Svetlana Kapanina is the only woman to have won the Grand Prix of the World Driving Cup. The Russian "queen of heaven" has many regalia, honorary titles and medals of various denominations. Aerobatics performed by Svetlana catch the eyes of the audience and command respect from experts.
From the biography of Svetlana Vladimirovna Kapanina
The future champion and instructor pilot was born on December 28, 1968 in the city of Schuchinsk (Kazakhstan). Svetlana's mother worked as an accountant, then worked at a gas station. My father was a taxi driver, and in his free time he was engaged in driving a car on ice. His sports hobby brought his father the title of vice-champion of the republic. The family had three children - Svetlana has a brother and sister.
Even in her school years, Sveta demonstrated her leadership qualities. Without her participation, not a single sporting event took place, be it a gymnastic performance, an athletics race or the game "Zarnitsa". For several years, Svetlana was engaged in gymnastics, completing a program that corresponded to the preparation of a candidate for master.
However, after the eighth grade, the girl gave up sports and went to study as a pharmacist at the Tselinograd Medical School. She completed her studies in 1987. By distribution, I got to Kurgan. It was here that Svetlana made her first parachute jump. And then, by pure chance, she enrolled not in the parachute, but in the airplane section of the air club.
On the way to the sky
The coaches immediately noticed a promising student. Svetlana possessed all the qualities of a real pilot: physical fitness, excellent reaction, a developed vestibular apparatus.
The first regular flight disappointed the girl. Then a real test was arranged for her, in which there were loops, turns, sharp turns. After such a miracle, Svetlana fell in love with the sky forever. She still remembers the first sensation of real speed, the earth that changed places with the sky.
In 1991, Kapanina was enrolled in the national aerobatics team and became a master of sports.
A year later, Svetlana became an instructor, and then went to her first European Championship. The result of the performances was a silver medal. This is how Kapanina's path to great career achievements began.
Now the first class instructor pilot Svetlana Kapanina has more than 70 gold, 26 silver and a dozen bronze medals.
In 2000, Kapanina became an instructor pilot at the Sukhoi company. In her flying practice, anything happened. There were also extreme situations. But Kapanina considers them commonplace, part of the profession.
Svetlana has a dream - she really wants to open her own flight school. Kapanina continues to compete in championships of various levels, and takes part in aviation shows. And, of course, he trains young guys, helping them to master the wisdom of flying.
Personal life of Svetlana Kapanina
Svetlana Vladimirovna does not like to discuss the events of her personal life with journalists. Researchers of her biography, however, learned that her first husband, Leonid Solodovnikov, passed away in 1994 as a result of a tragedy.
Now Svetlana is married. Lives in Moscow and has two children. Kapanina's husband, Vladimir Stepanov, has a fourth dan in karate, is engaged in coaching.
