Olena Krasovska
Encyclopedia
Olena Krasovska, née Ovcharova is a Ukrainian
hurdler best known for winning a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games
with a personal best time of 12.45 seconds.
, and represents the sports club Dynamo Kiev
. In her early career she won the bronze medal in 60 metres hurdles
at the 2000 European Indoor Championships. She also competed at the 1995 World Championships
, the 1996 Olympic Games, the 1997 World Indoor Championships
, the 1998 European Championships, the 2000 Olympic Games, the 2001 World Indoor Championships
and the 2001 World Championships
without reaching the final. She ran in 12.88 seconds as early as in June 1995 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, but did not improve this time until August 2000 in Kiev, when she ran in 12.82 seconds. In 2001 she ran in 12.87 seconds in Seville
in June. Also, in the 4 x 100 metres relay
she competed at the 2000 Olympic Games without reaching the final.
In 2002 she won the silver medal at the 2002 European Championships, finished eighth at the IAAF Grand Prix Final and fourth at the 2002 IAAF World Cup
. She came close to setting a new personal best with 12.85 seconds in June 2002 in Luzern. but 2003 was a substantially weaker year with only 13.06 seconds. She competed at the 2003 World Championships
without reaching the final. In 2004 she won the European Cup
competition in Bydgoszcz, clocking in 12.78 seconds, before winning the silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games
with a personal best time of 12.45 seconds. She only finished fifth at the 2004 World Athletics Final
. In the next year she reached the semi-final of the 2005 World Championships, and had a season's best of 12.75. She has not run a sub-13 second hurdles race since, but came close with 13.01 seconds at DN Galan
in 2008 and 13.00 seconds in Yalta
in June 2009.
12.45 seconds puts Krasovska in a joint 18th place on the all-time world list. It is also the fastest time achieved by a hurdler representing Ukraine—yet she does not hold the Ukrainian record
, as the Ukrainian record holder Natalya Grigoryeva achieved her time of 12.39 seconds whilst representing the Soviet Union
. Other personal bests include 8.01 seconds in the 60 metres hurdles (indoor), achieved in February 2000 in Kiev; 7.35 seconds in the 60 metres
(indoor), achieved in January 2001 in Kiev; and 11.53 seconds in the 100 metres
, achieved in May 2002 in Kiev. She jumped 6.52 metres in the long jump
, indoor, in February 1999 in Lviv.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
hurdler best known for winning a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games
Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metres Hurdles
The Women's 100 m hurdles at the 2004 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics program were held at the Athens Olympic Stadium from August 22 to August 24.-Records:-Round 1:...
with a personal best time of 12.45 seconds.
Career
She was born in KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, and represents the sports club Dynamo Kiev
Dynamo Sports Club
Dinamo, also Dynamo, is the oldest sports and physical training society that was created in 1923.-Name:The name given to the society was supposed to mean "Power in Motion" from Greek: δύναμις; dynamis -power, and Latin: motio, -motion...
. In her early career she won the bronze medal in 60 metres hurdles
60 metres hurdles
60 metres hurdles is a distance in hurdling which is generally run in indoor competitions. It is equivalent with the first 60 metres including the first 5 hurdles of a standard outdoor hurdle race. The current women's and men's world records are 7.68 seconds and 7.30 seconds ,...
at the 2000 European Indoor Championships. She also competed at the 1995 World Championships
1995 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres hurdles
These are the results of the Women's 100 metres hurdles event at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics in Gothenburg, Sweden.-Medalists:-Heats:First 2 of each heat and the next 6 fastest qualified for the semifinals.-Semifinals:...
, the 1996 Olympic Games, the 1997 World Indoor Championships
1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 6th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, France from March 7 to March 9, 1997. It was the first athletic championships to introduce women's pole vault...
, the 1998 European Championships, the 2000 Olympic Games, the 2001 World Indoor Championships
2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 8th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Pavilhão Atlântico in Lisbon, Portugal from March 9 to March 11 2001. It was the first time the Championships had been held in Portugal...
and the 2001 World Championships
2001 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres hurdles
These are the official results of the Women's 100 metres hurdles event at the 2001 IAAF World Championships in Edmonton, Canada.-Medalists:-Heats:...
without reaching the final. She ran in 12.88 seconds as early as in June 1995 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, but did not improve this time until August 2000 in Kiev, when she ran in 12.82 seconds. In 2001 she ran in 12.87 seconds in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
in June. Also, in the 4 x 100 metres relay
4 x 100 metres relay
The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...
she competed at the 2000 Olympic Games without reaching the final.
In 2002 she won the silver medal at the 2002 European Championships, finished eighth at the IAAF Grand Prix Final and fourth at the 2002 IAAF World Cup
2002 IAAF World Cup
The 9th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was hosted by Madrid, September 21–22, 2002, in the Estadio La Peineta...
. She came close to setting a new personal best with 12.85 seconds in June 2002 in Luzern. but 2003 was a substantially weaker year with only 13.06 seconds. She competed at the 2003 World Championships
2003 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres hurdles
These are the official results of the Women's 100 metres hurdles event at the 2003 IAAF World Championships in Paris, France. There were a total number of 39 participating athletes, with five qualifying heats, three semi-finals and the final held on Wednesday August 27, 2003 at...
without reaching the final. In 2004 she won the European Cup
European Cup (athletics)
The European Cup is a now defunct athletics competition, replaced by the European Team Championships from 2009 onwards. The Europa Cup saw most of the major nations of Europe compete. Originally known as the Bruno Zauli Cup, it first took place in Stuttgart and Kassel , Germany in 1965...
competition in Bydgoszcz, clocking in 12.78 seconds, before winning the silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games
Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metres Hurdles
The Women's 100 m hurdles at the 2004 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics program were held at the Athens Olympic Stadium from August 22 to August 24.-Records:-Round 1:...
with a personal best time of 12.45 seconds. She only finished fifth at the 2004 World Athletics Final
2004 IAAF World Athletics Final
The 2nd IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Stade Louis II, in Monte Carlo, Monaco on September 18, and September 19, 2004.The hammer throw event for men and women had to take place in Szombathely, Hungary a week previous as the Monaco stadium was not large enough to hold the event.One of...
. In the next year she reached the semi-final of the 2005 World Championships, and had a season's best of 12.75. She has not run a sub-13 second hurdles race since, but came close with 13.01 seconds at DN Galan
DN Galan
-External links:**...
in 2008 and 13.00 seconds in Yalta
Yalta
Yalta is a city in Crimea, southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea.The city is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, said to have been founded by Greek sailors who were looking for a safe shore on which to land. It is situated on a deep bay facing south towards the Black...
in June 2009.
12.45 seconds puts Krasovska in a joint 18th place on the all-time world list. It is also the fastest time achieved by a hurdler representing Ukraine—yet she does not hold the Ukrainian record
Ukrainian records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Ukraine maintained by the Ukrainian Athletic Federation .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:A = affected by altitudeht = hand timing# = not recognised by federation-External links:* * *...
, as the Ukrainian record holder Natalya Grigoryeva achieved her time of 12.39 seconds whilst representing the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Other personal bests include 8.01 seconds in the 60 metres hurdles (indoor), achieved in February 2000 in Kiev; 7.35 seconds in the 60 metres
60 metres
60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes...
(indoor), achieved in January 2001 in Kiev; and 11.53 seconds in the 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
, achieved in May 2002 in Kiev. She jumped 6.52 metres in the long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
, indoor, in February 1999 in Lviv.