Irina Privalova

Irina Anatoljewna Priwalowa (Russian Ирина Анатольевна Привалова, English transcription Irina Privalova, born Sergeeva, . Born November 22, 1968 in Malakhovka ) is a Russian sprinter and hurdler.

She was for many years one of the best sprinters in the world light-skinned and still holds the indoor world records on 50 and 60 meters. At the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, she won a bronze medal in the 100 -meter run for the United Team of the Commonwealth of Independent States. At the World Championships in Stuttgart in 1993, she won the gold medal in the 4 x 100 - meter relay. In 1994 she won the European Championships in the 100 and 200 meters gold. At the end of the year Priwalowa was voted European athlete of the year. At the European Championships in 1998 she won again about 200 meters.

Towards the end of her career, she moved to longer distances and won at the 2000 Sydney Olympics gold medal in the 400 - meter hurdles. With the Russian 4 x 400 - meter relay they also won a bronze medal.

2002 Priwalowa was the second time mother and ended her active career. In July 2008, she launched a comeback at the age of 39 years. Their goal, to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, but she could not reach. At the Russian Championships, she finished in seventh place on the 200 meters and missed the final of the 100 meters. Despite the missed at the Olympics she wants to continue her career and did not rule out a start in the 2012 Olympics in London.