Natalia USHKINA

CHANGING CITIZENSHIP
After representing the Russian Federation as a junior, she was not called up to the senior national team. In 2020, she decided to change her citizenship and move to Romania. At her last Russian championship in April 2021, she won gold in pursuit, silver in sprint and bronze in the mass start, beating the Russian national team members. Nevertheless, she proceeded with changing citizenship.

“The good result came only this year, I didn’t perform like that last year. And in this there was a breakthrough. That year, I was invited to the Romanian team, and the documents were processed throughout the season. The Russian Biathlon Union has already calmly let me go. Will I stay if I get an offer I can't refuse? No, I have already decided that I will go there. All contracts will be settled in May. This was all done before the Olympics. I don’t regret that I made such a decision." (tellerreport.com, 1 Apr 2021)

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse

Made her World Cup debut at the start of the 2021/22 season. She has earned World Cup points in three races this season - Ruhpolding sprint (26th), Antholz individual (33rd) and Annecy pursuit (36th).

Relay silver medallist at the 2015 Youth World Championships, alongside Russian teammates Elizaveta Kaplina and Kristina Reztsova.

Three IBU Junior Cup podiums, including one victory in January 2016 at the Lenzerheide individual.

Pursuit gold medallist at the 2017 Summer Junior World Championships in Chaykovskiy.