Natalya Voronina

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Reason for choosing this sport	"My first coach was my mother. When I was two or three years old, I first got on figure skates. I really liked it. At some point, I wanted to also do gymnastics, and then dance, although this was not even close. I think it was a sign of fate when my dog ate my dance leotard. That was how my dancing career ended. I did not give up speed skating and went to a training camp."
When and where did you begin this sport?	She began speed skating in 2001 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation.

Awards and honours	In 2020 she was named among the 10 Best Athletes of the Year and received the Silver Doe award from the Federation of Sport Journalists of Russia. (sportrg.ru, 24 Dec 2020) She received the 2020 Oscar Mathisen Award in recognition of setting a new world record in the 5000m at the 2020 World Single Distance Championships in Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America. The award is given annually for the speed skating performance of the year. (russkating.ru, 04 Jun 2020) In recognition of her performance at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, she received the title of Honoured Master of Sport and the Order for Merits to the Fatherland [second grade] in the Russian Federation. (minsport.gov.ru, 31 May 2018; kremlin.ru, 27 Feb 2018)
Memorable sporting achievement	Her performances at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang and the 2019 World Single Distances Championships in Inzell, Germany. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019)
Ambitions	To win a gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games. (stnmedia.ru, 07 Mar 2020)
Injuries	In late October 2021 she underwent surgery to remove a kidney stone and missed the 2021 National Championships in Kolomna, Russian Federation. (news.sportbox.ru, 27 Oct 2021; matchtv.ru, 21 Oct 2021) In 2018 she fell off her bicycle during a training session and sustained a concussion. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019) Illness meant she missed the 2017 European Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (rsport.ru, 03 Jan 2017)
Other information	HIATUS In June 2022 she announced she would take a break from the sport due to pregnancy. "I'm not finishing my career. I'm taking a break from competition. I have not yet achieved everything in the sport." (matchtv.ru, 22 Jun 2022) OLYMPIC DEDICATION She dedicated the bronze medal she won in the 5000m at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang to her mother who had recently passed away. "I am very grateful to her for having introduced me to skating and being my first coach. For infusing passion for sport in me and teaching me to fight. This medal is in memory of her." (sport-express.ru, 16 Feb 2018)
Hobbies	Reading. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019)
Most influential person in career	Her mother. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"You need to have sports anger, persistence, endurance, tenacity. Do not relax in training, you need to work all the time." (mininuniver.ru, 21 Jul 2020)
Nicknames	Natasha (tass.ru, 11 Nov 2021)