 |
 |
|
|
|
Yelena was born in Rostov On Don in Russia in early 1980. Her gymnastics career began when she was only five in 1985. Produnova was one of two children and was keen to start gymnastics as a youngster. Since then she has moved up the world gymnastics with her daring and her beauty.
Yelena's first big international exposure began in 1995. In this year she was part of the Russian team to win gold at the Junior European Championships. At this meet she startled audiences with her difficult routines and her feminine style. In 1995 she also competed in the World Championships, helping her team to take 4th place and a berth to the Atlanta Olympics. Once again here she had extremely difficult routines, one example being her arabian double front punch front.
1996 looked as if she would make the Olympic Team, but her progress was hampered by a heel injury which didn't allow her to compete to her full potential. Sadly she missed making the Olympic team - but better things were still to come.
At the end of 1996 she won the balance beam at the Australian Cup with a huge score of 9.9. And she competed creditably in the DTB cup also.
In 1997 she was one of the best in the world. Finishing 5th all around at the Russian Cup and winning vault, she cemented a place in the World Championship Team in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In Lausanne she had the meet of her life, firstly she helped her team by qualifing with the 2nd highest score take 2nd place behind only Romania. She then went on to take the bronze medal in the all around competition beating Gina Gogean by bare millipoints. Her routines were all consistent in the all around in which she sewed up third with a perfect landing on a double forward somersault dismount off beam.
In finals she grabbed 8th on beam, and another bronze on floor. Many people feel she was underscored on floor because she hit a very difficult routine.
Although often inconsistent in major competition, Yelena is always cheerful and smiling during her routines. She admits she would like to continue to Sydney 2000 and says her favourite gymnast is Svetlana Bouginskaya. In her spare time she enjoys listening to Celine Dion & Madonna and reading.
Yelena is only one of the few great gymnasts to watch out for in the next few years and I'm sure her coach Leonid Arkayev has plenty more tricks she can add to her already amazing routines!