Swimming, Julia Efimova: biography of the participant of the Olympiad in Rio

Very often, the main advantages of an athlete are not his physical characteristics and immediate results, but a strong character, ability to hold a blow and not give up. Without this, it is impossible to get ahead of competitors in tough competition and prove their strength.

All these qualities have a talented swimmer and a strong personality - Julia Efimova. She had to fight not only with rivals, but also against the system, an unjust punishment, because of which she was not allowed to enter the Olympic Games. How the character of the champion was formed, Julia Yefimova's biography will help to understand. Swimming is a sport for hardworking and strong people. And this article tells exactly about this.

Childhood

To difficulties, Julia was ready already from birth. She was born in a troubled year 1992, in an even more troubled Grozny. When she was one year old, her family left the war in Volgodonsk. Mom wanted her daughter to dance or acrobatics. For some time she was engaged in these disciplines. But the last word was for the Pope - swimming!

Julia Efimova seriously began to play sports under the strict supervision of her father. Soon, her parents began to understand that the girl needs to change the situation. Papa could not treat his own daughter with all severity. Therefore, it was decided to give Yulia train to the famous specialist Irina Vyatchanina.

Efimov at 13 years old moved to Taganrog and began a new life. Many styles are offered to choose in a sport such as swimming. Julia Efimova did not immediately determine her discipline. She tried krol, butterfly. My father wanted to make her a spinster. But at one point she made a choice - a breaststroke.

Sports career: the beginning

In recent years, not the highest achievements could boast of Russian navigation. Julia Efimova seemed to have been born to make up for lost time. She begins to swim in major international competitions as early as 14 years. At the European Championships in Budapest, the girl was able to enter the top six.

A year later on the continental championship on short water a sportswoman conquers three gold. The swimming of Yulia Efimova caused admiration from all the fans and specialists. According to the sportswoman herself, she was particularly surprised by the gold medal at a distance of 100 m. The distances of 50 and 200 m in the style of the brass were considered crowns for the girl. The key to success was her brilliant work at the corners, which is especially valuable for competitions in short water.

In 2008, in Eindhoven, Yulia Yefimova continues to methodically collect awards of various dignity. On her favorite two hundred meters she again becomes the first. To the gold medal the girl adds silver medals at a distance of 50 m and in the combined relay 4 x 100 m.

The most important starts for any athlete are the Olympic Games. It is they who show what it really is. In competition with the strongest competitors, the swimmer shows the fastest results in his career. At the Beijing Olympics, I had to fight with the leaders of the world swimming - athletes from the United States and Australia. Julia did not disappoint the team and performed great. For a 16-year-old female athlete, 4th and 5th place in the first Olympics is an excellent result.

The heyday of a career

The year 2009 is remembered for Yulia. At the competitions in Rome, she won the first gold of the world championships in her life. She was the strongest at the distance of 50 m. In addition, it turned out to take silver at a stretch of 100 m. By the way, the gold medal of Julia was the first award of the Russian team at this tournament.

A year later, new victories in the European Championship. At the main start of the quadrennial in 2012, a real superstar can already be represented by Russian voyage. Julia Efimova goes to London for great rewards. Very little is missing before the silver medal. But for a start, bronze is an excellent result.

Progress athlete is obvious. Every year, Julia is getting faster. But we need a new impulse for development. In 2011, she makes a difficult decision - to move to the US. This country - the leader of world swimming in recent years, the best conditions for athletes are here. For a short time, Julia successfully learns English and begins training with the Californian specialist David Salo.

The results do not keep you waiting. A year later in the world championship, she overtakes the strongest athletes of the planet and takes first place at a distance of 200 m. In addition, Julia sets a world record at a distance of 50 m. It seemed that no one will stop her at future Olympics.

Doping scandals

The troubles begin in 2014. In one of the food supplements that the athlete was taking, a prohibited drug, dehydroepiandrosterone, was found. The girl is suspended from the competition for a year and a half. Julia did not deny her guilt, but claimed that she would never intentionally take dope in life. This is a tragic mistake and inattention - nothing more.

This was the first serious test for Julia outside the pool. Nevertheless, immediately after the end of the suspension does not leave Yulia Yefimova swimming. Final at a distance of 100 m breaststroke at the World Cup in Kazan, she wins with brilliance.

The war for Rio

Nowhere are they punished for the crime committed twice. But the World Doping Agency decided differently. The scandals that hit the entire national Olympic team did not bypass Julia. It was decided to disqualify for the duration of the Games-2016 all Russian athletes ever caught in doping. Julia Efimova was automatically deprived of the right to speak in Rio. Despite the sheer injustice of this decision, the Russian Federation withdrew from the problems of the sportswoman, without taking any effort to protect the good name of Efimova.

For her rights, the girl rushed to fight alone, like a real fighter. The lawsuit was held in the Sports Arbitration Court. And in early August, a verdict was issued, which confirmed the absurdity of Yulia's discrimination and allowed her to go to the Olympics. Here, Julia Efimova sailed to a new level. Rio obeyed the Russian athlete. Despite the attempts of the tribunes to boo her, Yulia acts with dignity at distances of 100 and 200 meters, taking on silver on each of them. Who knows what the results would be, do not spend your athlete on your nerves and strength in litigation.

Personal life

Like every young and attractive girl, Julia has always had a lot of admirers. There were rumors about relations with the son of her coach - Arkady Vyatchanin. In 2015, everyone learned that her boyfriend was Nikita Lobintsev. He, by the way, is also a prize-winner of two Olympics - in Beijing and London.

In addition to swimming, Julia is also interested in design. In previous interviews, she told me that she was trying to draw in her spare time. The most difficult thing in sports, she said, is not only to compete in competitions. Sometimes difficult tests are waiting for an athlete outside the arena. Julia Efimova showed a real character and did not break under the weight of unfair accusations, having restored her good name.