The famous Ukrainian figure skater Elena Anatolyevna Lyashenko has been among the top ten single figure skaters for many years. While Elena was performing, Ukraine was represented in the Olympic Games from 1994 to 2006. Six-time champion of Ukraine, medalist of European championships, participant of four Winter Olympics. She took part in Ilya Averbukh's show at the Kiev Sports Palace. Persistent, purposeful, talented and pretty Helen won the love of many viewers.
short biography
Elena was born in 1976 on August 9. She grew up as a sickly child, and the doctor advised to send the girl to a section to improve her health. Parents chose figure skating, not even expecting that their daughter would connect with him all her life. Marina Olegovna Amirkhanova became Lena's only coach. Education: National University of Physical Culture and Sports. After the end of her career, Lyashenko went to coaching.
Career
Elena dreamed of performing in pair skating, but in her youth she was plump and Marina Olegovna dissuaded her, since she saw only a single skater in Lyashenko. Hard work and love for figure skating began to bring the first victories. Lena won gold and silver medals at the Ukrainian championships. She has traveled to many countries Austria, Germany, Finland, France, China, Japan, USA, Canada.
And now, finally, the first white Olympics in Lillehammer in 1994, she was remembered more than others, the acuity of new sensations and at the same time fear, emotional stress and self-doubt. Maybe that's why Elena took only 19th place. Failure in such a serious competition, knocked down and prompted her to think to leave the big sport. And again, her coach was there, as she could support. The fighting spirit of the Kiev woman won again and Lena decided not to give up. Before each exit, for the best results, I tried to anger myself, saying: “You are not worse than others. Anyway, there is nowhere to go - just forward!”. And already in the next 1995, at the debut European Championship, she won a bronze medal and twice more rose to the podium step in 2004 and 2005 - silver and bronze. The 1998 Nagana Olympics brought Elena already 9th place.
2002, XIX games in the USA. In the Salt Lake City sports complex, there was everything for the athletes to recover after training: a gym, a dance hall, swimming pools, a bathhouse, but despite the comfortable conditions, Elena performed with blots, which did not allow her to take a high place. But so far the 2002 program is her favorite, especially the fiery tango in the free program. “This is just such a case when you feel music with your soul,” Lena shared in an interview with the Ukrainian newspaper Fakty.
Perhaps the most intense year was 2004, tournaments in Russia, China, Japan and the USA, but she held out, survived and finished fourth in the final.
Lena went to Turin in 2006 for the winter games after a severe cold and injuries. A two-month break in training had an effect and Lena took 17th place, but this was more an achievement than a defeat, since her physical form did not allow her to perform at full strength. Lyashenko made an undeniable contribution to figure skating. Unlike other singles who relied on jumping, Elena was distinguished by grace, lyricism and femininity in her mini-performances. Not many girls survived on the international ice for more than 10 years without missing a year. Lena could do it!
Personal life
Elena met the Ukrainian pentathlete Andrey Efremenko long before the end of her career. Andrey's brother, Mikhail, met with the skater Galina Manyachenko. Once the brothers came to the girls' training, that's where Andrey saw his betrothed. Sympathy for each other arose at first sight and Andrei begged Galina for the phone number of the girl he liked. The romantic relationship of young people began with a message on Lena's cell with a request to meet. On September 18, 2005, the couple entered into legal marriage. On August 30, 2007, the first-born Plato was born, the name of the son was chosen in advance. At a year and a half, Platosha was put on skates for the first time, but he is seriously engaged in swimming. In 2011, Elena gave birth to twins Gordey and Miron. Athletes have little free time, but when they have a joint day off, they are happy to walk with their sons, watch sports programs, and discuss general topics. They found each other and are happy together.
Coaching work
After a back injury in the winter of 2006, Elena left professional sports for coaching. Already in September 2006 in Prague, where she now lives with her family, she recruited her first group of babies.
Lena was very worried before the first lesson with little wards, she had drawn up a plan for a set of exercises in advance, but when she saw her children, she realized that such crumbs must first of all be interested and that everyone needs an individual approach. At first, it was more of a health improving group, not a sports group, she learned poems with them for exercises, ran with them on the ice, taught stretching and how to fall correctly. There is a lot of work, but Elena is interested, as new as the first Olympiad in Norway … Now Elena has her own ice studio, a choreographer, program director and a second coach. Lena's dream is to bring up future champions and champions.
