Ksenia Polyakova

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Kseniia Poliakova
Full nameKsenia Vitalievna Poliakova
Alternative name
Ksenia Polyakova
Born (2000-08-15) 15 August 2000
Samara, Russia
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Gymnastics career
DisciplineRhythmic gymnastics
Country
represented
 Russia
(2016–2019)
GymNovogorsk
Head coach
Irina Viner
Assistant coach
Tatiana Sergaeva
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Group Rhythmic Gymnastics
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2017 PesaroGroup All-around
Gold medal – first place2017 Pesaro3 Balls + 2 Ropes
Gold medal – first place2018 SofiaGroup All-around
Silver medal – second place2017 Pesaro5 Hoops
Silver medal – second place2018 Sofia3 Balls + 2 Ropes
European Championships
Gold medal – first place2016 HolonGroup All-around
Gold medal – first place2018 GuadalajaraTeam
Gold medal – first place2018 GuadalajaraGroup All-around
Bronze medal – third place2018 Guadalajara5 Hoops
Junior European Championships
Gold medal – first place2015 MinskGroup All-around
Silver medal – second place2015 Minsk5 Balls

Ksenia Vitalievna Poliakova (Russian: Ксения Витальевна Полякова; born 25 August 2000) is a Russian former group rhythmic gymnast. She is a three-time World champion and a three-time European champion, and she was an alternate for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Gymnastics career

Poliakova started rhythmic gymnastics when she was three years old after a doctor recommended the sport to help with her flat feet.[1] She moved from Samara to Moscow in 2012 to further her training after being invited to join the Russian national team.[2][3]

Poliakova was selected to compete for the Russian group at the 2015 Junior European Championships.[4] She won a gold medal in the group all-around competition and a silver medal in the 5 balls final, behind Belarus.[5]

Poliakova became age-eligible for senior competition in 2016 and was added to the senior Russian national group. She competed at the 2016 European Championships, helping the Russian group win the all-around title.[6] She was initially named to represent Russia at the 2016 Summer Olympics; however, she broke her ankle and was removed from the team. She still traveled to Rio de Janeiro to train as Russia's reserve athlete, but she did not receive a medal.[1][3]

Poliakova returned to competition and was selected for the 2017 World Championships team. She helped the Russian group win the all-around title,[7] and she also won a gold medal in the 3 balls + 2 ropes final and a silver medal in the 5 hoops final.[8] At the 2018 European Championships, she won gold medals in the team event and the group all-around event.[9] She won a silver medal in the group all-around at the 2018 Minsk World Challenge Cup, where Russia lost to Italy.[10] Then at the Kazan World Challenge Cup, Poliakova and the Russian group lost the all-around title due to a tie-breaker against Italy.[11]

One month before the 2018 World Championships, Poliakova tore a ligament in her ankle, but she still competed against her doctor's recommendation.[3] She helped Russia defend their World group all-around title and qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics,[12] and she also won a silver medal in the 3 balls and 2 ropes final.[13]

Personal life

Since retiring from rhythmic gymnastics, Poliakova has worked as a coach in the sport. In 2024, she married Olympic fencing medalist Anton Borodachev.[3]

References

  1. Skatina, Eva (11 July 2017). "Высший класс Ксении Поляковой" [Ksenia Polyakova's top class]. Samara Newspaper (in Russian). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  2. Savinova, Alina (17 October 2024). "Полякова рассказала, как в детстве расстроилась из-за третьего места: «Мне подарили куклу, но я стою вся зареванная»" [Polyakova recounted how she was upset as a child about finishing third: "They gave me a doll, but I'm standing there all teary-eyed."]. Sport Express (in Russian). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  3. Volkova, Alena. "«Упала на попу — пригласили в Москву». Гимнастка-чемпионка — о свадьбе, карьерных злоключениях и питании в спорте" ["I Fell on My Butt – They Invited Me to Moscow." A Champion Gymnast on Wedding, Career Misadventures, and Nutrition in Sports]. Sport 24 (in Russian). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  4. "Определен состав сборной России для участия в чемпионате Европы" [The Russian national team for the European Championship has been determined]. Gimnastika (in Russian). 13 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  5. "Review of the 31st European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships". European Gymnastics. 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  6. "Сборная России в групповых упражнениях завоевала золото многоборья" [The Russian team won gold in the all-around competition in group exercises]. Gimnastika (in Russian). 17 June 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  7. "With World Group All-around title, Russia extends its reign in Pesaro". International Gymnastics Federation. 2017-09-02. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  8. ""Farfalle" soar to Group gold on final day of Rhythmic Worlds". International Gymnastics Federation. 2017-09-03. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  9. Giles, Thomas (2 June 2018). "Russia claim double gold at European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships". Inside the Games. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  10. "Ashram, Italian group victorious in Minsk". World Gymnastics. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  11. "Soldatova, Italian group claim Kazan World Challenge Cup". World Gymnastics. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  12. "Russia claims Rhythmic Group All-around title". International Gymnastics Federation. 15 September 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  13. "Bulgaria, Italy avert Russian sweep in Sofia". International Gymnastics Federation. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.