Olga Sedakova
Encyclopedia
Olga Sedakova is a former Russia
n synchronized swimmer
who competed at two Olympic Games
, won three gold medals in the world championships, and ten golds at the European Championships.
held at Perth
in January, where although she failed to win a medal, she placed fourth in both the solo and duet competitions, where she partnered with Gana Mazimova. The 1991 European Aquatics Championships, held in Athens
the following August was her breakout success- she swept the synchronized swimming events, winning gold medals in the solo competition, the duet competition with partner Anna Kozlova
, and the team competition.
After the break-up of the Soviet Union
, the former Soviet states (except the Baltic states
) competed together at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
as the Unified Team
. As part of the Unified Team, Sedakova competed in both the solo and duet
routines- again partnering with Kozlova. During the competition, Sedakova and Koslava's coach quit on them leaving them to finish the competition alone. Sedakova placed fourth in both events; Following Barcelona both events were dropped from the Olympic program and replaced with a team competition.
, and Sedakova again completed her trifecta winning gold medals in all three events contested. The 1993 European Championships would be Sedakova's last partnering in the duet with Anna Kozlova, as Kozlova defected
to the United States
shortly after the competition. At the 1994 World Championships
, Sedakova again placed fourth in the solo competition.
In Vienna
, for the 1995 European Aquatics Championships, Sedakova again won the gold medal in solo competition, as well as the team gold with Russia. Also in 1995, at the World Cup in Atlanta, she won two bronze medals, in the solo and team competitions. She returned to Atlanta to compete in the 1996 Summer Olympics
, where the Russian team finished in fourth place.
Sedakova experienced her first victory on a global stage at the 1997 World Cup in Guangzhou
, where she won the solo competition, and the duet competition with new partner Olga Brusnikina
. That same year, at the 1997 European Aquatics Championships, she won her fourth consecutive solo gold medal, the most by any swimmer in that discipline.
She returned to Perth for the 1998 World Aquatics Championships
, where she experienced the greatest success in her career. She won gold in all three events contested; the solo competition, the duet with Olga Brusnikina, and the team competition. Sedakova was only the fourth person to sweep every event at a single championships, following Teresa Andersen in the first World Aquatics Championships
in 1973, Carolyn Waldo
in 1986
, and Becky Dyroen-Lancer
at the previous competition
in 1994. Despite her resounding success, it would be her last major competition.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n synchronized swimmer
Synchronized swimming
Synchronized swImming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music....
who competed at two Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, won three gold medals in the world championships, and ten golds at the European Championships.
Soviet and Unified Team
Sedakova's first major international competition was the 1991 World ChampionshipsSynchronised swimming at the 1991 World Aquatics Championships
These are the results from the synchronised swimming competition at the 1991 World Aquatics Championships.-Medals table:-Medal summary:These are the results from the synchronised swimming competition at the 1991 World Aquatics Championships....
held at Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in January, where although she failed to win a medal, she placed fourth in both the solo and duet competitions, where she partnered with Gana Mazimova. The 1991 European Aquatics Championships, held in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
the following August was her breakout success- she swept the synchronized swimming events, winning gold medals in the solo competition, the duet competition with partner Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova is a former synchronized swimmer who competed in three Olympic Games. After competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics and winning four European Championships representing the Soviet Union and its successor organizations, she defected to the United States in 1993. After missing the 1996...
, and the team competition.
After the break-up of 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....
, the former Soviet states (except the Baltic states
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
) competed together at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
as the Unified Team
Unified Team
The Unified Team was the name used for the sports team of the former Soviet Union at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The IOC country code was EUN, after the French name, Équipe Unifiée...
. As part of the Unified Team, Sedakova competed in both the solo and duet
Synchronized swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, two events in synchronized swimming were contested, both for women only.In the solo competition, a judge accidentally entered a score of 8.7 instead of 9.7 for Sylvie Fréchette, costing her first place. After appeals by the Canadian Olympic Committee, her...
routines- again partnering with Kozlova. During the competition, Sedakova and Koslava's coach quit on them leaving them to finish the competition alone. Sedakova placed fourth in both events; Following Barcelona both events were dropped from the Olympic program and replaced with a team competition.
Russia
Russia competed as an independent country at the 1993 European Aquatics Championships in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and Sedakova again completed her trifecta winning gold medals in all three events contested. The 1993 European Championships would be Sedakova's last partnering in the duet with Anna Kozlova, as Kozlova defected
Defection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
shortly after the competition. At the 1994 World Championships
Synchronised swimming at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships
These are the results from the synchronized swimming competition at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships, which were held in Rome in September 1994.-Medals table:-Medalists:...
, Sedakova again placed fourth in the solo competition.
In Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, for the 1995 European Aquatics Championships, Sedakova again won the gold medal in solo competition, as well as the team gold with Russia. Also in 1995, at the World Cup in Atlanta, she won two bronze medals, in the solo and team competitions. She returned to Atlanta to compete in the 1996 Summer Olympics
Synchronized swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Final results for the synchronized swimming competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics.Previous Olympics had a Solo and Duet event but for the 1996 there would only be a team event...
, where the Russian team finished in fourth place.
Sedakova experienced her first victory on a global stage at the 1997 World Cup in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, where she won the solo competition, and the duet competition with new partner Olga Brusnikina
Olga Brusnikina
Olga Aleksandrovna Brusnikina is a Russian competitor in synchronized swimming and three times Olympic champion.She first attracted attention when, at the age of 14, she performed a solo routine at the 1993 World Junior Synchro championships...
. That same year, at the 1997 European Aquatics Championships, she won her fourth consecutive solo gold medal, the most by any swimmer in that discipline.
She returned to Perth for the 1998 World Aquatics Championships
Synchronised swimming at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships
A synchronized swimming competition was held at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships, in Perth, Western Australia between 8 and 17 January 1998.-Overview:...
, where she experienced the greatest success in her career. She won gold in all three events contested; the solo competition, the duet with Olga Brusnikina, and the team competition. Sedakova was only the fourth person to sweep every event at a single championships, following Teresa Andersen in the first World Aquatics Championships
Synchronised swimming at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships
These are the results from the synchronised swimming competition at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships, which took place in Belgrade.-Medals table:-Medal summary:...
in 1973, Carolyn Waldo
Carolyn Waldo
Carolyn Jane Waldo, is a former synchronized swimmer from Canada.Competing both as a solo and as part of a duo with Michelle Cameron, Waldo experienced tremendous success in international competition...
in 1986
Synchronised swimming at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships
These are the results from the synchronised swimming competition at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships.-Medals table:-Medal summary:These are the results from the synchronised swimming competition at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships....
, and Becky Dyroen-Lancer
Becky Dyroen-Lancer
Rebekah Dyroen-Lancer is an American competitor in synchronized swimming and Olympic champion....
at the previous competition
Synchronised swimming at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships
These are the results from the synchronised swimming competition at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships.-Medals table:-Medal summary:These are the results from the synchronised swimming competition at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships....
in 1994. Despite her resounding success, it would be her last major competition.