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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Vision impairment
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
T12, F12
Further personal information
Family
Husband Sergiy Balaban, daughter Sofia [2009], son Mikhail [2017]
Residence
Dnipro, UKR
Occupation
Athlete, Teacher
Languages
English, Russian, Ukrainian
Higher education
Psychology - Dnipro National University: Ukraine
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She took up the sport at age nine in Nikopol, Ukraine.
Why this sport?
Her mother was involved in the sport and introduced her to a coach.
Club / Team
Invasport: Dnipro, UKR
Name of coach
Kostyantyn Rurak [personal], UKR, from 2010; Olena Rurak [personal], UKR
International debut
Year
2006
Competing for
Ukraine
General interest
Hobbies
Her family and children, psychology. (Athlete, 14 Mar 2020)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. (Athlete, 14 Mar 2020)
Most influential person in career
Her husband Sergiy Balaban, and coach Kostyantyn Rurak. (Athlete, 22 Oct 2015)
Hero / Idol
US sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner. (Athlete, 22 Oct 2015)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." (Athlete, 22 Oct 2015)
Awards and honours
In recognition of her achievements at the Paralympic Games in 2008, 2012 and 2016, she was decorated with the Ukrainian Order for Merits. (president.gov.ua, 04 Oct 2016; zakon.rada.gov.ua, 17 Sep 2012, 07 Oct 2008)
She holds the title of Honoured Master of Sport in Ukraine. (dsmsu.gov.ua, 31 Dec 2020; Athlete, 14 Mar 2020)
She holds the title of Honoured Master of Sport in Ukraine. (dsmsu.gov.ua, 31 Dec 2020; Athlete, 14 Mar 2020)
Famous relatives
Her husband Sergiy Balaban is a Ukrainian Master of Sport in judo an sambo. Her mother was a Candidate for Master of Sport in athletics. (newreporter.info, 02 Jan 2013; gorod.dp.ua, 17 Sep 2012)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (Athlete, 14 Mar 2020)
Impairment
Her impairment is the result of a car accident in 1997. (newreporter.info, 02 Jan 2013)
Other information
FILM
In 2020 a movie called 'Pulse' that was based on her biography was released. "The movie's slogan is 'Live. Dream. Come on.' And this film is about the fact that there is always a positive side in everything. I just told my story." (hromadske.ua, 04 Feb 2020; gorod.dp.ua, 01 Apr 2019)
OCCUPATION
She has worked as a physical education teacher at the Chair of Physical Education at the Faculty of Law at the Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs in Ukraine. (Athlete, 14 Mar 2020; dduvs.in.ua, 14 Nov 2019)
In 2020 a movie called 'Pulse' that was based on her biography was released. "The movie's slogan is 'Live. Dream. Come on.' And this film is about the fact that there is always a positive side in everything. I just told my story." (hromadske.ua, 04 Feb 2020; gorod.dp.ua, 01 Apr 2019)
OCCUPATION
She has worked as a physical education teacher at the Chair of Physical Education at the Faculty of Law at the Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs in Ukraine. (Athlete, 14 Mar 2020; dduvs.in.ua, 14 Nov 2019)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m T12 | Heat 3 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T12 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T12 | Final A | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T12 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T12 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T12 | Final A | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m T12 | Heat 1 | 9999 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Long Jump F12 | Final Round | 8 | ||
| Women's 400 m T12 | Final A | 2 | ||
| Women's 400 m T12 | Heat 3 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T12 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 200 m T12 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T12 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T12 | Final A | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T12 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T12 | Heat 3 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 400 m T12 | Heat 3 | 2011-01-26 | 2 | |
| Women's 400 m T12 | Final | 2011-01-27 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m T12 | Heat 3 | 2012-09-01 | 2 | |
| Women's 100 m T12 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-01 | 1 | |
| Women's 400 m T12 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-02 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m T12 | Final Round | 2012-09-02 | 3 | |
| Women's 400 m T12 | Heat 1 | 2012-09-03 | 1 | |
| Women's 400 m T12 | Final Round | 2012-09-04 | 2 | |
| Women's 200 m T12 | Final Round | 2012-09-06 | 4 | |
| Women's 200 m T12 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-06 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 200 m T12 | Semifinal 2 | 2013-07-20 | 1 | |
| Women's 200 m T12 | Final 1 | 2013-07-21 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m T12 | Heat 4 | 2013-07-23 | 2 | |
| Women's 100 m T12 | Semifinal 1 | 2013-07-24 | 2 | |
| Women's 100 m T12 | Final 1 | 2013-07-24 | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 400 m T12 | Heat 1 | 2015-10-22 | 2 | |
| Women's 400 m T12 | Final 1 | 2015-10-23 | 2 | |
| Women's 200 m T12 | Heat 4 | 2015-10-24 | 2 | |
| Women's 200 m T12 | Final 1 | 2015-10-25 | 2 | |
| Women's 200 m T12 | Semifinal 2 | 2015-10-25 | 2 | |
| Women's 100 m T12 | Heat 1 | 2015-10-26 | 3 | |
| Women's 100 m T12 | Final 1 | 2015-10-28 | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m T12 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-08 | 9999 | |
| Women's 200 m T12 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-11 | 2 | |
| Women's 200 m T12 | Final Round | 2016-09-12 | 2 | |
| Women's 400 m T12 | Heat 3 | 2016-09-15 | 1 | |
| Women's 400 m T12 | Final Round | 2016-09-17 | 2 |