From July 23 to 27, the Meteor Stadium in Zhukovsky hosted the Russian Athletics Championship and Youth Championship, bringing together nearly 300 athletes from 47 regions of the Russian Federation, as well as from the Republic of Belarus.
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including OSFSG First Vice-President Vyacheslav Ershov, Vice-President Vladimir Veselli, and senior athletics coach Boris Dvornikov, who later awarded the winners and prize-winners.
The competition kicked off with the country’s toughest and fastest stayers, competing in the 10,000-meter race. The winners were Roman Yerofeyev (Kolomna) and Margarita Kalinevich (Arkhangelsk), both of whom had recently triumphed at the Zelenograd Russian Half Marathon Championship (21.1 km).
In the women’s shot put, longtime rivals and close friends Svetlana Bizyakina and Anastasia Mamlina (both from Moscow) battled for supremacy, with Bizyakina emerging victorious this time. Among the men, Denis Khakimov (Ufa) dominated with a 14.95-meter throw, surpassing his competitors by over half a meter.
The high jump saw a tense duel between Moscow’s Ekaterina Kalinina and Kristina Karapetyan, with Kalinina clinching victory on countback after both cleared 169 cm. On the men’s side, renowned jumper Denis Fedorenkov was unstoppable, effortlessly clearing 202 cm.
The 1,500-meter race delivered a thrilling finish, with Igor Zalutsky (Khanty-Mansiysk) edging out Alexander Kuzmenko (Moscow Region) by mere hundredths of a second. In the women’s event, Yulia Abubyakirova (St. Petersburg) secured a confident win (4:28.22), outpacing Diana Kulikova (Moscow Region) and Anastasia Zavyalova (Nizhny Novgorod Region) with smart tactical running.
The women’s 100-meter final was won by Anastasia Aktuganova (Ulyanovsk), while Anton Novikov (St. Petersburg) took the men’s title as the only runner to break 11 seconds.
The second day was just as eventful, introducing fresh talent. 19-year-old Timofey Shuvalov (Moscow Region) shone in the men’s 400-meter race, earning praise as a future star. His compatriot, the indomitable Victoria Aksenova, dominated the women’s event.
Elizaveta Kashavtseva (Moscow Region) excelled in the discus throw, while Dmitry Kalmykov (Volgograd) led the men’s competition. The decathlon concluded with Ardasher Mumindzhanov claiming gold (6,584 points), finishing nearly 2,500 points ahead of his nearest rival. Roman Lesyunin (Krasnodar) impressed in the long jump (7.20 m).
The third day was packed with excitement, particularly in the relays. The Moscow quartet (Daria Lavrova, Asi Khalajan, Anton Sharapo, Vadim Telbukov) won the mixed 4x400 m, while teams from the Sverdlovsk Region (girls) and Bashkortostan (boys) triumphed in their respective 4x400 m events. The 4x100 m relays were dominated by St. Petersburg’s teams.
In the 800-meter race, Alexander Kuzmenko (Moscow Region) narrowly defeated Rovshan Osmanov (Ulyanovsk) to reclaim his crown. (Last year, Kuzmenko had won three golds in Saransk — 800 m, 1,500 m, and 5,000 m.) Yulia Abubyakirova (St. Petersburg) remained unbeaten in the women’s race.
Anastasia Mamlina (Moscow) dominated the javelin, while Ekaterina Kalinina (Moscow) won the heptathlon. Kirill Nasonov (Omsk) and Victoria Aksenova (Moscow Region) topped the 110 m and 100 m hurdles, respectively.
The 200-meter sprints saw victories for Anastasia Aktuganova (Ulyanovsk) and Anton Novikov (St. Petersburg). Igor Zalutsky (Surgut) added a second gold in the 3,000 m steeplechase, while Diana Kulikova (Moscow Region) continued her winning streak.
On the last day, Roman Yerofeyev and Diana Kulikova (Moscow Region) won the 5,000-meter races. Yaroslav Ananyev (Ulyanovsk) and Victoria Aksenova (Kolomna) triumphed in the 400 m hurdles, with Aksenova further cementing her dominance.
Roman Lesyunin (Krasnodar) secured another gold in the triple jump, while Alexandra Zrakovskaya (St. Petersburg) excelled among the women. Maxim Bgan (Khanty-Mansiysk) threw a 59-meter hammer, and Irina Tkacheva (Moscow Region) reaffirmed her strength in the women’s event.
The Ulyanovsk girls’ team won both the 4x100 m and 4x400 m relays, while St. Petersburg (4x100 m) and Moscow (4x400 m) led the men’s events.
Boris Dvornikov, senior coach of the Russian national track and field team, noted:
“The championships in Zhukovsky confirmed our selections for the Deaflympic Games in Tokyo. The four primary athletes all won their events:
Denis Fedorenkov (high jump, 2.02 m)
Ardasher Mumindzhanov (decathlon, 6,584 points)
Yulia Abubyakirova (800 m – 2:10.61, 1,500 m – 4:28.22)
Victoria Aksenova (400 m – 56.14, 100 m hurdles – 14.43, 400 m hurdles – 1:01).
Several reserve team athletes also impressed, particularly Diana Kulikova, who set a world-record pace in the 3,000 m steeplechase (10:21.25) — 9.18 seconds faster than the current record. 19-year-old Timofey Shuvalov (Kolomna) also stood out, winning the 400 m (48.54).
With 300 athletes from 47 regions, these championships highlight the growing popularity of deaf athletics in Russia, especially in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Ulyanovsk, Tyumen, Khanty-Mansiysk, and Bashkortostan.
A coaches’ meeting (42 attendees) addressed key issues, including rule adjustments, competition regulations, and the 2026-2029 sports classification. Progress is essential — athletics must keep evolving!”
Final Team Standings
Russian Championship:
1. St. Petersburg
2. Republic of Bashkortostan
3. Tyumen Region
Youth Championship:
1. St. Petersburg
2. Moscow Region
3. Moscow
RESULTS OF ALL DAYS OF THE RUSSIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
RESULTS OF ALL DAYS OF THE RUSSIAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
Text: Nurlan Tazhigulov, Maria Mazhenina
Photo: Sofia Rumyantseva, Anton Zelenin
Translation: Daria Kudelina
