Print the Biography/Short

Olga Graf

Russia

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSRUS21507198301
NOCRussia
Born15 Jul 1983 in  Omsk
GenderWomen
ResidenceKolomna, RUS
LanguagesEnglish, German, Russian
FamilyHusband Rustam, daughter Alina [2020]
Higher educationPhysical Education, Sport Studies - Siberian State University of Physical Education and Sport: Omsk, RUS
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 39.84 22 Mar 2014 Heerenveen  
    1000m 1:19.79 16 Oct 2011 Kolomna  
    1500m 1:55.67 23 Mar 2014 Heerenveen  
    3000m 4:01.31 07 Nov 2015 Calgary  
    5000m 6:55.77 19 Feb 2014 Sochi  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    3000m     1  
    Team Pursuit 6 Laps     1  
World Allround Championships
Event  
World Allround Championships
    Allround   1    
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    Team Pursuit     3  
European Single Distances Championships
Event  
European Single Distances Championships
    Team Pursuit 6 Laps   1    
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportShe used to practise martial arts, but a coach suggested she should try skating.  
General Interest
General Interest
Awards and honoursIn 2014 she received the title of Honoured Master of Sport in the Russian Federation. (infosport.ru, 2018)

She received the Order for Merit to the Fatherland [first grade] in recognition of her performance at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (kremlin.ru, 24 Feb 2014)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?She took up the sport in 1993 in Omsk, Russian Federation.  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/olga.graf.547  
General Interest
General Interest
NicknamesOlya (ria.ru, 09 Feb 2014)  
InjuriesIn 2014 she injured her knee at a training camp in Inzell, Germany. (sport-express.ru, 13 Aug 2014)  
Memorable sporting achievementWinning bronze medals in the 3000m and team pursuit at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 10 Nov 2017)  
HobbiesPlaying table hockey and tennis. (Athlete, 29 Jul 2017)  
Most influential person in careerHer husband. (Athlete, 10 Nov 2017)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Without work, you won't pull a fish out of a pond." (Athlete, 10 Nov 2017)  
Other informationRETIREMENT
In 2020 she gave birth to her first child and retired from the sport. (rsport.ria.ru, 27 Nov 2020; mosregtoday.ru, 14 Jul 2020)

OLYMPIC SNUB
In January 2018 she rejected the invitation to represent the Olympic Athletes from Russia [OAR] team at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The International Olympic Committee [IOC] had selected 169 athletes from the Russian Federation to compete as neutrals at the 2018 Games, but she turned down the offer in support of her teammates who had not been invited. "I was ready to defend the honour of the country even on these discriminatory and degrading conditions. But at the end of January [2018] we learned that the majority of athletes of our Olympic speed skating team will not be able to perform at the Olympics, which means all my hopes in the struggle for the Olympic pedestal will not come true because the sport has become a bargaining chip in dirty political games." (bbc.co.uk, 30 Jan 2018)
 
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2013/2014 World Allround Championships Allround2  
    2013/2014 World Allround Championships 1500m2  
    2014 Olympic Games Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2013/2014 World Allround Championships 5000m3  
    2014 Olympic Games 3000m3  
    2013/2014 World Allround Championships 3000m3  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships 5000m4  
    2014 Olympic Games 5000m4  
    2014/2015 European Championships Allround4  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps5  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 5000m5  
    2016/2017 European Allround Championships Allround5  
    2016/2017 World Allround Championships Allround5  
    2012/2013 European Championships Allround6  
    2013/2014 European Championships Allround6  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 3000m6  
    2015/2016 European Championships Allround7  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 1500m7  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 3000m7  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 1500m7  
    2011/2012 European Championships Allround8  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 3000m8  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 3000m8  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 5000m9  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships 3000m10  
    2015/2016 World Allround Championships Allround11  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 1500m11  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 3000m12  
    2012/2013 World Allround Championships Allround13  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships 3000m18  
    2011/2012 World Allround Championships Allround18  
    2014/2015 World Allround Championships Allround24  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2010/2011 Hamar Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2016/2017 Harbin Team Pursuit 6 Laps2  
    2016/2017 Stavanger Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2015/2016 Calgary, AB Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2015/2016 Inzell Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2012/2013 Astana 5000m3  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 3000m3  
    2015/2016 Inzell 3000m3  
    2016/2017 Astana Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2016/2017 Nagano Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2013/2014 Heerenveen 3000m3  
    2014/2015 Seoul 1500m3  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 3000m3  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m4  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m4  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m6  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m7  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1500m9  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m9  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m9  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1500m10  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m10  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Overall12  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification Overall15  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification Mass Start 15 Laps17  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m18  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1500m18  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Overall21  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m23  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Overall27  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1500m28  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Overall30  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1500m30  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m33  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1500m35  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification Overall37  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1500m40  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m45  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m46  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m56