Olesya Vladykina

Сhampion from the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in the 100m breaststroke and Sochi 2014 Ambassador

“I am really sincerely happy to be a Sochi 2014 Ambassador.”

Olesya Vladykina is an athlete and champion from the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in the 100m breaststroke. She was born in 1988 in Moscow and began swimming at the SKIF Children's and Youth Sports School for Olympic Reserves. She swam professionally for 10 years and became a master at her sport.

While she was on holiday in Thailand, the tour bus Olesya was in was involved in a road accident and she lost her left arm as a result. Olesya's best friend, Alexandra, died. It was only a return to training in her old pool and her desire to take part in the Paralympic Games in Beijing that helped her return to life. In just half a year Olesya learnt to swim again and in the final of the 100-metre breaststroke she won an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Games, achieving a world record of 1 minute 25.58 seconds. Olesya dedicated her victory to her friend Alexandra, who used to swim with her.

Olesya Vladykina became a Sochi 2014 Ambassador at the Olympics in Whistler, where she was supporting the Russian Paralympic team and preparing for the Handover Ceremony of the Paralympic Flag, which took place at the end of the 2010 Paralympic Games.