Anastasiya Kuzmina

Born Anastasiya Vladimirovna Shipulina on 28 August 1984 in Tjumen, Russia, she is a professional biathlete who competes for Slovakia. Shipulina became Kuzmina when married her her Slovak husband, Daniel Kuzmin, an Israeli cross-country skier and her personal coach. The couple has two children, a son Yelisey and a daughter, Olivia. Anastasiya Kuzmina is an older sister of the Russian biathlete Anton Shipulin. Her World Cup debut occurred on 7 January 2006. Before that she competed at Junior World Championships from 2002 until 2005. Kuzmina was extremely successful by winning 7 medals in total - 2 gold in the 3 x 6 km relay; 4 silver in the Individual, pursuit and two relay events; one bronze in the sprint. When Kuzmina became a member of the Slovak team, she didn't impress during her first two season in the World Cup. That changed at the 2009 World Championships in Pyeongchang. Kuzmina won a silver medal in the mass start. In the other events placed 29th in the Individual, 7th in the sprint, 17th in the pursuit, 13th in the relay and 10th in the mixed relay. Her biggest success and undeniable class was shown during the Olympic Games in 2010 in Vancouver. Kuzmina won two medals - a gold in the sprint and a silver in pursuit. In the Individual was 39th, 8th in mass start and 10th in the relay. The 2010-2011 season after the Games, she made her first World Cup victories. Kuzmina won the sprint in Hochfilzen and the pursuit in Holmenkollen. At the 2011 World Championships in Khanty-Mansyisk, she won a bronze medal in her specialty - the sprint. Finished 9th in the Individual, 6th in the pursuit, 10th in the mass start, 8th in the relay and 12th in the mixed relay. The season concluded for her at 9th position in the overall. During the 2012 World Championships in Ruhpolding, Kuzmina didn't win any medals. But had good placings - twice 10th in the Individual and the sprint, 19th in the pursuit, twice 8th in the mass start and with the relay and 7th in the mixed relay. She achieved one season victory in 2012-2013 season, in Antholz-Anterselva, in the sprint. And made one of her best overall finishes at number 7th. At the 2013 World Championships in Nove Mesto, Kuzmina produced excellent results even though didn't win anything. She was 4th in the Individual, 17th in the sprint, 14th in the pursuit, 15th in the mass start, 8th in the relay and 7th in the mixed relay. The 2013-2014 season was a remarkable for Kuzmina. At the Olympics held in Sochi she defended her Olympic title from before years in Vancouver for the sprint. Anastasiya Kuzmina won again the Olympic gold in the 7.5 km sprint event. She finished 27th in the Individual, 6th in the pursuit, 26th in the mass start and 5th in the mixed relay. As soon as the Games were over, Kuzmina made two World Cup victories in a row. She dominated in Holmenkollen. She won the pursuit and the mass start. In the overall she placed at 6th position, her best finish so far. And was 2nd in the overall for the mass start discipline and 3rd in the overall for the Individual discipline. An outstanding season for the great talent! After such accomplishments, Anastasiya Kuzmina took a break from biathlon. She announced her pregnancy with her second child.