Valentina SEMERENKO

Ukraine

Biathlon

Date of Birth: 18 Jan 1986

Age: 36

Gender: Female

Place of birth: KRASNOPILLIA

Birth Country:

USSR

Residence: SUMY

Residence Country:

Ukraine

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Biathlon	Women's 15km Individual	DNF
	Mixed Relay 4x6km (W+M) UKR Ukraine	13

Schedule

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Centre	Mixed Relay 4x6km (W+M)	Finished
	Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Centre	Women's 15km Individual	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Athlete:

Historical Results

Olympic Games
Rank	Event	Year	Location
1	4 × 6 kilometres Relay	2014	Sochi, RUS
5	10 kilometres Pursuit	2014	Sochi, RUS
6	4 × 6 kilometres Relay	2010	Vancouver, CAN
11	7.5 kilometres Sprint	2014	Sochi, RUS
12	12.5 kilometres Mass Start	2014	Sochi, RUS
13	15 kilometres	2010	Vancouver, CAN
18	15 kilometres	2014	Sochi, RUS
18	12.5 kilometres Mass Start	2010	Vancouver, CAN
19	Women's 12.5 kilometres Mass Start	2018	PyeongChang, KOR
22	7.5 kilometres Sprint	2010	Vancouver, CAN
22	10 kilometres Pursuit	2010	Vancouver, CAN
25	Women's 15 kilometres	2018	PyeongChang, KOR
46	Women's 7.5 kilometres Sprint	2018	PyeongChang, KOR
46	15 kilometres	2006	Torino, ITA
DNS	Women's 10 kilometres Pursuit	2018	PyeongChang, KOR

World Championships
Rank	Event	Year	Location
1	Women's 12.5km Mass Start	2015	Kontiolahti, FIN
2	Women's 4x6km Relay	2013	Nove Mesto na Morave, CZE
2	Women's 4x6km Relay	2008	Oestersund, SWE
3	Women's 4x6km Relay	2019	Oestersund, SWE
3	Women's 7.5km Sprint	2015	Kontiolahti, FIN
3	Women's 15km Individual	2013	Nove Mesto na Morave, CZE

World Cup
Rank	Event	Season
2	Women's Mass Start	2014/15
2	Women's Individual	2010/11
3	Women's Total	2014/15
3	Women's Pursuit	2014/15
4	Women's Individual	2017/18
5	Women's Sprint	2014/15
6	Women's Pursuit	2013/14
8	Women's Individual	2013/14
8	Women's Total	2013/14
8	Women's Individual	2009/10
9	Women's Individual	2012/13
10	Women's Sprint	2013/14
11	Women's Individual	2014/15
11	Women's Total	2010/11
12	Women's Pursuit	2010/11
13	Women's Mass Start	2013/14
14	Women's Sprint	2010/11
14	Women's Mass Start	2010/11
14	Women's Total	2009/10
14	Women's Pursuit	2009/10
14	Women's Mass Start	2008/09
16	Women's Mass Start	2017/18
19	Women's Sprint	2009/10
20	Women's Total	2012/13
20	Women's Mass Start	2009/10
21	Women's Sprint	2019/20
21	Women's Total	2017/18
21	Women's Sprint	2012/13
21	Women's Pursuit	2011/12
22	Women's Total	2011/12
23	Women's Mass Start	2012/13
23	Women's Mass Start	2011/12
25	Women's Pursuit	2012/13
25	Women's Sprint	2011/12
25	Women's Individual	2008/09
26	Women's Individual	2006/07
27	Women's Sprint	2007/08
28	Women's Total	2008/09
28	Women's Total	2007/08
28	Women's Pursuit	2007/08
29	Women's Individual	2011/12
30	Women's Sprint	2008/09
30	Women's Mass Start	2007/08
31	Women's Pursuit	2019/20
32	Women's Pursuit	2017/18
33	Women's Total	2019/20
33	Women's Sprint	2017/18
33	Women's Pursuit	2008/09
34	Women's Mass Start	2019/20
37	Women's Pursuit	2015/16
37	Women's Individual	2007/08
40	Women's Mass Start	2018/19
45	Women's Pursuit	2018/19
46	Women's Mass Start	2015/16
47	Women's Total	2015/16
47	Women's Total	2006/07
48	Women's Sprint	2018/19
48	Women's Total	2018/19
50	Women's Individual	2015/16
51	Women's Sprint	2015/16
52	Women's Individual	2020/21
53	Women's Sprint	2020/21
53	Women's Sprint	2006/07
55	Women's Pursuit	2006/07
59	Women's Total	2020/21
67	Women's Individual	2018/19
68	Women's Pursuit	2020/21
73	Women's Pursuit	2016/17
74	Women's Sprint	2016/17
79	Women's Total	2016/17

Nickname:

Valj

Hobbies:

Beadwork, music, dancing

Occupation:

Athlete, Trainer, Instructor, Student

Education:

Sumy State Pedagogical University / National Academy of the State Tax Service of Ukraine / Sumy State University (Foreign Philology and Social Communication)

Family:

Husband, Olexiy Prokhor. Older sister, Oksana. Twin sister, Vita.

Languages spoken:

Ukrainian, Russian, English

Club name:

Dynamo

Coach:

National: Uros Velepec (SLO), Aleksandr Kravchenko (UKR)
Personal: Hryhorii Shamrai (UKR)

Sporting relatives:

Husband Olexiy Prokhor (Cross-country skiing): Represented Ukraine at three Winter Universiades (2003-07), with three top-30 finishes. Raced Continental Cup, Scandinavian Cup and Eastern Europe Cup from 2003-11, achieving four top-10 results including fifth in the 15km classic in 2009 (Kharkiv).

Sister Vita Semerenko (Biathlon): Three-time Olympian (2010-18), won relay gold alongside Valentina at Sochi 2014, where she also won sprint bronze. Seven-time World Championship medallist, winning three individual bronze medals and four relay medals (three with Valentina). Three World Cup victories (all relays with Valentina), with 16 total podiums (seven individual). Finished third overall in the mass start during the 2012/13 season. Three-time European champion, winning two relays with Valentina, with one additional silver.

Other sports:

Cross-country skiing: Competed at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Stryn, with a best finish of 28th in the 5km free.

Debut:

2005 IBU Cup in Obertilliach (Individual - 4th, Sprint - 24th/4th, Pursuit - 5th)
2005 World Cup in Brezno (Sprint - 47th, Pursuit - 56th)

Injuries:

2016: Back problems which caused severe pains. She could not train normally and had to undergo treatment. Missed training in the summer and the start of the season.

National team:

2005

Start:

Began cross-country skiing while in primary school in Krasnopillia, along with her twin sister Vita. First competed in biathlon in 2003.

Reason:

In her hometown, there was only football and cross-country skiing. Later both sisters were offered to try biathlon. They were inspired by former biathletes Olena Zubrilova (BLR) and Tetyana Vodopyanova (UKR). “We are very glad that we switched to biathlon. Here we have much more chances to achieve what every person who is professionally involved in sports dreams of.” (sports.ru, 24 Feb 2011)

Training:

Began training alongside her sister, separate from the national team, to prepare for the 2021/22 Olympic season using an individual training schedule.

Memorable:

Winning relay gold at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Philosophy:

"I think if an athlete is strong, then even in 40 or 50 he will perform at the level." (olimparena.com.ua, 2021)

"Don't be discouraged." (NOC Media Guide, 2022)

Award:

Honoured Master of Sport in Ukraine
Order For Merits II stage (2021)
Order For Merits III stage (2015)
Order of Princess Olga II degree (2013)
Order of Princess Olga III degree (2008)
Laureate of the Prize of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (2011)

General Interest

PYEONGCHANG DRAMA
Despite being part of the relay team that won gold at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, she was left off the relay team at PyeongChang 2018, criticising the coaching staff on social media, saying that, "we do not have a team, but just ****". She also prematurely announced her retirement.

RANK
She is a senior lieutenant of the Security Service of Ukraine (Sluzhba bezpeky Ukrayiny)

Milestones

Four-time Olympian (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018), winning relay gold at Sochi 2014 alongside her sister Vita, Yulia Jima, and Olena Pidgrushna.

Twelve World Championship appearances since 2007, winning six medals (three in relay). After finishing second at the 2011 relay, the team was disqualified due to doping violations by teammate Oksana Khvostenko.

Five-time European Championship gold medallist, with three additional silver medals.

First World Cup victory and podium came after the Oberhof relay in January 2009. Had her first individual podium in February 2011 (Presque Isle sprint) and first individual victory in December 2013 (Annecy pursuit).

Finished the 2014/15 World Cup season third overall.

Won four medals at the 2007 Winter Universiade, with three silver and one bronze.

Social Media

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
DNF:: Did Not Finish

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