Anastasiya Merkushyna

Anastasiya Merkushyna (Ukrainian: Анастасія Олегівна Меркушина; born 14 January 1995) is a Ukrainian biathlete. She is World Championships medalist. She participated at 2018 Winter Olympics.

Anastasiya Merkushyna
Personal information
NationalityUkrainian
Born (1995-01-14) 14 January 1995
Pidhorodne, Ternopil Oblast, Ukraine
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight47 kg (104 lb)
Professional information
SportBiathlon
ClubDynamo
World Cup debut2014
Olympic Games
Teams1 (2018)
Medals0
World Championships
Teams3 (2017–2020)
Medals3 (0 gold)

Career

Her first international successes were medals at Junior World and European championships. Merkushyna is two-time bronze medalist in girls' individual at 2013 and 2016 Junior Worlds, Junior World and two-time silver medalist in relay, three-time Junior European champion and three-time European medalist. In 2012 he qualified for 2012 Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, where she was 14th both in sprint and pursuit.

Before receiving a spot in Ukrainian national team, she took part in IBU Cup competitions. Her first World Cup race was in Swedish Östersund in 2014–15 season where she finished 51st in individual. There she also competed in sprint finishing 87th. Then she missed two World Cup stages returning in Oberhof, Germany. Since Ukrainian team lacked its leaders (both Sochi Olympic champions Vita Semerenko and Olena Pidhrushna missed that season) she was invited to relay team. Merkushyna did her job well by shooting without additional shots. Nevertheless, her personal results weren't good enough to debut at World championships. Next season she spent in IBU Cup competitions.

On 11 December 2016, Anastasiya Had her first relay podium in Pokljuka, Slovenia. In sprint in Oberhof she earned her first World Cup points. Since then she is a member of national team on a regular basis. She participated at 2017 Worlds where she showed great achievements as for debut: 10th in sprint, 8th in pursuit, and 14th in mass start. Merkushyna won silver medal in relay.

She qualified to represent Ukraine at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[1] In Pyeongchang her best achievement was 46th place in pursuit and 11th in relay. In an interview, she was disappointed about her performances and even cried.

Personal life

Her mother, Iryna Merkushina, is a former Ukrainian biathlete and 2003 World Championships silver medalist in relay. Her father Oleh is a coach. Anastasiya's parents were her first trainers.

Merkushyna studies management and international business at Ternopil National Economic University.

Results

Olympics

0 medals

Event Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Relay Mixed relay
2018 Pyeongchang 70th 55th 46th  — 11th  —

World Championships

3 medals (1 silver, 2 bronze)

Event Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Relay Mixed relay Single mixed relay
2017 Hochfilzen 33rd 10th 8th 14th Silver — N/A
2019 Östersund 10th 28th 15th 25th Bronze 7th 5th
2020 Antholz-Anterselva 11th — — — Bronze 5th 10th
*During Olympic seasons competitions are only held for those events not included in the Olympic program.
**The single mixed relay was added as an event in 2019.

Relay podiums
SeasonPlaceCompetitionPlacement
2016–17 Pokljuka, SloveniaRelay3
2017–18 Kontiolahti, FinlandMixed relay2
2018–19 Pokljuka, SloveniaSingle mixed relay3

Rankings
SeasonINSPPUMSTOTAL
2016–176432393937
2017–182757333642

Individual podiums
SeasonPlaceCompetitionRank
2014–15 Obertilliach, AustriaSprint2
2016–17 Ridanna, ItalySprint1

Relay podiums
SeasonPlaceCompetitionRank
2015–16 Ridanna, ItalyMixed relay3
Arber, GermanySingle mixed relay1
2016–17 Ridanna, ItalySingle mixed relay1

References
  1. "Ukrainian squad for the 2018 Winter Olympics". Ukrainian Biathlon Federation. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
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