Alina Ivanova is an outstanding athlete, was engaged in race walking and marathon running. He is an international master of sports. In 1991 she became the world champion, and in 1992 - the European champion. The athlete took part in the 1992 Olympic Games, became the winner of several international marathon tournaments in the USA, Europe and Russia.
Alina Petrovna Ivanova in 1998 was awarded the title of Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of the Chuvash Republic. She made a significant contribution to the development of sports.
Towards victories
The outstanding athlete was born in the Yadrinsky region, in the small village of Kildeshevo on March 16, 1969. From an early age, the girl was fond of sports. She trained at the Cheboksary School of Higher Sports Skills.
Over time, Ivanova decided to turn her hobby into a profession. In 1988, Alina became an international master of sports. Having decided to start a professional career, Alina understood that higher education would come in handy in her life. Therefore, in 1999 she graduated from the Chuvash Pedagogical Institute.
The mentor of the famous athlete in sports was Gennady Ivanov, one of the first masters in Chuvashia in the discipline chosen by the girl. The coach revealed to the pupil of the Cheboksary Olympic Reserve School the secrets of mastery in the discipline chosen by the girl.
The first coach was replaced by Albina and Gennady Semyonov. At the debut youth competition in Alma-Ata, Ivanova took "silver" at a distance of 5 kilometers. A year later, Alina became famous in sports circles.
In February 1988, she became the first in Sochi among juniors. 1991 and 1992 brought the determined athlete victories at the World and European Championships. Ivanova, as a specialist in race walking, participated in the XXV Olympiad.
In 1994, Ivanova was awarded an unusual medal by the International Athletics Federation. Alina has set an amazing record. At the Russian Winter tournament held in the capital at a three-kilometer race walking distance, she stayed only 11 minutes and 44 seconds.
At first, no one believed the result recorded by the stopwatches. Then, for three years, the strongest masters in the discipline tried unsuccessfully to surpass the results. Ivanova received a commemorative medal from the hands of the President of Chuvashia. He was heartily fit for the countrywoman and her achievements.
Awards and disappointments
In 1991, Alina achieved a sports triumph. At the tournament in Japan, she became the first. "Gold" was already waiting for Ivanova for a ten-kilometer distance. The athlete has far outstripped her main rivals. Alina covered a rather long distance in 43 minutes without one second.
The athlete became the first Chuvash woman who managed to become a champion in race walking. However, real disappointments awaited Alina ahead. After conquering the highest peak of the podium, Ivanova went to Barcelona for the Olympic Games.
For the first time in their program this discipline was included in women. The athlete trained hard. She dreamed of winning the most important competitions for her. Many of her fans were confident in winning. However, everything turned out not in favor of the native of Chuvashia. Alina was in excellent shape, ready to fight for victory.
She started with Elena Nikolaeva from Russia. The tandem was in the lead for nine kilometers. Then, unexpectedly, an athlete from China took the lead. Ivanova made every effort to overtake her rival at the finish line.
The Russian woman finished first. However, the judges doubted what they saw. They decided to check compliance with all aspects and revised the records. The final verdict shocked Ivanova. She was disqualified for violating the rules of walking.
The shock did not make Alina give up and leave the big sport. Demonstrating iron endurance and strong will, she decided to switch to marathon running. In 1993 he made his debut in a new capacity in London. She came eighth to the finish line.
New turn
After the tournament, intensive training began. Ivanova decided to show the best result. The Russian woman has participated in several marathons. However, all the nuances of the discipline were still unknown to her. Becoming the first athlete was hampered by her own enthusiasm.
The coach tried to explain to the student, to tell her about the features of long-distance running. Alina did not allow her body to rest and recuperate. The mentor had to control the training completely.
In 1995, a marathon was held in the United States. All local newspapers filled in articles about the upcoming competitions. The start was planned for the morning, while the streets of Pittsburgh are cold enough. During the day, the temperature rose significantly. As a result, the competition took place in a real hell.
The championship was shared by two. Alina Ivanova stood on the podium along with the Kenyan Karve, who was accustomed to such conditions. The victory was a happy turn in her biography. Then the victory in the international Siberian marathon took place.
In 1999 Ivanova took part in the international championship held in Sydney, Australia. She passed the marathon distance first. Success became a serious statement for participation in the 2000 Olympics.
However, the coaches decided to place bets on repeatedly proven players. Expectations were not met. Alina dropped out of the sports cage for a year due to serious changes in her personal life. She became a mother. Now the athlete paid all her attention to the child, training was forgotten.
Alina entered her usual rhythm a little later. By 2003 she was included in the national team. In the half marathon, the athlete won the World Cup and entered the top ten. In 2004, Ivanova won the silver medal in the fifteen-kilometer Bullfighting Celebration in Porto, losing only to Helena Sampae, the host of the tournament.
Currently, Alina Petrovna is the head of the republican school of sports reserve.
