Yulia Barsukova

Yulia Barsukova Юлия Барсукова
Barsukova winning the gold medal at Sydney 2000 Olympics
Personal information
Full name	Yulia Vladimirovna Barsukova
Alternative name(s)	Julia Barsoukova
Nickname(s)	Miss Bolshoi
Country represented	Russia
Born	(1978-12-31) 31 December 1978 (age 38) Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Weight	45 kg (99 lb)
Discipline	Rhythmic gymnastics
Club	MGFSO
Head coach(es)	Irina Viner
Assistant coach(es)	Vera Shatalina
Retired	2000
Medal record Representing  Russia Rhythmic Gymnastics Olympic Games 2000 Sydney All-Around World Championships 1999 Osaka Team 1999 Osaka All-around 1999 Osaka Rope European Championships 1999 Budapest Rope 2000 Zaragoza Rope 2000 Zaragoza Team 1999 Budapest Ball 1999 Budapest Hoop 2000 Zaragoza All-around 2000 Zaragoza Hoop 2000 Zaragoza Ball European Team Championships 1999 Patras Team World Cup Final 2000 Glasgow Hoop 2000 Glasgow Rope 2000 Glasgow Ball 2000 Glasgow Ribbon Grand Prix Final 2000 Deventer All-around 2000 Deventer Ball 2000 Deventer Rope 2000 Deventer Ribbon 1999 Korneuburg Rope 1999 Korneuburg Ribbon 1999 Korneuburg All-around 1999 Korneuburg Ball

Yulia Vladimirovna Barsukova (Russian: Ю́лия Влади́мировна Барсуко́ва, born 31 December 1978) is a Russian retired individual rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2000 Olympic champion in the All-Around, the 2000 Grand Prix Final All-around champion, the 1999 World All-around bronze medalist, 2000 European All-around bronze medalist and 1999 Grand Prix Final All-around bronze medalist.

Barsukova began figure skating at age five in the Izmaylovo District of Moscow where she lived. When she was eight years old, she passed a sports club and saw girls practicing rhythmic gymnastics through the window. Her father soon enrolled her in the sport. After three years, she moved to Tagansky District high school's rhythmic gymnastics department.

Barsukova was coached by Vera Silaeva until she was sixteen, when Silaeva took her student to Russia's head coach, Irina Viner. Viner was unimpressed initially but accepted her at the urging of Russia's national team choreographer, Veronica Shatkova.

Barsukova began competing at international competitions following the coaching change. For six years she competed under the shadow of other Russian gymnasts, Yanina Batyrchina, Amina Zaripova, Natalia Lipkovskaya and then Alina Kabaeva. Barsukova considered quitting rhythmic gymnastics until Viner persuaded her to stay and be patient. She had her breakthrough in 1998. During an event dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Ballet Magazine, Barsukova performed along with the stars of the theater. She performed her "Dying Swan" ball routine and received the unofficial title of Miss Bolshoi Theater.