Yana Batyrshina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yana Batyrshina
Personal information
Full name	Yanina Farkhadovna Batyrshina
Nickname(s)	Yana
Country represented	Russia
Born	(1979-10-07) 7 October 1979 (age 45) Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union
Height	165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Discipline	Rhythmic gymnastics
Club	Gymnastics Center Novogorsk
Head coach(es)	Irina Viner
Retired	1998
Medal record Representing  Russia Rhythmic Gymnastics Olympic Games Silver 1996 Atlanta All-Around World Championships Gold 1995 Vienna Ball Gold 1995 Vienna Team Gold 1997 Berlin Rope Gold 1997 Berlin Team Silver 1996 Budapest Ribbon Silver 1997 Berlin Clubs Bronze 1995 Vienna All-around Bronze 1997 Berlin All-around European Championships Gold 1997 Patras Ribbon Gold 1998 Porto Rope Silver 1996 Asker All-around Silver 1996 Asker Ball Silver 1997 Patras Rope Silver 1997 Patras Clubs Silver 1998 Porto Hoop Silver 1998 Porto Ribbon Bronze 1998 Porto All-around Bronze 1998 Porto Team Junior European Championships Gold 1993 Bucharest Rope Gold 1993 Bucharest Clubs Silver 1993 Bucharest All-Around Silver 1993 Bucharest Ball Silver 1993 Bucharest Ribbon European Cup Final Gold 1995 Telford Ribbon Silver 1995 Telford All-around Silver 1995 Telford Clubs Bronze 1995 Telford Rope Bronze 1995 Telford Ball Grand Prix Final Gold 1995 Deventer Hoop Gold 1995 Deventer Ball Gold 1996 Vienna All-around Gold 1997 Deventer Ribbon Gold 1997 Deventer Hoop Silver 1995 Deventer Clubs Silver 1995 Deventer Ribbon Bronze 1995 Deventer All-around

Yanina "Yana" Batyrshina (born October 7, 1979) is a famous former rhythmic gymnast from Russia. She won a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the all-around competition. Yana also earned many medals at World and European Championships. She was known for her amazing flexibility and unique moves.

She received the Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 2nd class in 1997 for her achievements.

Yana's Early Life and Family

Yana Batyrshina has a mixed background, with both Tatar and Jewish heritage. She studied physical education at the Kharkov Institute. Yana is married to Timur Weinstein, a businessman, and they have two daughters and one son.

Yana's Gymnastics Journey

Yana started training in gymnastics when she was just 5 years old. A rhythmic gymnastics coach saw her and thought she would be perfect for the sport. When she was 9, Yana moved to Russia with her coach, Irina Viner. Irina later became the head coach for the Russian national team.

Starting International Competitions

Yana began competing internationally in 1993. At the European Junior Championships, she placed second in the all-around. She also won gold medals with the rope and clubs, and silver medals with the ball and ribbon.

In 1994, Yana started competing as a senior gymnast. At first, her scores were lower than when she was a junior, and she thought about quitting. However, her ninth-place finish at the 1994 World Championships encouraged her to keep going.

Breakthrough and World Success

In 1995, Yana had a big breakthrough in her senior career. She won 15 medals at various Grand Prix events. At the 1995 World Championships, she won a bronze medal in the all-around. She also helped her team win gold and took home another gold for her ball routine.

In 1996, her results varied, but she still won silver medals in the all-around and with the ball at the 1996 European Championships. At the 1996 World Championships, she earned a silver medal for her ribbon routine.

Olympic Challenge and Medal

Yana competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She had a tough start in the first round, even crying after some mistakes. She did better in the semifinals. In the final, during her ribbon routine, she dropped the apparatus. Despite this, Yana scored well enough to win the silver medal, placing second overall. She finished her 1996 season by winning the all-around title at the 1996 Grand Prix Final, sharing the win with Yekaterina Serebrianskaya.

In 1997, Yana continued her success, winning several gold medals on the Grand Prix circuit. She also received the first-ever Longines Prize for Elegance at the 1997 World Championships.

Retirement from Gymnastics

Even though Yana wanted to compete in the 2000 Olympics, a new challenge appeared in 1998. A talented new Russian teammate, Alina Kabaeva, began to rise. Alina went on to win the 1998 European Championships. Yana struggled with her ribbon routine and finished third in the all-around. Soon after the European Championships, at 19 years old, Yana quietly retired from gymnastics.

After Gymnastics

After retiring, Yana Batyrshina started coaching. In 1999, she was invited to be a trainer in Brazil. She helped prepare the Brazilian rhythmic gymnastics team for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

On February 15, 2015, a special gala was held in Russia to celebrate 80 years of rhythmic gymnastics. The event took place at the famous Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Many former Russian Olympic champions and medalists performed, including Yana Batyrshina, Evgenia Kanaeva, and Irina Tchachina.

Notable Achievements

• Yana Batyrshina is the youngest rhythmic gymnast to win the Grand Prix Final all-around title. She achieved this in 1996 in Vienna when she was 16 years old.

Olympic Performance Details

See also

• List of select Jewish gymnasts