soboleva - Russian athlete, speaks at the athletics competitions in the women's middle distance. At one time it was considered one of the best in the disciplines spetsialistok 800, 1500 meters, won a number of major tournaments. However, before the start of the Olympics in 2008 with a group of Russian athletes Yelena Soboleva was disqualified on suspicion of doping for several years. After that, she was never able to return to its usual level.

Canceled gymnast

Sports biography of Elena Soboleva developed quite dramatically, she was forced to complete his performance in the prime of life, but it all started quite well for it. One of the most beautiful country athletes born in Bryansk in 1984. She grew up in an ordinary family, my father was working on "Bryansk Arsenal," my mother worked in the same controller.

Yelena Soboleva: History of victories and doping scandals

In four years, Lena was engaged in gymnastics, filed high hopes. Soon, the girl reached the level of masters began winning at regional competitions. However, at some point, she realized that to break out of their native region will not work and lost interest in gymnastics.

At the age of 14 years, Yelena Soboleva changed sports specialization and passed into the section of athletics. Its decision was influenced by the example of Alla Kosolapov, who studied in the same school with Lena. She ran so easily and gracefully that Soboleva also wanted to try on a suit track and field athletes.

The problem of choice

The first coach of the girls became Irina Ivanovna Belova, which has undertaken to do this from a former gymnast queen of athletics. Yelena Soboleva initially could not determine the choice of a comfortable distance for themselves. She tried to run on the 60, 100, 200 meters. However, the performance characteristics of Elena Soboleva left much to be desired, it lacked the explosive start, sharpness, so necessary for the sprinters.

Yelena Soboleva: History of victories and doping scandals

In the end, the girl was able to explain to her manager that the second Irina Privalova of it will not work and persuaded Lena to try their hand at medium ranges. Yelena Soboleva agreed reluctantly, however, ran the first 800 meters, she realized that this distance is most comfortable for her.

Later, she shifted the priorities for longer discipline. It is best Russian athlete felt in the segment and a half kilometers away, where he achieved the best results.

Sports career

Most sports career for Elena began in 2003. She won the championship of Russia on a distance of 800 meters, was the seventh at the European championship among youth. Entering the number of the most promising athletes of the country, even the ability to set a world record, she suddenly slowed down in the next year.

The whole point was that Helen suffered a personal tragedy - the death of the mother. Of course, at that moment she was not up to the sport, the results have deteriorated sharply, and she finished only seventh national championship. In this difficult time supporting a Woman Irina Belova, which helped her get back into the sport and continue to live on.

Yelena Soboleva: History of victories and doping scandals

In 2005, Elena performed great at their first World Cup, to offer a step away from the bronze medal. A year later, she made a real breakthrough, it has proven successful in tournaments indoors. Soboleva won the silver at the world championships in the halls in Moscow and performed well at the European Championships in Gothenburg.

At his peak,

The main purpose of Elena Soboleva was the participation in the next Olympic Games, which were to be held in Beijing in 2008. In 2007, it established itself as one of the best middle-distance runner, winning silver in the interval of 1500 meters.

Olympic athlete beginning of the year as strongly. At a tournament in Moscow, which was held in the premises, she set a world record in the women's 1,500 meters. In March of that year, the girl easily and naturally broke his record on a more prestigious competitions - the World Championship in the halls, which hosted the Spanish Valencia.

Yelena Soboleva: History of victories and doping scandals

In addition, in the subsequent competitions Elena selected to participate in the Olympics in its two core disciplines - 800 and 1500 meters. Moreover, at 800 meters distance athlete belonged to the best result of the current season in the world.

The doping scandal

Beautiful fairy tale "Bryansk Gazelle" was broken for it the most unpleasant way before the main tournament of her life. A few days before the Olympic Games in Beijing, the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) disqualified Yelena Soboleva among the whole group of Russian athletes because of the suspicion of substitution doping tests. DNA discrepancies were found in the samples of athletes, handed over in 2007 and 2008.

Yelena Soboleva: History of victories and doping scandals

The Russian Athletics Federation hurried ahead of the event and appointed their girlfriends rather mild punishment - suspension from competition for two years, and the term of imprisonment has been appointed following the date of trial, that is, since 2007. Thus in 2009 Yelena Soboleva and other Russians could resume his speech.

However, bosses IAAF considered this decision is too soft and appealed to the sports arbitration. The court's decision turned out to be more severe - disqualification for 33 months, with a reference date was appointed in September 2008. Consequently, Yelena Soboleva could return to the sport only in 2011. The most unpleasant for the native of Bryansk was the news of the withdrawal of her silver medal won at the 2007 World Cup.

An attempt to return to

Yelena Soboleva has decided not to waste time in vain for the disqualification, and devoted herself to family life. She married, had a baby. By 2011, her son Ilya has already made its first steps. Bryansk beauty still trying to return to the sport, and even won the championship of Moscow in the distance of 800 meters. However, Elena Soboleva and failed to return to the previous level and beat the world record again.