Elena Pirozhkova

{{short description|American sport wrestler (born 1986)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox sportsperson | honorific_prefix = | name = | honorific_suffix = | image = Elena Pirozhkova and Mrs Obama (cropped).jpg | image_size =  | alt = Headshot of a smiling Pirozhkova with Michelle Obama visible on the right edge of the photo | caption = Pirozkhova greeting Michelle Obama in 2012 | headercolor = | textcolor = | | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = | fullname = | nickname = | nationality =  | national_team =  | ethnicity = | citizenship = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|10|13}} | birth_place = Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, Soviet Union | death_date =  | death_place = | resting_place = | hometown = Greenfield, Massachusetts, U.S. | resting_place_coordinates = | monuments = | residence = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | years_active = | employer = | agent = | height = 5 ft 5 in | weight =  | spouse = | life_partner = | other_interests = | website =  | module = | | country = United States | sport = Wrestling | position = | disability = | disability_class = | weight_class = | weight_class_type = | rank = | event = Freestyle | event_type = | collegeteam = | universityteam = | league = | league_type = | club = Titan Mercury WC<br>Gator WC | team = USA | turnedpro = | turnedpro_type = | partner = | former_partner = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | module2 = | | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | paralympics = | commonwealth = | highestranking = | pb = | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's freestyle wrestling }} {{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}} {{MedalCompetition | World Championships }} {{MedalGold | 2012 Strathcona County | 63 kg }} {{MedalSilver | 2010 Moscow | 63 kg }} {{MedalSilver | 2014 Tashkent | 63 kg }} {{MedalBronze | 2013 Budapest | 63 kg }} | medaltemplates-title = | module3 = }}

'''Elena Sergey Pirozhkova''' (born October 13, 1986) is a Russian-born American wrestler who competed for the United States Olympic team in 2012 and 2016. She was the 2012 World Champion, wrestling in the 63 kg weight class. She won the gold medal at the Pan American championships in 2008, 2009, and 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=6&page=showbio&ContactID=1371 |title=USA Wrestling |publisher=TheMat.com |date= |accessdate=2012-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921025627/http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=6&page=showbio&ContactID=1371 |archive-date=2012-09-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Roxanna |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2010-07-19-athleteofweekoliver_N.htm |title=Athlete of the Week: Hurdler Oliver lowers American record |publisher=Usatoday.Com |date=2010-07-19 |accessdate=2012-12-29}}</ref> She won the silver medal in 2010 and 2014, and won the bronze medal in 2013, at the World Championships.<ref>[http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/09/02/2167427/campbell-brings-burning-desire.html]{{dead link|date=December 2012}}</ref> She placed 5th at the 2011 World Championships.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sesker |first=Craig |url=http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=24105 |title=Pirozhkova, Maroulis finish 5th at World Championships | TheMat.com – USA Wrestling |publisher=TheMat.com |date=2011-09-15 |accessdate=2012-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921025620/http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=24105 |archive-date=2012-09-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She made eight straight U.S. World Teams (2008–15), and won seven straight U.S. Open titles (2009–15).

Pirozhkova was born in Russia but grew up in Greenfield, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.boston.com/sports/other_sports/olympics/articles/2011/08/03/us_team_faces_some_hurdles_in_next_olympics/ |title=US team faces some hurdles in next Olympics – The Boston Globe |publisher=Articles.boston.com |date=2011-08-03 |access-date=2012-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516081845/http://articles.boston.com/2011-08-03/sports/29847106_1_tony-gunawan-badminton-bronze/3 |archive-date=2012-05-16 |url-status=live }}</ref> She left Russia and moved to the United States of America when she was three years old. She attended Greenfield High School in Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elena Pirozhkova |url=http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Athlete-Bios/PI/Elena-Pirozhkova |website=teamusa.org |publisher=United States Olympic Committee |accessdate=1 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714234038/http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Athlete-Bios/PI/Elena-Pirozhkova |archive-date=2016-07-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Personal life ==

Pirozhkova was married to former Cuba-born American Greco-Roman wrestler, Alan Vera, they welcomed their first child in June 2024, just three months before Vera's death. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.themat.com/news/2024/august/05/rally-behind-alan-vera-and-his-family | title=Rally behind Alan Vera and his family | date=August 5, 2024 }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20131216042041/http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Athlete-Bios/PI/Elena-Pirozhkova Biography at USA wrestling]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pirozhkova, Elena}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:American female sport wrestlers Category:Russian emigrants to the United States Category:Wrestlers at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Wrestlers at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic wrestlers for the United States Category:World Wrestling Championships medalists Category:Wrestlers at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in wrestling Category:21st-century American sportswomen