Yuliya Pechonkina facts for kids
Pechonkina in Osaka 2007
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| Born | 21 April 1978 Krasnoyarsk, Soviet Union |
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| Country |  Russia |
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| Sport | Women's athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Yuliya Sergeyevna Pechonkina (born April 21, 1978) is a retired Russian athlete. She was known for her amazing speed in the 400 metres hurdles and 4 × 400 metres relay races. She was once married to a former sprinter named Evgeny Pechonkin.
Yuliya held the world record for the 400 meters hurdles. She set this record on August 8, 2003, in Tula, Russia, with a time of 52.34 seconds. This record stood for nearly 16 years! It was finally broken by Dalilah Muhammad in 2019. She also held a world record in the less common 4 × 200 metres relay indoor race.
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Early Career and Olympic Games
Yuliya started her international career early. In 1996, she competed in the World Junior Championships in Sydney, Australia. She raced in both the 400 meters hurdles and the 4 × 400 meters relay.
She later competed in two Olympic Games. She was at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2004 Athens Olympics. These are the biggest sports events in the world!
Winning World Championships Medals
Yuliya Pechonkina won many medals during her career. She was especially successful at the World Athletics Championships. These championships bring together the best athletes from around the globe.
World Championships Highlights
- 2001 Edmonton, Canada: Yuliya won a silver medal in the 400 meters hurdles. She also earned a bronze medal in the 4 × 400 meters relay.
- 2003 Paris, France: She took home a bronze medal in the 400 meters hurdles. She also won a silver medal in the 4 × 400 meters relay.
- 2005 Helsinki, Finland: This was a fantastic year for Yuliya! She won two gold medals. One was for the 400 meters hurdles and the other for the 4 × 400 meters relay.
- 2007 Osaka, Japan: She continued her success by winning another silver medal in the 400 meters hurdles.
Indoor Success
Yuliya was also very strong in indoor athletics. Indoor races happen on tracks inside buildings.
World Indoor Championships
- 2001 Lisbon, Portugal: She won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 meters relay.
- 2003 Birmingham, United Kingdom: She won another gold medal in the 4 × 400 meters relay.
European Indoor Championships
- 2005 Madrid, Spain: Yuliya won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 meters relay.
National Achievements
Yuliya also won several national titles in Russia. These show she was one of the best athletes in her home country.
Russian Championships
- She won the 400 meters hurdles title three times: in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
- She won the 400 meters indoor title in 2002.
Personal Best Times
Yuliya set impressive personal best times in her races:
- 400 metres: 53.22 seconds (achieved in 2001)
- 400 metres hurdles: 52.34 seconds (achieved in 2003) - This was her world record!
Retirement from Athletics
Yuliya faced health challenges during her career. She had a problem called sinusitis, which is an illness affecting the sinuses. This condition caused her to miss important events, like the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2009 World Championships.
Because of her health, Yuliya decided to retire from athletics shortly after the 2009 World Championships. After retiring, she started a new career in the banking sector.
Yuliya Pechonkina Prizes
Even after she retired, Yuliya's legacy in athletics continued. An annual athletics meet is held in Yerino, Russia, named after her. It is called the "Yuliya Pechonkina Prizes." This shows how much she is respected in the world of track and field.
Images for kids
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Yuliya Pechonkina competing in Osaka in 2007.
See also
In Spanish: Yulia Pechónkina para niños
